REVIEW: Weapon-R Secret Intake (pics/vid)
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REVIEW: Weapon-R Secret Intake (pics/vid)
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
And finally with relocated fuse box and HVS-GT installed
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
And finally with relocated fuse box and HVS-GT installed
Last edited by gearbox; Feb 20, 2006 at 11:28 PM.
matches your exhaust manifold heatshield very well 
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Jacksonville, Fl
Rep Power: 374 Looks great... kinda sucks though about the fitment issues you had. the design of it looks real similar to the injen sri. did you use the billet polish on the intake and the header shield? it looks blingin'
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Washington DC
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Originally Posted by gearbox
the only thing is now there is a big hole between the battery and filter. Any ideas what to put there?
i had posted about this intake a long time ago. i cant remember, but would it be a bad idea to put a WR filter on aem cai? i was thinking about going with the dry flow, but if this is a better filter then i might consider buying it instead.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: NV
Rep Power: 812 don't get the dryflow unless you like losing tons of hp. You can get an SW1 but they only come in two sizes: 3 inch and 4 inch. so if your cai matches, then yes you can get it. And you also need their cleaning kit to put oil on the filter. I'm still waiting for mine.
Registered!!
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Gainesville, Ga.
Rep Power: 0 I agree with gearbox, this is the best intake (for gains) that I have ever used on my car...I have had the AEM Cold Air, K&N FIPKII, Injen short ram and the Weapon-R....The WR gave the most noticiable gains on my manual...It takes time to fit it, but it's worth the extra time
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Harker heights Tx
Rep Power: 388
Originally Posted by gearbox
the only thing is now there is a big hole between the battery and filter. Any ideas what to put there?
yeap a heatshield and sneak in a turbo
Originally Posted by R3DL1N3
it'll fit if you just tighten the clamps down, right?
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Richmond
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GEARBOX, you see the tube dat connects the intake to the throttle body, how it is bent and crushed a bit due to the turning, will dat have any side affects, maybe not enough air goin into the body? cuz mine has the exact same situation.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: NV
Rep Power: 812 ya that seems like alot. i will have my filter off next week to clean it (if the stupid kit ever gets here) and i will measure to see if the 3 inch is really that size or smaller.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: NV
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Originally Posted by jdm_veloz
GEARBOX, you see the tube dat connects the intake to the throttle body, how it is bent and crushed a bit due to the turning, will dat have any side affects, maybe not enough air goin into the body? cuz mine has the exact same situation.
its because the tube is too small. there is still plenty of room though for the engine to breathe. i'm gonna try and find a replacement but i havent seen anywhere than sells silicone tubing.
