Ok. We've all seen write-ups on this type of snorkel and after a lot of searching I have yet to find any write-ups about the aftermath..

So here's one for y'all to read and hopefully help you in deciding if you want to go this route.

I'm referring to a cowl type snorkel. The install was a breeze. My only stress with it is to watch what comes up over your hood. Also the air box bolts are a pain to water seal as you will see in the pics. I've been out wheelin 3 times now since this mod. I've had water up over the hood with almost every hole I've hit. Also had water and mud rain down on the cowl from the wheels that are offset sticking several inches past the fenders being in deep holes. I do get water into the intake and into the engine. Nothing like it would be if it was stock. But I'm still not sure if the water coming into to engine is from the bolts or the cowl. This mod WILL IMPROVE you ability to wheel in deep holes but you must still be cautious. This is a great mod for that stealth look. And future plans are to build a shield inside the cowl. This is not a write-up on the building of one. Just the results of it. I will answer questions anyone has on it. So with that said, here are some pics showing the part numbers, some build pics, and after pics when I got home and inspected the air box.


First the build.





























This is the first trip with the mod



















This is the second trip. I don't have any other pics of it or the after pics but this is one of the holes I was in.



Here is yesterday's trip. This hole had my diff caught and I had to get pulled out. We went into the hole and the rut just dropped. All four tires where off the ground.

















As you can see you still get water if you are not careful. Our xj is not a daily driver so I can't tell you what the results are for driving in the rain. But if you want to keep the cost down under $30 and keep the stock look you might want to go this route. This mod WILL allow you to wheel in holes that a stock box can't, but it still can't compare to a outside pillar snorkel.

As the build continues with adding a deflection shield in the cowl, ill keep this post updated.

 

WOW, that's water/dirt/mud on the inside of the top air box cover/above the air cleaner.

The Spectre and THOR pull water from the passenger side and it has a cover/diverter in place below the cowl grill on that side. Not open like the drivers side.

 

You do realize you have a Jeep, not a submarine, right?

As much as you like to play in the mud I'd suggest a legit cowl snorkel that eliminates the OEM air box like the Spectre and Thor mentioned above.

 

Haha.. Yeah I know it's a jeep..

The hole point of this post is so people can see what the limits of a cowl snorkel. To help them decide what to do.. Yeah we've taking the cowl and pushed the limits.. But in the end it's a jeep right?

 

Risky Business reference?

After driving the Porsche into the lake: "Who's the U-Boat Commander?"

 

The limits of the 'DIY drivers side' cowl snorkel.

Can you run the hose over to the passenger side and into the cowl there?

 

I think you can. Not sure if the current hose will but that's not the point of this post. This isn't for me to get help on the mod. It's purely to show people that are wanting to do the "DIY DRIVERSIDE COWL SNORKEL" what they are getting into. We both know that if you search for a DIY cowl snorkel that this approach pops up 90% of the time. And countless amounts of topics on it. All without anyone showing if it works or not. Or how extreme you can take it. All the searching I've done has only turned up people saying it works great..

So I decided to do this mod and test it myself and post the results for others to see that are questioning this approach.

Would it be better on the passenger side? I would agree to that and recommend it. But I have other plans for that side.

Now I am going to add a deflection plate inside the cowl and post the results. Again for info for others.

And this is what we all are here for. To learn from one an other. And to have fun doing it.

 

This is a great thread man. Your throwing caution to the wind and just going at it hard and posting the aftermath. Has there been any other electrical problems you have encountered dunking your XJ that deep.

 

This is what I was wondering, if you water proofed everything or not

 

Ha.. No. It is stock! I did however extend the breathers and siliconed the distributer. Water proofing is on my to do list for over the winter. I have the jeep in the work shed till spring.

 

Nice write up. The problem is you went in to the drivers side.

I run in water and mud over the hood and literally do not get so much as one single drop in my air box.
went in on the passenger side with hard sch 30.

Honestly I would re do the cowl mod if I got that much crap in the air box. It looks like you did a good job just the wrong side.

 

Also a couple tips.

One is to NOT use corrugated pipe. It collects a lot of dirt and will keep sucking dirt and dust to your filter even when you're not in the dirt.

Secondly a little trick is to dam the bottom half inch of your air pipe running into your cowl. This way when the water goes over the hood and runs on the cowl floor, it won't just free flow into your air pipe.

 

are you runing a filter in the cowl ?

 

How is it that your air cleaner is FULL of mud but in the pictures the inside of the tubing from the cowl is clean? Tells me that **** isn't getting in that way.

 

Me? Absolutely not. Can't beat a stock sealed air chamber.