Snorkel For Big Blue?

[Gary Lewis]

The distributor boot pictured above from LMC will fit either the small cap or the large cap, but it IS actually sized for the large cap, and is OEM Ford stock straight from the Ford dealer, as these were original equipment on the 1986-1993 Mustang 5.0L. It fits very snug on the large cap, a little looser on the small cap. As noted in the catalog they'll fit distributor caps up to 5" in diameter. The bare big cap is 4-7/16" diameter, the small cap is 3-7/8" diameter.

Thanks, Keith. So, does the application list need to updated? And, do they do a reasonable job of keeping water from splashes out of the dizzy?

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, Keith. So, does the application list need to updated? And, do they do a reasonable job of keeping water from splashes out of the dizzy?

As an update to this thread, I'm trying to adapt the Windsor EFI air intake to Big Blue as it'll raise the bottom of the inlet from 36" to 48" off the ground. You can see that in Big Blue's Transformation thread starting here.

But I have found this thread on FSB where a guy installed an ARB SS395HF snorkel for a Land Rover on his Bullnose.

I don't like it all that well since it isn't a perfect fit as the horizontal part runs at an angle to the hood/fender. And it comes in well above the air filter box, which required a whole lot of custom fabrication under the hood. Maybe it would have fit better if he'd put it below the break in the fender?

But I put it here for reference and will continue my quest to modify the Windsor intake to fit.

[BigBrother-84]

As an update to this thread, I'm trying to adapt the Windsor EFI air intake to Big Blue as it'll raise the bottom of the inlet from 36" to 48" off the ground. You can see that in Big Blue's Transformation thread starting here.

But I have found this thread on FSB where a guy installed an ARB SS395HF snorkel for a Land Rover on his Bullnose.

I don't like it all that well since it isn't a perfect fit as the horizontal part runs at an angle to the hood/fender. And it comes in well above the air filter box, which required a whole lot of custom fabrication under the hood. Maybe it would have fit better if he'd put it below the break in the fender?

But I put it here for reference and will continue my quest to modify the Windsor intake to fit.

I am curious to understand why these snorkels always point their open mouth towards the front of the vehicle. Not the side or the rear.

I mean, when heavy rain, won't the water go to the intake directly, even on a road and not crossing a river?

Or maybe if pointing toward the rear, there would be a "succion" effect that would reduce the air to the intake?

[Gary Lewis]

I am curious to understand why these snorkels always point their open mouth towards the front of the vehicle. Not the side or the rear.

I mean, when heavy rain, won't the water go to the intake directly, even on a road and not crossing a river?

Or maybe if pointing toward the rear, there would be a "succion" effect that would reduce the air to the intake?

It is a reasonable question. The forward-facing opening would certainly get water in it, but so will the forward-facing one from the factory. But the inlet for the one for the 300, 460, and IDI is actually lower than the air filter box, which is lower than the throttle body, so maybe water doesn't get sucked in during a rain?

However, the openings for the ones at the top of the cab are obviously higher than not only the air filter box but also the throttle body. So maybe the water is coming in so slowly it isn't a problem? Maybe it is like the water injection systems of old that cooled the charge and prevented detonation?

Plus the ARB one listed above says "Top pivots and is designed to remove the maximum volume of water from incoming air stream."

[Ford F834]

It is a reasonable question. The forward-facing opening would certainly get water in it, but so will the forward-facing one from the factory. But the inlet for the one for the 300, 460, and IDI is actually lower than the air filter box, which is lower than the throttle body, so maybe water doesn't get sucked in during a rain?

However, the openings for the ones at the top of the cab are obviously higher than not only the air filter box but also the throttle body. So maybe the water is coming in so slowly it isn't a problem? Maybe it is like the water injection systems of old that cooled the charge and prevented detonation?

Plus the ARB one listed above says "Top pivots and is designed to remove the maximum volume of water from incoming air stream."

Hi Gary,

I know I am very late to the party… probably too late to be of much help… but I can comment on the air intake direction.

Most of the IDI’s had the intake in the core support, but later ones (Aeronose?) had it right at the hood seam at the top of the core support. This was supposedly done to take advantage of the slightly positive pressure where the air flow accelerating over the corner of the hood while driving would produce a mild forced induction effect. Some owners of older IDI’s have updated to the newer duct and claimed to notice an improvement. The caveat being that it is wise to trim the hood insulation as it is notorious for sagging and blocking the broad skinny inlet.

Another IDI upgrade was a cowl induction aftermarket kit sold by Hypermax. This made use of another high pressure point where the air flow hits the windshield and creates positive pressure in the cowl that is used for the cab vents. The Hypermax requires cutting the cowl and ducting air to the air filter. The Hypermax kit offers convenience, but many owners have fabricated their own.

This positive pressure induction is likely more important on a naturally aspirated diesel, but is worth at least thinking about for Big Blue. I think I would want the inlet facing forward if it were me.

Just out of curiosity, are you actually wanting to be able to drive into more than 36” of standard water? That seems way deeper than anything I would voluntarily drive into 😬. Anything above the differentials and axle hubs makes for a lot of lube change and grease work when you get home. I once entered a puddle that was almost to the lower edge of the front bumper con the passenger side, and it cost me a starter motor. Ooooops.

