I have a 2002 Dakota and I want to install a cold air intake but I want a hood style intake if possible. I have 3 reasons for this.
1. I want the performance Benefit of a true cold intake (not one that just draws in hot engine compartment air)

2. I want the cosmetic look that a hood scoop provides without the have fake stick on scoops.

3. I want the install a second battery in the space current occupied by the air filter box.

I'm sure I'm not the only person that wants to do or has done it. I don't have a lot of money so I need to use the existing hood and cut the hole in it. Thank you.

 

Anything is possible with a sawzall. Then you would probably have to custom fabricate your own intake system to seal the TB to the scoop underhood.

 

I'll have to look and see if I can find pics. My last laptop hdd crashed but I might have them on an SD card or thumb drive someplace. But I did exactly this on my last truck.

I added scoop, cut hood, made functional, use rubber weatherstripping so under hood looked finished and professional and lastly routed my CAI at a 45* angle into the scoop.

For now, I have exterior, and yes that's gutter mesh...

 

I hope you can find the pictures and any list of materials you have would be great.

 

How does it avoid water intrusion when driving in rain?

 

My simple but effective solution:

Hoodopensmall.jpg



It's not really a true CAI, since the scoop is not sealed to the air cleaner, but it certainly takes in outside air.

 

Truck looks good Tom, but I don't see how that design would prevent water ingestion, say if you were driving 75 mph, in heavy rain.

 

I live in California. What is this heavy rain you speak of?

 

LOL... that explains it then!

 

Mine wasn't true Ram air either. Just a little home made deal with the cone filter angled up toward the scoop. Mine actually came about by "accident". I had a limb fall on the hood and my attempt to pop it out left a crease. Small, not real noticeable, but it bugged the hell out of me. The fake scoop was a band aid to hide the crease.

About 2 years later I wanted to install a 2nd battery for my off road lighting and winch. I almost welded a battery box to the front bumper mount. The location where the hidden winch on a Power Wagon would be. But then got the idea if I cut the front out if the scoop, re-run my CAI then I could use the $35 Mopar passenger side tray for the battery. So I had a functional scoop AND my 2nd battery. Two birds/ one rock.

As for water, I'm between south Georgia and the Florida monsoons all the time. What gets past the mesh and then manages to hit the filter is minimal. Besides, the filter is oiled and since water won't mix, it doesn't soak through to the media.

Store bought CAIs that mount the filter in the wheel well for cooler air pose more risk IMO. Not to mention, you ever see where a high priced Vararam gets its air from???