Intake resonator delete

GuySmily · 11-26-2012, 01:14 AM

I was working in the driver side fenderwell and saw the intake resonator box. Figured I'd pull it out to see if I can get a little more intake grunt. Couldn't find much info on the forums here, so I thought I'd post pics.

If you do this, you'll find little plastic washer things between the chassis and the mounts. Not sure what they're for, but they're small so be careful not to lose them.

Resonator removed, and mounts reinstalled to keep crud out of the bolt holes:

Picked up a "test plug" at home depot. Never seen one of these before, but I imagine the CVT working under the same principle as this thing. As you tighten the wing nut, the two halves come together and expand the rubber seal.

Here's how it looks installed on the pipe. Has to be tightened pretty much all the way, but it grips nice and hard - definitely no risk of it falling out.

Do you guys have this same dent on your intake pipe? I tried to pop it out but it feels permanent, as if it's there on purpose.

**Eli** · 11-26-2012, 02:18 AM

Deleting the resonator kills low RPM torque, FWIW.

Never noticed that dent before. Odd.

GuySmily · 11-26-2012, 04:18 AM

Ah, that sucks. Guess I'll see how bad it is on my way home from work tomorrow. The uphill getting home is a painful 2nd/3rd-gear 45mph climb.

**jeff652** · 11-26-2012, 11:40 AM

Those little plastic washers hold the bolt/grommet/spacer assembly together so it doesn't fall apart when removing/installing the resonator. Fairly common on Honda's

. The divot in the intake tube is to clear the IMA wires I believe, and is intentional

Cobb · 11-26-2012, 01:22 PM

All you can do is test mods like this. I tested exhaust modifications by just removing the muffler and going for a very short drive. I liked the extra umph I felt and replaced the muffler with a straight piece of pipe. Sounds better too.

Sounds awesome going 45 mph in 2nd or 3 gear.

Need4Speed · 12-03-2012, 09:42 PM

I think that the dent is to clear the upper cvt trans mount. It lines up perfectly and is fairly close. I looked at both the tubes I have and they both have the dent.

How was your drive without the resonator? Do you have a cvt or manual trans?

GuySmily · 12-03-2012, 10:58 PM

Actually, I didn't notice too much difference in sound or power. Still need to be in 3rd gear to get up my hill, but I guess that's way above the 1300-1800 rpm you're reporting. I always thought the car had nothing that low in the RPM range.

The car is a 5 spd MT.

Later this week I'll put the resonator back and see if I feel a difference then. Is the resonator just as easily accessible from the bumper as from the wheel well? Any guides on bumper removal? I need to see why the passenger corner on my car is sagging.

Need4Speed · 12-04-2012, 06:37 AM

Try cruzing around in the 1500 rpm range before you put the resonator back on, the see with it installed. Let me know your findings.

GuySmily · 12-04-2012, 01:58 PM

Did some experimenting last night. Found the perfect route for testing. The car is pretty gutless, but I thought it always was that way. Will observe more closely until I get my MR2 back together and out of the garage, then I can put the resonator back in.

Blue-Civic-Hybrid · 12-04-2012, 02:59 PM

I took my resonator out right after i got my car about 2 years ago since i needed the space for my air horn install. I also used a KN drop in filter and it seems to pick up quicker in my 5 speed than with the resonator.

I will steal your idea with that plug thing, I just have duct tape around the hole left in the intake arm.

No problems from my point of view over nearly 2 years...