Which NA air box/intake is better?

[CarlosA]

So I was just fighting with my early mk1 airbox design, has the worn out aluminum where the clips hook, clips are impossible to get off the bottom, etc - ultimately was wondering why I couldnt use the mk2 intake and airbox on the mk1?

Is it possible? Any advantages or disadvantages? Design is different, has more & stronger clips, and uses the exact same size air filter.

[theman53]

I like the mk2 style better than the mk1. If you are not concerned with looks a zip tie works on either.

[CarlosA]

Yeah I think i`ll switch to the mk2 box/intake since I have it and its in good shape. Zip tie for now, for sure. Amazing how much noise vanishes when that zip tie or hose clamp is tightened up.

[Dakotakid]

There are actually two variants of Mk. II n/a air boxes.  The '85 and into early '86 or so had the more horizontally-faced 6 steel clip model which sort of sucks as it does not seem to seal well with the 6 clips no matter how they are bent/modified.

The really good airbox was found on later '86's and beyond. The face of these boxes is more verticle and only utilizes 4 clips.....but, is much tighter and easier to service.

I honestly do not know which boxes come farther back toward the firewall. Seems like the MK. I box is closest to the firewall....not sure. This potential problem should be the only problem associated with any switch.

They all utilize the same filter and that is nice.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

There are actually two variants of Mk. II n/a air boxes.  The '85 and into early '86 or so had the more horizontally-faced 6 steel clip model which sort of sucks as it does not seem to seal well with the 6 clips no matter how they are bent/modified.

The really good airbox was found on later '86's and beyond. The face of these boxes is more verticle and only utilizes 4 clips.....but, is much tighter and easier to service.

I honestly do not know which boxes come farther back toward the firewall. Seems like the MK. I box is closest to the firewall....not sure. This potential problem should be the only problem associated with any switch.

They all utilize the same filter and that is nice.

Do they use the same filter? My 81 Caddy has a longer filter than my 92 Eco, which is more "square".

[CarlosA]

There are actually two variants of Mk. II n/a air boxes.  The '85 and into early '86 or so had the more horizontally-faced 6 steel clip model which sort of sucks as it does not seem to seal well with the 6 clips no matter how they are bent/modified.

The really good airbox was found on later '86's and beyond. The face of these boxes is more verticle and only utilizes 4 clips.....but, is much tighter and easier to service.

I honestly do not know which boxes come farther back toward the firewall. Seems like the MK. I box is closest to the firewall....not sure. This potential problem should be the only problem associated with any switch.

They all utilize the same filter and that is nice.

Good info - this is the 1985 style. Might be sealable with some silicon grease, which wont deteriorate the k & n filter - not sure, maybe the hose clamps are good. lol

[Dakotakid]

As already stated by "theman," you can use long or multiple short zip-ties to tighten the face of the box on. Or, I have seen where guys use long stainless steel hose clamps to loop all the way around the box to close it. I find this kind of hillbilly rigging to be annoying at best. The standard boxes should have been made to do their damned job. And, if you locate one of the later verticle-oriented styles, this kind of rigging is NOT needed.

Correct on the Eco air filter. I know the Eco filter is larger/different. I think the Eco filter is the same as the filters used in the gasoline Digifant Jettas of that era. I have parted out a few of the Digifants and they looked identical. You would have to do some investigative work on that to be certain.

[R.O.R-2.0]

There are actually two variants of Mk. II n/a air boxes.  The '85 and into early '86 or so had the more horizontally-faced 6 steel clip model which sort of sucks as it does not seem to seal well with the 6 clips no matter how they are bent/modified.

The really good airbox was found on later '86's and beyond. The face of these boxes is more verticle and only utilizes 4 clips.....but, is much tighter and easier to service.

I honestly do not know which boxes come farther back toward the firewall. Seems like the MK. I box is closest to the firewall....not sure. This potential problem should be the only problem associated with any switch.

They all utilize the same filter and that is nice.

Do they use the same filter? My 81 Caddy has a longer filter than my 92 Eco, which is more "square".

n/a diesel, and CIS gas use the same filter..

Digifant, TD, and Eco-d use another filter..

29 eco-d doesnt have a n/a intake.. its boosted, so no, your eco DOES NOT take the same filter..

my Coupe GT, n/a diesel rabbit, and mk2 GTI all take the same filter panel..