Air Intake Tube Alternative

Already had a member reach out when I posted and they are on the way to him.

 

Are the TRD couplings required? Or can you get away with just using the intake tube?

 

No they’re not required. You can even build your own tube like others.

 

Thanks. That's good to know. Would like to keep it looking "stock" or "stealthy" for no real reason lol.

I considered making my own tube. Then I started weighing the cost versus my ability to do it like I would want the first time around lol.

Thanks for the info. It's been helpful, and an unexpected cost

 

Did this yesterday morning. Removed the factory TB gasket and replaced it with the one without the mesh screen, capped and by-passed the TB coolant line, and replaced the intake with the 3 TRD pieces (needed to get a new PCV hose that is about 18" long). Not sure if there were any performance gains, but the sound is definitely deeper around 3k RPM. Plan on doing the SABM and air accelerator to the box tomorrow.

 

I’m diving down this one next. I do have that horrible resonator box on my 2013 intake tube.

Can someone please confirm that I can reuse the rubber couplings from the stock assembly and just use the TRD tube?
Will I have to extend any of the hoses that run to the resonator?
I would like to keep this a budget friendly mod since I don’t believe gains will be much.
I’m also going to go with an air accelerator. Was thinking about the SABM but want to just try the tube and accelerator.



Any feedback is appreciated

 

You'll need to extend this hose to reach the port on the intake tube. There's no way to pull it/position it to reach. The smaller line can be made to reach though.


You can see the extension in this photo from post 11 in this thread

 

You can not reuse stock couplings. They are plastic welded, or something, on. I found this out the hard way......however, I did make it work. It's not pretty by any means, but works. I bought a 4" to 3.5" reducer coupler on Amazon to go from intake tube to throttle body. And you will have to extend the crankcase hose. You only need about 18 inches. You can get 2 feet of hose for about $4 at O'Reilly. I got a deal for a brand new TRD air filter from @Hightide, so all in all, I'm out maybe a little over $100 for my makeshift TRD system lol....



It's ghetto, but I'm hood rich lol and haven't had any issues with it.

 

Thank you that is helpful. Dont remember the size of that tube so I can preorder everything.

Also I noticed the red TRD rubber parts have a locating notch from rubber to the plastic on both ends. My black stock ones do not have that notch. Will that not be a problem just force it over and clamp down?

 

If I’m reading right. You were able to reuse the hose from air box to the TRD tube but the rubber hose from tube to TB you needed to source from Amazon?

You got any pics of that lower rubber hose installed?

 

Looking at his picture, it's 1/2" ID PCV hose. You won't need the locating "tabs" on the coupler.

 

I’m not opposed to buying new rubber hose adapters. I just don’t want the red tbh. Is that one from the air box just 4” ID on both ends? Then the one to the TB is a 4” ID to 3.5” ID 45 degree?

 

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was able to reuse the bellows portion,HOWEVER, it doesn't just come off the stock filter set up. I actually cut it off as close to the plastic weld as I could. I wanted it to look stock as possible and was experimenting, I had a back coupler if it didn't work lol. Surprisingly, it is a snug fit if you slide it over the TRD tube. It's crazy the TRD bellows coupler is $60+. The PCV hose is 15/32", so @RainMan_PNW might be right about the ID. I'm trash at math so I don't know lol. If you want me to be completely honest, if I were you I would at least consider the TRD couplers as well, would probably save a lot of time and headache. I had to trim and adjust my couplers to get it to fit like I wanted. TRD set up just fits. Probably could do the swap in like 15 minutes.

 

I didn't want red either. It was hard to find a correct length for new couplers. You'll have to do some cutting. I thought 4" ID was a little big when I put it together, but after looking around couldn't find anything between 3.5 and 4. So I just stuck with 4 and clamped it down

 

15/32 and 1/2 are only 1/32 difference - I was going off what I could see/read in your photo, which was the 12.7mm on the hose and that comes out to about 1/2”.
I actually wanted the red, but the airbox on my truck is positioned slightly differently (at some point in ‘20 or ‘21 they slightly changed the airbox - the lid clamps on differently and sits differently) and the overall length of the TRD intake and connectors is now too long.

so I said screw out and stayed with stock.

i did the SABM on my 2008 and after that always had a noticeable whistle in the intake -especially if sitting in the passenger seat you’d hear it. Even deleting the screen on that gasket in the intake body didn’t help. So i opted not to do that with my 21.

 

I found a few pieces on the ol Amazon You guys think these ID sizes are close enough to clamp. I am expecting to trim to length.

I like the black on these and like the fact they are smooth on the inside as opposed to corrugated on OEM


Edit: I have a K&N drop in filter in there now...kinda dig the whistle

 

Edit:
Gonna just try the swap with these new hoses.

Also decided on the OEM TRD pcv hose.

All in $165.40

 

This will work. You'll be doing a lot of cutting and trimming on your new couplers. Be careful cutting your angled one. Heck, get it measured right, might be able to use the piece you cut off on the 45 degree and use it as the portion to the intake box. Good luck!

 

Thanks that is reassuring. I was kinda thinking the same thing with that 45 piece. I’m gonna pull off the whole stock assembly and do my best to copy the angles and dimensions with the 3 new parts.

Since I live in CA it’s important to me to keep a somewhat factory look when smog time comes around

 

so how did that work out? Before and after pics?

 

Looking to do the upgrade but a couple questions. Did you replace the exhaust as well or just the intake tube? Any one else have issues with the 2020 SR5 swap? Here's my before which looks similar to the others posted:

 

The tube and couplers were too long, and wrong inside diameter to use the stock air box lid. There is a before pic in this thread, here is the after with the TRD lid.

 

You have glass fenders, you don't still use the opening to the fender well for air intake, do you?

 

Yes, still use opening in the fender well. Have a boot with aluminum sleeve in it drawing air from behind the headlight.

 

Just me sayin but, before I would drop that coin and work for marginal gains if any, I would go to the MAV and see about polished ends, any screen removal, anything to increase airflow at that point.
Your going to spend less and most likely gain a lot more in performance without going illegal with the smog Nazis.

 

Smog Nazis are the worst. I’m gonna sand the new black hoses I get in an attempt to make things look like they belong. Hoping to have time Sunday to get it built.

 

Newb here... "MAV"? I'm looking at just replacing the tube and resonator. Looks like an easy $100 fix but want to make sure I don't trip up on anything either as a DIY or TRD solution.

 

Sorry, MAF....

 

Ignore the tape measure...should I clean the TB when I’m in there this weekend?

Just remove the 4 bolts and clean with TB spray cleaner when coolant lines are still attached inside the engine bay?

 

Of course..
If your TB has a coolant line running through it and you don't live where it freezes over during the winter, by-passing the TB coolant line will give you a few HP when it gets hot during the summer.