Airbox mod (Trailhunter)?

[Miqie]

Sorry to repost from a FB forum, but there was no definitive answer as to where this plug was or whether the mod worked at all. Also, does this just pertain to snorkel trucks or is it all 2024 Tacoma's? Here goes......................." it turns out that there is a chunky plug in the bottom of our airbox that Toyota built in to allow air directly from the front of the engine bay. The snorkel is for cleaner air on dusty trails. Most of the time you dont need it. I popped out that plug for kicks and went for a drive just now. TOTALLY DIFFERENT TRUCK. The engine breathes easy, didn't build heat, spools up much faster, and pulls way harder. Has more guts than before I swapped tires. I tossed the plug in my glovebox for when I need it, and now am enjoying the throatier sound and harder pull from my engine."

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[lauren01]

I was looking at that post yesterday and screenshot it to investigate. This is just for Trailhunters.
Happy Christmas to us if we grab more power safely in terms of engine longevity.

 

[Yotota]

This is a regular Taco air box (image stolen from an eBay listing):

The bottom half of the air box (the "dirty" side) is on the top of the image. There are a couple spots where holes can easily be added for more air flow. I'd probably go for the front or right of the air box (facing up or right on the image) to shield it from road debris.

Adding holes to an air box is an old school technique for more intake flow, at the expense of some extra dirt or water intrusion. 1st Gen Tacos/3rd Gen 4runners did this with a boat "deck plate" on the front that could be sealed for dirty or wet trails. I did this on my old 4runner and it added more throttle response, and a lot of cool intake noise. I also had a fine mesh screen backed by hardware cloth to prevent debris or critters from getting in the air box.

There might even be room on the new Taco air box to add a 3" or 4" deck plate on the front:

 

[bigd9247]

Adding holes to an air box is an old school technique for more intake flow, at the expense of some extra dirt or water intrusion. 1st Gen Tacos/3rd Gen 4runners did this with a boat "deck plate" on the front that could be sealed for dirty or wet trails. I did this on my old 4runner and it added more throttle response, and a lot of cool intake noise. I also had a fine mesh screen backed by hardware cloth to prevent debris or critters from getting in the air box.

I remember doing the deck plate mod way back when I had a 1st gen. It was a great simple mod. I also remember you could easily remove the silencer on the intake tube for even more sweet intake noises.

 

[Yotota]

I remember doing the deck plate mod way back when I had a 1st gen. It was a great simple mod. I also remember you could easily remove the silencer on the intake tube for even more sweet intake noises.

Oh yeah - the silencer removal and intake tube upgrade was also cheap and easy.

I had an Air Raid intake tube and dry element filter on mine too. It made good power and sound, along with a Magnaflow muffler.

 

[Gonzo]

This is a regular Taco air box (image stolen from an eBay listing):

The bottom half of the air box (the "dirty" side) is on the top of the image. There are a couple spots where holes can easily be added for more air flow. I'd probably go for the front or right of the air box (facing up or right on the image) to shield it from road debris.

Adding holes to an air box is an old school technique for more intake flow, at the expense of some extra dirt or water intrusion. 1st Gen Tacos/3rd Gen 4runners did this with a boat "deck plate" on the front that could be sealed for dirty or wet trails. I did this on my old 4runner and it added more throttle response, and a lot of cool intake noise. I also had a fine mesh screen backed by hardware cloth to prevent debris or critters from getting in the air box.

There might even be room on the new Taco air box to add a 3" or 4" deck plate on the front:

Yes the Trailhunter has this rubber plug. I would have thought that it would have been the same air box with non-Trailhunter/snorkeled trucks with the snorkel intake plugged and lower air box with a duct to the front, but it appears to be completely different air box. Which make me wonder why it’s there?

 

[Yotota]

Yes the Trailhunter has this rubber plug. I would have thought that it would have been the same air box with non-Trailhunter/snorkeled trucks with the snorkel intake plugged and lower air box with a duct to the front, but it appears to be completely different air box. Which make me wonder why it’s there?

It's there because that is the TRD intake and air box, which is also used on non-snorkel trucks like the TRD PRO or any other Tacoma. So there are two air hole options on the box.

 

[Gonzo]

Yes but why is the Trailhunter air box different than non-snorkel 4th Gen Tacos? I am looking for a cold intake duct that would allow me to remover the rubber stopper/plug and provide more airflow when I don’t need the snorkel.

 

[Yotota]

Yes but why is the Trailhunter air box different than non-snorkel 4th Gen Tacos? I am looking for a cold intake duct that would allow me to remover the rubber stopper/plug and provide more airflow when I don’t need the snorkel.

The Trailhunter and TRD PRO both come stock with the TRD intake and air box. Same air box, that can be used for both snorkel and non-snorkel applications because it has two inlet hole options.

 

[Gonzo]

Ah, ok thanks. So I would need the cold intake duct from the TRD Pro then. I’ll try to look that up. Thanks again Yotota!

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