[ethsphotos]

Hi! Would love to purchase one of Velossa Tech’s ram air intakes for my ST but there’s a part on the instructions that says I have the option of cutting into some part on the car. I attached the picture for reference but was wondering if that’s something that is optional. Do I have to cut into it? Or can I take the whole piece off? If I take the whole piece off, is that something important for the car or is it something that is not really needed? Was just wondering since the instructions for that part are a little vague. Videos online don’t really show that part too well either.

 

[beretta96]

You don't have to cut into your car like that if you take the front cover/clip off the car. It's easy to remove the car's front cover. There are a few Youtube videos. Rest assured, I'm running one of these RAM air devices and wouldn't be doing so if I had to cut a hole like they suggest.

 

[ethsphotos]

You don't have to cut into your car like that if you take the front cover/clip off the car. It's easy to remove the car's front cover. There are a few Youtube videos. Rest assured, I'm running one of these RAM air devices and wouldn't be doing so if I had to cut a hole like they suggest.

So if I just go the longer route of taking off the front bumper/cover I don’t have to cut into it?

 

[Joeywhat]

You have to either cut a hole into it or remove it from the vehicle.

 

[ethsphotos]

You have to either cut a hole into it or remove it from the vehicle.

Ah I see. If I remove it are there any downsides to it/will it hurt anything under the hood?

 

[beretta96]

Ah I see. If I remove it are there any downsides to it/will it hurt anything under the hood?

Nope! It's done regularly with Focus ST's. Like anything, be patient and precise with what you're doing but there isn't anything specifically challenging to it. If you are comfortable changing spark plugs then you can easily remove the front cover - especially if you've watched it done in some Youtube videos.

Many people have removed their front cover multiple times with no reported negative effects - it's kinda taken for granted in the community to just take it on and off. I've only removed mine once and it went without a hitch - I won't hesitate to do it again if needed.

Remember to sit it on a blanket, or something similar, after removing as to not scratch the bottom.

 

[davesST]

Not knowing what year your ST is, this is my experience doing the install on ‘15-‘18 models.

Some claim it has a detrimental effect on airflow to the radiator. I ran one for a couple of years but never experienced anything negative, beyond the fact that the engine compartment got a little bit dirtier. Even that was marginal.
You’ll also find it’s a bit easier to install if you remove the driver’s side headlight assembly, which is super easy.
However, if you have a ‘13-‘14, the above stuff may not apply.

 

[Skykri]

I cut mine and left it to try to keep as much air forced through the radiator. Cutting it was super easy though. You can just as easily yank the whole air dam piece out.

 

[SDCheetah]

The width of the cutout should be a small as the width of the part of the snorkel that you're attaching to the frame. I'd leave the shroud on!

 

[rjbwin]

If you’ve got a 15+ it’s possible to do this install by removing the front grille only. I didn’t plan on re-using that radiator shroud so I just gave it a good yank straight outwards. It’s held in by 2 clips. Just know it exposes the top of the crash bar a little if that bothers you.

 

[ethsphotos]

Yeah I’ve got a 2017 ST, I’ll have to update that in my bio. But that’s interesting about that one piece. It doesn’t seem like a crazy intimidating install since I want to eventually add a new inter cooler and crash bar. Thanks for all of the replies! More are welcome, I just wanted to check in and see what people had to say about it before purchase and install. For those who did install it, was it worth it? For me it’s a 50/50 mix of looks and small gains 😂

 

[Lucada]

In my opinion, it's for looks and wooshy noises (so you can retain your stock airbox cover). Power gains are probably so low, it would be hard to definitively tell on any dyno, but I'm sure Velossa would disagree . I added some small lights next to mine while I was in there.

 

[ethsphotos]

Yeah I’ve got a green air filter on mine and have had the top off for quite some time now but the looks are definitely a major plus 😂don’t disagree with you on the gains- not looking for anything crazy since it’s a daily for me.

 

[Coolpool]

FWIW, I cut mine, screwed it up and yanked it out. No regrets.

 

[ILLGotti]

They don't do anything so just spend the nearly $200 someplace worthwhile like on a tune.

 

[rambleon84]

They don't do anything so just spend the nearly $200 someplace worthwhile like on a tune.

id like to see a real customer do a before and after, same day, same road. Post a log or vdyno of both runs

 

[ILLGotti]

id like to see a real customer do a before and after, same day, same road. Post a log or vdyno of both runs

Whats the point? You seriously think there would be a difference?

 

[rjbwin]

They don't do anything so just spend the nearly $200 someplace worthwhile like on a tune.

They Do bring a higher volume of air into your airbox. The actual performance gains are pretty much non existent however.

 

[rambleon84]

Whats the point? You seriously think there would be a difference?

Easiest way to find out is some A vs B, real world results. Let's see exactly what the difference is, if there is or is not and what the data shows.

People are buying them, so someone should be able to test it and find out. That's half the point of being able to data log is to track changes. I'm in your camp though, haven't felt the need to buy one

 

[Joeywhat]

I ripped mine off the colored plastic part was cracking and looked gross, and I had my doubts that it actually did anything useful. I put the whole airbox back to stock and didn't notice a difference, outside of less noise.