Removing a snorkel from an 80

[metaditch]

I've seen a number of threads asking this question, but I haven't seen anyone who has actually done it. The problem:

- There are a bunch of holes required for fender installation, the biggest of which is something on the order of 3.75 inches in diameter.

The proposed solutions so far:
- Don't get one with a snorkel if you don't want a snorkel
- Embrace the snorkel
- Use a salvage fender or trade fenders with someone who is snorkelless but wants a snorkel (but there are still holes next to the windshield to deal with)
- Remove the snorkel, and body shop required to fix

A couple things I considered and wonder about:
- Either the fender trade/purchase or body shop options (or a combo) seem doable. Anybody have a rough estimate on cost for the repaint, or body work + repaint?
- One possibility - undoing the snorkel air intake mods, and plugging the holes with plastic disks/gaskets. This seems like it'd look bad. Any reason this can't be done?
- Another possibility - the on-demand snorkel... rigging it to function without a snorkel, with some plastic bits covering the holes, but leaving the air intake so that the snorkel can be reinstalled pretty easily in case a safari pops up and/or one wants to drive through some irrigation ditches spur of the moment. This might be slightly impractical.

Has anybody ever followed through with snorkel removal? I'd be really interested to hear your experience.

Two of a number of threads, for reference:
snorkel removal (80)
Snorkel Delete (60)

 

[JTU]

Probably be better off getting a straight fender off a 80 being parted out. At least that’s what I would do.

 

[KrOswalt]

Not sure how in depth your trying to get with this thread, but I’m sure a few have removed a snorkel. Only logical way I see removing one is going back with OEM materials like a fender and the air intake canisters that are inside the fender that can’t be seen, there’s more to it than just “taking the snorkel off”.
Plugging up holes with plastic is a s*** idea IMHO, especially as cheap as you can get an oem fender in the “part out” section of the forum. Any body work is a waste. It would literally take hours of welding, bondo/filler, buffing/sanding, painting and probably some alignment issues when you actually go to install the fender after you’ve handled it during that process. After that many man hours fixing a fender you could probably afford to get a new fender and half the truck repainted.

 

[metaditch]

That makes a lot of sense and seems pretty conclusive. Thanks for the input, both.

This is something I'm most likely going to need to do. If so, I'll follow up here with the before and after for posterity.

 

[KrOswalt]

That makes a lot of sense and seems pretty conclusive. Thanks for the input, both.

This is something I'm most likely going to need to do. If so, I'll follow up here with the before and after for posterity.

I’d leave it, I did mine as a preventative item to help with under hood temps. I got the $70 amazon snorkel because it was so cheap. Last ride we went on it probably kept me from hydrolocking my motor. My friend went thru the hole in his Tacoma first and bogged down a pretty good bit, so I figured being in my big green slug is need to hit it a little harder. I took a slightly different line than he did and water actually came over the hood. Needless to say, it was worth the $70 even if that’s the only time I needed it

 

[Cruzerman]

As much as I dislike snorkels, you may want to think about living with it.

 

[metaditch]

@Cruzerman why do you say that? Potential usefulness, difficulty of uninstall, or other?

 

[Cass007]

1. Chicks dig snorkels ... they are tough, yet trendy. Kind of like hipster beards.
2. It does actually lower intake temps, at least my scan gauge tells me so on the snorkeled vs non-snorkeled trucks
3. Getting the fender to line up can be a PITA. Swapping in a puzzle piece that is 20+ years old and has been in another puzzle isn't always easy
4. Snorkels just look like you are about to head out on an adventure ... how cool is that?
5. Puddles at full throttle ... does it rain in San Diego?

 

[SHREDwagon]

A couple things I considered and wonder about:
- Either the fender trade/purchase or body shop options (or a combo) seem doable. Anybody have a rough estimate on cost for the repaint, or body work + repaint?

Getting a replacement fender is the only viable option. If you're asking the price to re-paint - maybe just be patient until a straight one pop's up in the classifieds (Parting Out Section) in the right color or paint it yourself. Quality paint isn't cheap and you get what you pay for kinda deal.

Agree, snorkels are kind of pointless on a gasser unless you have a fancy Turbo.

 

[Cruzerman]

1. Chicks dig snorkels ... they are tough, yet trendy. Kind of like hipster beards.
2. It does actually lower intake temps, at least my scan gauge tells me so on the snorkeled vs non-snorkeled trucks
3. Getting the fender to line up can be a PITA. Swapping in a puzzle piece that is 20+ years old and has been in another puzzle isn't always easy
4. Snorkels just look like you are about to head out on an adventure ... how cool is that?
5. Puddles at full throttle ... does it rain in San Diego?

To each his own. Toyota made a great air intake system. No snorkel needed IMHO.