Your engine's air intake, in most cases, is usually located in an awkward position where it's susceptible to water, dirt, and dust contamination. When you 'wheel your rig under extreme conditions, a relocated air intake can provide great peace of mind.
Safari Snorkel manufactures air intake snorkels for numerous four-wheel-drive vehicle applications. Each snorkel is designed for its specific vehicle. The rugged snorkel is made from premium-quality polyethylene, is UV-stable, and will last for years. The high-flow air ducting and body ensure a fresh air supply to the engine. There's a noticeable difference in engine performance when the engine is sucking in clean, fresh air. When using the factory intake, hot engine-compartment air certainly takes its toll on the way your engine performs.
The Safari Snorkel Kits are available through ARB USA. We contacted ARB about a snorkel for our 300,000-mile Toyota adventure vehicle and the company sent us one for testing. We then headed to California Mini-Truck Dismantlers for the installation. This was the perfect place to have it installed because these kits are actually designed for Australian vehicles. We needed to fabricate one piece of hose to fit from the Toyota's factory airbox hose to the snorkel. Since California Mini is a dismantler, we knew we wouldn't have a problem finding an intake hose that would fit. This place is not only a great source for Toyota parts, but also all mini-truck components.
The installation of the Safari Snorkel kit is straightforward and simple. We know: The hardest part is cutting into your fender. Fortunately, the kit comes with an easy-to-use template. We've found an incredible difference in engine performance since the installation, especially on crisp, cool days. The engine loves fresh air, and when traveling down dusty trails, the snorkel puts the intake up and out of harm's way. This is a great feature if you follow closely behind other vehicles, and we don't even think twice now about deep water crossings.
This is the complete Safari...
This is the complete Safari Snorkel Kit.
The template from the snorkel...
The template from the snorkel kit was taped to the fender. Once the holes were in the proper position, we marked the locations with a felt pen.
After the holes were marked,...
After the holes were marked, the template was removed and the fender was drilled with a hole saw.
Looking at the fender after...
Looking at the fender after drilling, we actually had the template slightly off from the proper position when we marked the holes. The body of the snorkel is wide enough to cover minor mistakes, so there's a little room for error.
The upper snorkel-mounting...
The upper snorkel-mounting bracket was taped to the A-pillar, then checked for proper fitment. This was simply done by holding the snorkel body in place.
The original factory hose...
The original factory hose that connected to the airbox wouldn't reach the snorkel intake. Remember: The kit is designed for Australian vehicles. We searched around California Mini-Truck's parts yard and found an intake hose off a '92 2.3L Mazda pickup, which fit perfectly between the snorkel and factory airbox hose. You can also use flex hose found at hardware and automotive parts stores. The factory airbox hose is on the left, with the Mazda intake hose in the center, and the snorkel hose on the right.
Here are the air intake hoses...
Here are the air intake hoses connected inside the engine compartment.
Now we're ready for a saf...
Now we're ready for a safari.