Hi all,
I thought I'd write up a quick thread on the Ironman 80 series snorkel. I bought it from Jason @ www.cruisinoffroad.com who's a vendor for Ironman.
First impressions, it looks pretty good. Seems well built. Time will tell of course, but overall I am so far 100% satisfied with it. It also came with all the trimmings required including stainless steel hardware, nylock nuts, etc.
First step, remove the factory airbox (3 bolts), and remove the cruise control box bolts (don't actually have to disconnect it, just move it slightly out of the way). You don't need to remove the battery.
Then remove the factory air "catch" thing inside the fender.
Use the provided template, with tape, on the fender. Mark with a felt or paint pen. There are I believe 6 bolt holes, one big hole for the intake (3.5" fits perfectly) and 3 small holes for plastic tabby things in the A-pillar. Cover all areas to be drilled with painting or masking tape.
NOTE: the position of the 3.5 inch hole was SLIGHTLY off on our template. Make sure to quadruple check everything. Place the template over the actual snorkel to ensure a perfect fit. You can see how it was slightly off in the below photo.
Then use a metal punch and hammer on the center of each drill hole. This will ensure your drill doesn't walk and scar up your paint!
Drill a small pilot hole in the center of each hole, including the large 3.5 inch hole.
Now come the crap-your-pants part. Check your measurements AGAIN. Then get out a 3.5 inch metal hole saw. If you don't have a high quality one, BORROW or buy one. Don't use a cheap one! I borrowed a nice one.
IMPORTANT: When drilling, ensure to SOFTLY press the hole saw against the fender. Let the saw itself pull itself into the fender. Do not apply a lot of pressure, or the drill can jump!!!!! Softly does it. This part took me the better part of 5 minutes just to drill.
I then used a step drill bit to widen the bolt holes out. I believe it ended up being step 3 or 4 on the bit. Just keep testing with the snorkel to see when it slides in without grinding or gripping the edge of the holes on the studs of the snorkel.
Completed holes:
Buy a small can of rustoleum paint, or some sort of rust inhibiting paint. Not a spray can though. Use Q-tips or a small paint brush to brush on the paint on the inside, edge, and outside of the new holes. You can go over a bit onto the car paint, it won't matter as you won't see it - and rust is always your enemy!
Here's the A-pillar holes and A-pillar bracket...
I also drilled a small hole in the fender just under the side of the snorkel, so you can SORT OF see it while the snorkel is on, but not really. Then I put a grommet in. This will take all my roof rack wiring... lights and cell phone booster, antennas, etc. The wiring will follow the underside of the snorkel, and into the fender and thus into the engine bay.
Completed holes, painted and ready to install...
Now is the fun and easy part. Put the snorkel onto the side of the fender, noticing how well your holes line up with it..
..and use the provided stainless fender washers and nylock nuts. You can reach each one from reaching in the corner marker hole into your fender if you have a skinny arm. I did. If not, you can utilize some of the holes inside the fender/engine bay.
Then attach the rubber hose connector piece to the snorkel where it comes into the fender/engine bay. Re-install the airbox, ensuring both ends of the rubber connector piece are snug and well fit over the air box and snorkel. Mine was a REALLY tight fit (good for water prevention!). Then use the provided clasps to lock it down.
Reinstall everything else, and put the snorkel topper on, and you're ready to go!
I thought I'd write up a quick thread on the Ironman 80 series snorkel. I bought it from Jason @ www.cruisinoffroad.com who's a vendor for Ironman.
First impressions, it looks pretty good. Seems well built. Time will tell of course, but overall I am so far 100% satisfied with it. It also came with all the trimmings required including stainless steel hardware, nylock nuts, etc.
First step, remove the factory airbox (3 bolts), and remove the cruise control box bolts (don't actually have to disconnect it, just move it slightly out of the way). You don't need to remove the battery.
Then remove the factory air "catch" thing inside the fender.
Use the provided template, with tape, on the fender. Mark with a felt or paint pen. There are I believe 6 bolt holes, one big hole for the intake (3.5" fits perfectly) and 3 small holes for plastic tabby things in the A-pillar. Cover all areas to be drilled with painting or masking tape.
NOTE: the position of the 3.5 inch hole was SLIGHTLY off on our template. Make sure to quadruple check everything. Place the template over the actual snorkel to ensure a perfect fit. You can see how it was slightly off in the below photo.
Then use a metal punch and hammer on the center of each drill hole. This will ensure your drill doesn't walk and scar up your paint!
Drill a small pilot hole in the center of each hole, including the large 3.5 inch hole.
Now come the crap-your-pants part. Check your measurements AGAIN. Then get out a 3.5 inch metal hole saw. If you don't have a high quality one, BORROW or buy one. Don't use a cheap one! I borrowed a nice one.
IMPORTANT: When drilling, ensure to SOFTLY press the hole saw against the fender. Let the saw itself pull itself into the fender. Do not apply a lot of pressure, or the drill can jump!!!!! Softly does it. This part took me the better part of 5 minutes just to drill.
I then used a step drill bit to widen the bolt holes out. I believe it ended up being step 3 or 4 on the bit. Just keep testing with the snorkel to see when it slides in without grinding or gripping the edge of the holes on the studs of the snorkel.
Completed holes:
Buy a small can of rustoleum paint, or some sort of rust inhibiting paint. Not a spray can though. Use Q-tips or a small paint brush to brush on the paint on the inside, edge, and outside of the new holes. You can go over a bit onto the car paint, it won't matter as you won't see it - and rust is always your enemy!
Here's the A-pillar holes and A-pillar bracket...
I also drilled a small hole in the fender just under the side of the snorkel, so you can SORT OF see it while the snorkel is on, but not really. Then I put a grommet in. This will take all my roof rack wiring... lights and cell phone booster, antennas, etc. The wiring will follow the underside of the snorkel, and into the fender and thus into the engine bay.
Completed holes, painted and ready to install...
Now is the fun and easy part. Put the snorkel onto the side of the fender, noticing how well your holes line up with it..
..and use the provided stainless fender washers and nylock nuts. You can reach each one from reaching in the corner marker hole into your fender if you have a skinny arm. I did. If not, you can utilize some of the holes inside the fender/engine bay. Then attach the rubber hose connector piece to the snorkel where it comes into the fender/engine bay. Re-install the airbox, ensuring both ends of the rubber connector piece are snug and well fit over the air box and snorkel. Mine was a REALLY tight fit (good for water prevention!). Then use the provided clasps to lock it down.
Reinstall everything else, and put the snorkel topper on, and you're ready to go!
