Air snorkel

[JPaul]

So I'm looking at building my own air snorkel, because I think it's a crime against humanity that the cheapest I can find one for the H3 is nearly $300 shipped from Australia, yet for any other vehicle I can get one off ebay for less than a hundred shipped.

So a question I have is what is the diameter of the snorkel head where it clamps onto the rest of the snorkel on the ARB/Sherpa ones? is it 3.5" or 3"? I'm looking at making it from either ABS or aluminum. Aluminum will look nicer and probably last longer, but will cost me more to make and can be dented. And to save me the trouble of pulling my fender liner, does anyone know what the diameter is of the air box inlet on the 2008+ I5 H3's?

I've roughly determined that for the bends by the windscreen it will need a 60 degree and a 30 degree bend, not entirely sure about what I'll end up needing going to the air box.

 

[digglesworth]

Search people using a JK snorkel on the back corner vent piece by the windshield pillar. Less committing cause you don't have to drill into your fender. And that section of the JK snorkel can be had for less than $100 I think.
Search Rugged Ridge snorkel in the search bar. I can't link the threads for whatever reason.

 

[JPaul]

I've seen that, and it's really not what I am wanting to go with. It's not really doing anything unless you go to the trouble of fitting pipe up to it somehow and sealing it off, which with that much work I'm better off fabricating something else. I actually don't think I have seen anyone that has done that show how they actually hooked it to the air box, I think all I've seen is just how they mounted the JK snorkel to the air breather cap. I want something like what the Land Rover's get to have (piping direct to the air box), plus I am planning on putting some LED cubes either on the air caps or on the A-pillar right behind them, so I don't want anything blocking it off.

 

[digglesworth]

didnt seem too "functional" to me either.

 

[woodwardsh3]

Search mustanggril on this forum they made a very nice setup with pvc inside the fender and im not sure what air inlet they used. but i think it look really good.

 

[JPaul]

I've seen hers, I love it except for how much metal they had to remove to fit it in, it looked like it was cutting well into structural material. Not sure I'd want to get in an accident afterwards.

 

[alrock]

I've seen hers, I love it except for how much metal they had to remove to fit it in, it looked like it was cutting well into structural material. Not sure I'd want to get in an accident afterwards.

But you're okay getting into an accident now? :giggle: Kidding, I just had to pounce on that opportunity.

 

[JPaul]

Finally came across a measurement for the snorkel head, the ARB is 3.5" ID (OD in the main snorkel body).

Hum. I'm wondering if it's worth mucking with this, or if I should just save up for the ARB/Safari. ABS parts will run me about $40-50, Plus a snorkel head at around $20, plus I'll still need something to go from the airbox to the snorkel, guessing that will run me $10-20, plus fabricating a mount for it, maybe $5-10. So that's, what, around $80-100? Not bad, but not great either. It'd be even more if I went with the aluminum parts that would be the right size (ABS I'm limited to 3" OD, ID is about 2.5", nearly and inch smaller than the aluminum or the ARB/Safari).

Granted, I'd only need the larger size when flooring it, but it might affect performance on the highway if it was undersized. I'll keep mulling it over.

 

[amrg]

I bought this one:
http://m.aliexpress.com/item/32255441507.html
Good product. All items where there including the antenna extension & airbox connection. Althought the connection to the airbox wasnt very snug, I added tape sealant on the airbox side to make it water tight.

 

[Mb30sdl]

It's Chinese rip-of of Safari snorkel if it has everything in it u saved some $$$$. Just installed safari on mine and had to pay $415. I could swear I paid a lot less when i bought one for orange T couple of years ago.

 

[JPaul]

Mb30sdl, you probably did, I'm sure that as time goes by on the Hummer products, price goes up, especially on the Hummer accessories, because now they can be all "oh it's suuuuuper rare! we can charge you more!" You can still get complete snorkels for much older vehicles for about $100, which completely pisses me off.

Thanks for that link and info amrg!

I have a feeling that it's not so much as a rip-off as it is the actual product, minus the branding. I'll bet anything the ARB and Safari snorkels are all made in China, and likely at the very plant(s) that make that one. It's pretty common for the Chinese to sell the same product unbranded, though depending on what you are getting it will probably have much lower quality control, if not different (cheaper) internals. But something like this I think you can't really go wrong on. It's still $100 less than the Safari snorkel kit on Ebay that you have to have shipped from Australia.

 

[amrg]

I dont really have a closeup but here it goes:


This piece (snorkel part that protrudes into the engine bay from the fender) doesn't fit snug on the air box:


So I wrapped tape around the airbox to get the airbox inlet abit thicker:


End result was an extremely tight fit. Whats great about it is when you hit the pedal you hear the truck breath really hard!

 

[JPaul]

Wow, that is extremely helpful, thanks!! I think I'm just going to get that one of aliexpress when I have some extra money.

I wonder if you could just use some silicone caulk to seal that bit up, that should make sure nothing can get in, and really, how often would you be removing the airbox? Though the caulk should come loose, or just loosen the clamp inside the fender. Would that work?

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[amrg]

You could add silicone, but in that rare case you wana remove the airbox I dont want it glued to the other piece.
As long as you completely seal it you're good. I never cross under water but in that rare occassion where "oh **** I shldve had a snorkel" hits, and it did once in my 4 years wheeling, Im prepared.

 

[Cash9300]

Well add this to the list lol it never ends does it


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