How to Build an air scoop grille for your MCS for $1.87

Contributed by Ian F. Griswold.

Well yesterday I got tired of my ~7900mi IC (intercooler) being beat up by road detritus.  Living in Atlanta I have found cigarette buts, rocks and even a sparkplug piece on the IC!!  I have found a few places that sell a grill for the MCS scoop.  But at ~$30USD I could not justify it.  Still looking at my IC, you can see that I’ve had to pick several large places out with a toothpick!  Look at the spark plug dent in on the right!!!!!:

Well something had to be done.  I remembered seeing some great aluminum mesh over at the Home Depot, but couldn’t remember the cost.  I slipped in and purchased a 3’ section of “Premium HINGED GUTTER GUARDS” for a sum total of $1.87!!!

 First remove the interior of the scoop using a Phillips screwdriver and 10mm socket driver.  There are four 10mm nuts and two screws.  Once removed, I made a template from paper for the opening.  You will notice there is an interior ridge that the screen will have to fit in.  This is all in black plastic so the PIX I took were useless, but it is VERY evident.  I then transferred this template to the gutter guard material using a permanent marker and cut it out using tin snips.  Next I fitted it to the scoop and trimmed to fit.  The material should fit snuggly in the little relief ridge as it will be pinned by the inner and outer scoop pieces:

 

Once the fit was snug I replaced the interior scoop along with fasteners.  Total time spent <1hr, including HD trip time and fitting.  Here are before and after pix:

 

The upsides are clear; the AL is non-corrosive and durable.  And with the extra $28.13 I have money left over for a tank of gas and a case of PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon)!

Cheers!