Here is a link to the Hypermax cowl induction:

https://www.gohypermax.com/ProductDisplay.aspx?ID=498d3ee6-44a5-427d-9e97-bf310348184d

[Gary Lewis]

Hi Gary,

I know I am very late to the party… probably too late to be of much help… but I can comment on the air intake direction.

Most of the IDI’s had the intake in the core support, but later ones (Aeronose?) had it right at the hood seam at the top of the core support. This was supposedly done to take advantage of the slightly positive pressure where the air flow accelerating over the corner of the hood while driving would produce a mild forced induction effect. Some owners of older IDI’s have updated to the newer duct and claimed to notice an improvement. The caveat being that it is wise to trim the hood insulation as it is notorious for sagging and blocking the broad skinny inlet.

Another IDI upgrade was a cowl induction aftermarket kit sold by Hypermax. This made use of another high pressure point where the air flow hits the windshield and creates positive pressure in the cowl that is used for the cab vents. The Hypermax requires cutting the cowl and ducting air to the air filter. The Hypermax kit offers convenience, but many owners have fabricated their own.

This positive pressure induction is likely more important on a naturally aspirated diesel, but is worth at least thinking about for Big Blue. I think I would want the inlet facing forward if it were me.

Just out of curiosity, are you actually wanting to be able to drive into more than 36” of standard water? That seems way deeper than anything I would voluntarily drive into 😬. Anything above the differentials and axle hubs makes for a lot of lube change and grease work when you get home. I once entered a puddle that was almost to the lower edge of the front bumper con the passenger side, and it cost me a starter motor. Ooooops.

Here is a link to the Hypermax cowl induction:

https://www.gohypermax.com/ProductDisplay.aspx?ID=498d3ee6-44a5-427d-9e97-bf310348184d

Jonathan - I don't understand what you mean by "the hood seam at the top of the core support". Where is that in comparison to where the Windsor inlet is that I'm using?

As for the cowl induction, I don't think I can snake a hose that size back to the firewall, but I'll look tomorrow. Thanks.

But I'm not planning on going deeper than about 33 - 35". I've watched the videos and that's the deepest they get. But the bottom of the current inlet is at 36", so a bow wave would cause problems. Hence the work to move it to the top of the radiator support, which is at 48".

[Ford F834]

Jonathan - I don't understand what you mean by "the hood seam at the top of the core support". Where is that in comparison to where the Windsor inlet is that I'm using?

As for the cowl induction, I don't think I can snake a hose that size back to the firewall, but I'll look tomorrow. Thanks.

But I'm not planning on going deeper than about 33 - 35". I've watched the videos and that's the deepest they get. But the bottom of the current inlet is at 36", so a bow wave would cause problems. Hence the work to move it to the top of the radiator support, which is at 48".

Gary I believe the Windsor intake and the late IDI intake are functionally the same. Mostly I wanted to comment on the direction of the inlet and to consider the air pressure in the duct if you hadn’t thought of it. Here are a couple of images of the late IDI factory set up:

[Gary Lewis]

Gary I believe the Windsor intake and the late IDI intake are functionally the same. Mostly I wanted to comment on the direction of the inlet and to consider the air pressure in the duct if you hadn’t thought of it. Here are a couple of images of the late IDI factory set up:

Ok, so it sits over the 2nd battery. Now I understand. Thanks.

And I hadn't thought of the air pressure. But the through-the-support inlet had pressure as well. So does the later one have more?

[Ford F834]

Ok, so it sits over the 2nd battery. Now I understand. Thanks.

And I hadn't thought of the air pressure. But the through-the-support inlet had pressure as well. So does the later one have more?

Armchair forum wisdom says yes, something about the velocity of the air where it changes direction to flow over the edge of the hood and at the base of the windshield produces more pressure than the flat opening in the core support. It sounds plausible, but I don’t know that it has been measured and I am skeptical about whether it makes a tangible difference. Some owners claim to have noticed improvement with an NA diesel and cowl induction. I would think that an EFI gas engine would be less responsive to the Hypermax upgrade but I could be wrong.

[Gary Lewis]

Armchair forum wisdom says yes, something about the velocity of the air where it changes direction to flow over the edge of the hood and at the base of the windshield produces more pressure than the flat opening in the core support. It sounds plausible, but I don’t know that it has been measured and I am skeptical about whether it makes a tangible difference. Some owners claim to have noticed improvement with an NA diesel and cowl induction. I would think that an EFI gas engine would be less responsive to the Hypermax upgrade but I could be wrong.

Jonathan - I think I like the Windsor inlet better than the later diesel on as it looks like it would be a pain to get routed down to the air filter box.

But the shot below of the Hypermax cowl induction inlet on the left and Big Blue's firewall on the right has potential. I've circled where the Hypermax goes on the firewall and put an arrow where it needs to connect to the air filter box.

I think it could be made to do that, but it would be busy as the pic of BB has the MAF sensor and inlet hose(s) to the throttle body removed. So the air inlet hose would have to go below that.

I think for now I'm going to continue on with the Windsor inlet and see if I can get it going. I don't really like the idea of cutting holes in Big Blue, either for an external snorkel or into the cowl.

But thanks for the ideas!