ROAM JL Stealth Snorkel

[ROAM]

Hi everyone! I'd like to update everyone on the current development progress of the ROAM JL Stealth Snorkel : we're getting closer to production factoring but there are still a few updates/changes that we'd still want to make to the current engineering prototype:






Please note that although our JL Stealth Snorkel effectively functions as a JL Cold Air Intake, the primary function of our JL Stealth Snorkel is still to raise the intake point/location higher.

The ROAM JL Stealth Snorkel utilizes/retains the OE air intake filter assembly. Our JL Stealth Snorkel ties directly into the main airbox assembly with a replacement lower section and does not require the use of an aftermarket cone filter. ( The ROAM JL Stealth Snorkel still uses/requires a stock JL engine air filter - 68257030AA or a Wix WA10841 )

The large compartment under the main intake routing houses an air/water separator assembly and a counterweight actuated drain valve.

No drilling required; does not require drilling or cutting the hood for air access - every exterior panel modified is included as a complete replacement.

Includes an external/exterior snorkel duct (not pictured) that follows the passenger side A pillar upwards; attaches to the transition piece at the base (will update with pictures by the next revision). The ROAM JL Stealth Snorkel is designed to not be visible by the driver (when driving, on North American vehicles only) with or without the exterior snorkel duct installed.

With our JL Stealth Snorkel installed, you can still fold down your windshield, with or without the exterior snorkel duct installed.

Our JL Stealth Snorkel is designed with high airflow in mind: every tube and transition in the ROAM JL Stealth Snorkel has a larger cross section and will flow more air than the stock intake system.

TBA: The ROAM JL Stealth Snorkel is Made in the USA with carbon filled PTFE infused cross-linked polyethylene for the ultimate in strength and durability. (UV-stable Cross-linked Polyethylene with PTFE nodules infused with carbon, think of this as chopped carbon fiber and PTFE mixed into the Cross-linked Polyethylene as an additive rather than / instead of the Cross-linked Polyethylene covering a layer of carbon fiber)

TBA/Late Availability: Optional exterior colors for the exterior snorkel duct: In addition to a black exterior, other optional colors will also be available in limited runs.

TBA: A variant of our external/exterior snorkel duct (not pictured) will be compatible with a precleaner / pre-filter attachment (compatible with all pre-filters / precleaners designed for a 4" duct transition).

Uses all stainless steel and/or plated hardware for corrosion resistance.

 

[ROAM]

Post reserved for future updates.


Tara @ ROAM

 

[Ddays]

That's the first snorkel system I've seen that I would consider running. How large is the intake going to be? Looks like you've pixelated the cowl area where its going to be?

 

[WJCO]

That is a really cool design. Can't wait to see the finished product. :thumb:

Only problem is how is everybody on the street going to know how badass of an offroader that you are? Will there be a sticker to show worthiness?

 

[doubletapdaddy]

that is a really cool design. Can't wait to see the finished product. :thumb:

Only problem is how is everybody on the street going to know how badass of an offroader that you are? Will there be a sticker to show worthiness?

lol!
.....

 

[Sharkey]

Pretty cool design. :thumb:

I don't own a JL so forgive the stupid question, but is that cowl (underneath) still the major access point for running wires from inside the cab to the battery? If so, will this setup interfere with that process?

 

[Brute]

That is a really cool design. Can't wait to see the finished product. :thumb:

Only problem is how is everybody on the street going to know how badass of an offroader that you are? Will there be a sticker to show worthiness?

You just get a bumper sticker that says "my other jeep has a snorkel"...

Looks like a good idea...looking forward to the external pics...

 

[deezus]

Looks a lot like the Rugged Ridge one from Sema.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[Reaper]

little confused

To me it looks like the intake is in the same spot vertically just moved further down the fender? Because where that bolt is holding the snorkel is where the normal intake is. Is there a actual snorkel that sticks up or just comes out right there at the cowl?

