REVIEW: Weapon-R Secret Intake (pics/vid)
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From: Saint John New Brunswick Canada
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Originally Posted by gearbox
This is the Weapon-R Secret weapon intake for 01-05 civics with newly designed SW1 filter element. This is gonna change what people think about weapon-r products.
Well after a rough 2 hours, its finally installed! I just wanted to do a quick review of the positive and negatives as compared to other intakes I've tried out already.
PROS:
1. The intake looks sweet! polished metal with all grey mounting hardware makes it blend into the engine bay well.
2. The intake uses alot of new technology. The secondary pipe has a rough surface to promote turbulence (like what the throttle body spacer was supposed to do but better). The SW1 filter has been flow tested to outperform K&N many times. It flows more air than an open intake pipe due to its velocity stack design and open top. Finally, the overall design of the intake is improved. The temp sensor and breather hose are located away from the throttle body as not to interfere with airflow, and the pipe that connects to the throttle body allows for a smooth transition of airflow that is great for guys with a ported throttle body like me.
There is also a small air plenum above the tb to allow for greater throttle response.
3. The sound it makes is very mellow and almost sounds just like my rsr exhaust. It is deep when you stomp the gas, but not your typical rice intake sound that others like aem and K&N are famous for. This is a major plus for me because most people would not even be able to distinguish the intake from the exhaust sound.
4. the hissing noise it makes on warmup and shutdown are still there, but only 1/2 as loud as other intakes. Another plus because I don't want it to sound like a vacuum cleaner under there lol!
5. As far as performance, I would say low end power is at least as good as the stock airbox, if not better. It also pulls very good in the higher rpms. No power loss at all. Best of all, throttle response when taking off from a stop is much better. This thing jumps forward immediately when you mash the gas.
CONS:
1. the intake pipe is still metal (and unpainted/anodized) so it will be getting very hot in the summer. This may be offset slightly by the fact that this intake takes up very little space and sits at the very back of the engine bay to promote more air circulation.
2. This is one of the hardest intakes I've ever had the displeasure of installing. Nothing fit the way it was supposed to! The breather hose was too small but I was able to force it on anyway. The rubber fittings had a hard time going together and on the throttle body. The temp sensor was about 12 inches too short and the wires needed to be extended. Then when I plugged in the sensor, it was loose so I wrapped electrical tape around the base to keep it in place. The bracket that holds the filter to the stock mount needed to be bent (thanks to the previous owner for doing this already). The filter is touching a harness and the fuse box. Very cramped but it fits.
3. There is no way to use the optional ram air kit without removing the fuse box.
4. The primary pipe is a bit larger than should be for this engine. Three inches compared to stock 2.5 inch. And there is no dual chamber design like weapon-r made for other vehicles from this model.
After all is said and done, the long install was worth it. This is by far the best intake I have owned. The aem sri is just crap for every reason, the K&N fipk is okay but looks dumb and makes very strange noises. The only other intake that comes close is the typhoon, but I didn't like the sound it made or the filter it came with. Overall I am very happy with this intake. Great low end and hi end, awesome sound, and amazing looks.
Now onto pics and video!!!
http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1...Q0QZCQ9YVP0AHF
Well after a rough 2 hours, its finally installed! I just wanted to do a quick review of the positive and negatives as compared to other intakes I've tried out already.
PROS:
1. The intake looks sweet! polished metal with all grey mounting hardware makes it blend into the engine bay well.
2. The intake uses alot of new technology. The secondary pipe has a rough surface to promote turbulence (like what the throttle body spacer was supposed to do but better). The SW1 filter has been flow tested to outperform K&N many times. It flows more air than an open intake pipe due to its velocity stack design and open top. Finally, the overall design of the intake is improved. The temp sensor and breather hose are located away from the throttle body as not to interfere with airflow, and the pipe that connects to the throttle body allows for a smooth transition of airflow that is great for guys with a ported throttle body like me.
There is also a small air plenum above the tb to allow for greater throttle response.3. The sound it makes is very mellow and almost sounds just like my rsr exhaust. It is deep when you stomp the gas, but not your typical rice intake sound that others like aem and K&N are famous for. This is a major plus for me because most people would not even be able to distinguish the intake from the exhaust sound.
4. the hissing noise it makes on warmup and shutdown are still there, but only 1/2 as loud as other intakes. Another plus because I don't want it to sound like a vacuum cleaner under there lol!
5. As far as performance, I would say low end power is at least as good as the stock airbox, if not better. It also pulls very good in the higher rpms. No power loss at all. Best of all, throttle response when taking off from a stop is much better. This thing jumps forward immediately when you mash the gas.
CONS:
1. the intake pipe is still metal (and unpainted/anodized) so it will be getting very hot in the summer. This may be offset slightly by the fact that this intake takes up very little space and sits at the very back of the engine bay to promote more air circulation.
2. This is one of the hardest intakes I've ever had the displeasure of installing. Nothing fit the way it was supposed to! The breather hose was too small but I was able to force it on anyway. The rubber fittings had a hard time going together and on the throttle body. The temp sensor was about 12 inches too short and the wires needed to be extended. Then when I plugged in the sensor, it was loose so I wrapped electrical tape around the base to keep it in place. The bracket that holds the filter to the stock mount needed to be bent (thanks to the previous owner for doing this already). The filter is touching a harness and the fuse box. Very cramped but it fits.
3. There is no way to use the optional ram air kit without removing the fuse box.
4. The primary pipe is a bit larger than should be for this engine. Three inches compared to stock 2.5 inch. And there is no dual chamber design like weapon-r made for other vehicles from this model.
