Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior Styrofoam grill blockage: Hydro locking vs. RAM air effect?

Hello all,
I have a 2003 Celica GTS. Half of the long thin grill opening above the front license plate is covered by Styrofoam on the drivers side. I have read that this Styrofoam serves the following functions:

1.Energy absorption in case of impact.
2.Structural support for the vinyl plastic front fa ade. (Removal is said to cause droopy front bumpers.)

My speculation is that the Toyota engineers may have decided to cover the half of the grille on the drivers side as a preventative measure against water being sucked into the air intake which is just a few inches up and behind the Styrofoam blocked side of the grill.

I am contemplating cutting holes in the Styrofoam to get more of a RAM Air effect, but I am trying to calculate the hydro locking danger potential in doing so.

As a preventative measure to this potential MOD I am thinking about cutting a foot long length of PVC pipe in quarters and using one of the curved pieces as a sort of downward deflector that will still let air in.

I am already using the TRD high flow K&N type air filter.

It would be great to hear some input from some experienced Celica owners.

go for it... but the stock airbox is basically sealed so

Hydrolock will not occur with the stock air box unless you submerge it completely. The shear fact that it is an airbox will prevent it. Seriously hydrolock is not a problem unless you have a cia that is loww and submerge it. Then it is a matter of the engine sucking water up the intake like a straw.

I have the same set up (TRD filter with the foam trimed), just get a upgraded intake. Its such a pointless mod it does little to help HP, save the time its going to take you to cut that out and use it to install a short ram.

You sound like you need a Cold Air Intake. Maybe the Injen Short Ram.

if you cut that, and you get into an accident, you might have problems.

CAI is the way to go

I doubt that styrofoam is gonna help if you get in an accident.

I think that if you hit something wile going 30 mph and over Styrofoam will not gonna make any difference...
But you should keep it on.It can help to save your bumper if you hit somthing on the low speed.

Thanks for the reply. Good feedback all of it. The common consensus seems to be that although the hydro-locking danger is very low, so is the benefit to screwing around with that Styrofoam. For the time/cost benefit ratio CAI or short RAM seems to be the way to go.

What you said about droopiness is true. After a while, you may notice some sagging. Personally, I wouldn't cut it

Eh, rip it out and try it for a little while, if you like it then aweome! If not, just shove it back in there.