After all is said and done, the long install was worth it. This is by far the best intake I have owned. The aem sri is just crap for every reason, the K&N fipk is okay but looks dumb and makes very strange noises. The only other intake that comes close is the typhoon, but I didn't like the sound it made or the filter it came with. Overall I am very happy with this intake. Great low end and hi end, awesome sound, and amazing looks.
Now onto pics and video!!!
http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1...Q0QZCQ9YVP0AHF
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
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From: NV
Rep Power: 812 
I got it from a member used for $100. and cleaning kit for $25 (yea pricey but its specifically for foam filters).
normally they go for $170 shipped now.
normally they go for $170 shipped now.
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From: Toronto, Canada
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Originally Posted by gearbox
I got it from a member used for $100. and cleaning kit for $25 (yea pricey but its specifically for foam filters).
normally they go for $170 shipped now.
normally they go for $170 shipped now.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 ya i wanted to add a few things. first i think this pipe design is better because the bends aren't as angled as aem. air doesn't like to turn corners that many times. this pipe has only one slight bend and its a straight shot to the tb.
also the way it mounts over the tb, the pipe isn't actually touching the metal so it won't get hot by conduction. seems like they put alot of thought into the design. it would be even better if they spent some more on actually putting it together so it would fit better. seems kinda generic.
also the way it mounts over the tb, the pipe isn't actually touching the metal so it won't get hot by conduction. seems like they put alot of thought into the design. it would be even better if they spent some more on actually putting it together so it would fit better. seems kinda generic.
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From: California, US
Rep Power: 351 im not going to bash it but...i dont think they put to much design into it, i think they just copyed the injen sri cut the pipe and put a diffrent fillter on. i would actually like that filter.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 ya well about the pipe design. actually the secret line is supposed to have a dual chamber design but for our cars they didn't have it. too bad i guess. the filter is very cool tho. works great. and sometimes when it shifts out of 1st above 4k rpms, you can hear a suck sound like a bov hehe
Okay, well I just finished installing the filter earlier tonight.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
I had been using an open-top filter that I got from Pep Boys.
I don't know if it was oiled when I got it. I'm super broke right now and I'm on a crazy tight budget til mid Feb, so I kinda have to skip out on the luxury of buying the cleaner/oil kit for it. I don't think Weapon R would NOT oil their filters before sending them out though ... it doesn't make sense.
Anyway, I don't have to press as hard on the gas in the low rpms ... so I know for a fact that I have gained some low end torque. To tell you the truth, it does feel like I gained power all over my powerband ... it's a very, very nice upgrade in my opinion.
I recommend this filter to anyone ... you wouldn't think that a simple little filter can change so much ... but according to my butt dyno, it has.
On a side-note ... I don't notice any changes in sound. But then again, it's now difficult to hear my intake over my header since I have a nice-sized crack in the flex pipe of my header.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
I had been using an open-top filter that I got from Pep Boys.
I don't know if it was oiled when I got it. I'm super broke right now and I'm on a crazy tight budget til mid Feb, so I kinda have to skip out on the luxury of buying the cleaner/oil kit for it. I don't think Weapon R would NOT oil their filters before sending them out though ... it doesn't make sense.
Anyway, I don't have to press as hard on the gas in the low rpms ... so I know for a fact that I have gained some low end torque. To tell you the truth, it does feel like I gained power all over my powerband ... it's a very, very nice upgrade in my opinion.
I recommend this filter to anyone ... you wouldn't think that a simple little filter can change so much ... but according to my butt dyno, it has.
On a side-note ... I don't notice any changes in sound. But then again, it's now difficult to hear my intake over my header since I have a nice-sized crack in the flex pipe of my header.
nah dude. I know I gained power for sure.
it felt like I lost low end when I put my Toda race header on ... it feels like I gained it back and then some with this filter.
I'm pretty sure I gained high end as well. It's hard to tell with high end since my rpms go so fast ...
it felt like I lost low end when I put my Toda race header on ... it feels like I gained it back and then some with this filter.
I'm pretty sure I gained high end as well. It's hard to tell with high end since my rpms go so fast ...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 lol i told you man test results dont lie. and that filter is thick. i held it upto my halogen desk lamp and could not see any light make it out. looks like weapon-r is making a comeback after years of junk products haha/
yeah ... I wonder how much power I gained...
unfortunately, this is something that I'm not gonna dyno separately.
my next dyno will have the SW1 filter -and- Toda header on there ... so you will see the difference between the DC race header & pep boys filter vs. Toda race header & SW1 filter. Currently, I'm making 212 peak whp, 146 wtq at 70 F, sea level. I'm hoping to see about an even 215 peak whp with the Toda Header/SW1.
according to members of clubrsx, the Toda header gives about a 5 hp gain in top end, but a huge increase in midrange power over the DC sports race header. I can't wait to dyno.
Unfortunately, that dyno won't come for another 6-8 weeks or so ... I will be ordering a flex pipe piece directly from Toda USA and they said it takes up to 4 weeks for it ... special order. I'll have to get that welded on and then I'll hit the dynos.
unfortunately, this is something that I'm not gonna dyno separately.
my next dyno will have the SW1 filter -and- Toda header on there ... so you will see the difference between the DC race header & pep boys filter vs. Toda race header & SW1 filter. Currently, I'm making 212 peak whp, 146 wtq at 70 F, sea level. I'm hoping to see about an even 215 peak whp with the Toda Header/SW1.
according to members of clubrsx, the Toda header gives about a 5 hp gain in top end, but a huge increase in midrange power over the DC sports race header. I can't wait to dyno.
Unfortunately, that dyno won't come for another 6-8 weeks or so ... I will be ordering a flex pipe piece directly from Toda USA and they said it takes up to 4 weeks for it ... special order. I'll have to get that welded on and then I'll hit the dynos.