 

[ROAM]

That's the first snorkel system I've seen that I would consider running. How large is the intake going to be? Looks like you've pixelated the cowl area where its going to be?

Do you mean the external snorkel tube itself or the airflow/cross section of the internal engine to cowl piece (pictured above)?

If you're talking about the cross section of the internal engine to cowl piece, we've made a few unpleasant discoveries during dyno testing on our previous experiential prototypes so we've had to increment a few more revisions. On our initial experimental prototypes, when installed on a JL with a 3.6L, there was a consistent ~3-5hp loss at lower RPMs that we couldn't explain despite having better/correct flow (via flow bench testing, less flow restriction vs stock when tested on a SuperFlow flow bench) and having larger cross sections everywhere vs stock. This was truly bizarre because when installed on a JL with a 2.0L, not only do we not lose power we actually gain hp. And although a similar hp loss can be measured on a 3.6L JL when a Mopar JL snorkel is installed, this was a phenomenon that we deemed needed to be investigated fully.

While the minor hp loss could have been easily attributed to dyno variances, but we decided instead that this should be verified with more vehicles and more dynos. So we went from testing with a dynojet to an axle hub dyno instead which eliminated the variable of tires. This was actually easier said than done because even the angle of the rear driveshaft played a part in the measured power output, which was solved by buiding a jig to hold the vehicle at a constant height during testing.

This still didn't explain why we're gaining power on a 2.0L - but losing power and only at low RPMs with a 3.6L, however small an amount.

After a few more rounds of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) development and factoring, we started over with a transitional or "variable" flow centric flow model instead. Apparently the venturi effect, helmholtz effect, and sizing the plenum correctly played a bigger role than previously theorized, and all influence transitional airflow, or in other words the "initial" momentum of air. So by making improvements to account for better "variable" flow and then eliminating low speed air tumble regions and air merge paths, we've eliminated a bunch of flow restrictions that are apparently only present during low airflow speeds which our superflow flow bench testing did not show because it measures at a constant setting.

To summarize the above, we're now at where we're at least not consistently losing a tiny amount of power vs stock anymore (if not a consistent few hp gain in a few places). Who could've thought that we'd lose power with a straight pipe with minimal bends?

The reason for the power gain on the 2.0L was also discovered as well eventually: The 2.0L heat soaks a lot more vs the 3.6L, and by relocating the intake point, we've improved the IATs (intake air temps), (special thanks to HPT for logging support). We've been able to verify this phenomenon by simply connecting a hose to the intake inlet of of 2.0L and then when relocated *anywhere* (or a few feet away) we were then able to reproduce the power gain during dyno testing.

To me it looks like the intake is in the same spot vertically just moved further down the fender? Because where that bolt is holding the snorkel is where the normal intake is. Is there a actual snorkel that sticks up or just comes out right there at the cowl?

Yep, in the very first post of this thread, mentions what you're looking at is actually the engine to cowl piece; we'll update the thread with a picture of the snorkel tube itself (external) when we're ready.

That is a really cool design. Can't wait to see the finished product. :thumb:

Only problem is how is everybody on the street going to know how badass of an offroader that you are? Will there be a sticker to show worthiness?

Thanks for the support!

No worries, we'll definitely include an external snorkel pipe with these for everyone that doesn't want to run this thing "stealth". I guess maybe we should consider renaming our snorkel then from the ROAM JL Stealth Snorkel to maybe the ROAM JL UnStealth Snorkel. We're open for suggestions.

Pretty cool design. :thumb:

I don't own a JL so forgive the stupid question, but is that cowl (underneath) still the major access point for running wires from inside the cab to the battery? If so, will this setup interfere with that process?

Our JL Stealth Snorkel does not require drilling or cutting for installation. We'll include everything needed for installation including the cowl piece (pictured below in orange/peach). While there will be a small access path for a set of cowl lights, we do take up that entire area because of the plenum size required for airflow.

For the process of running wires through the firewall on a JL, assuming if you can't use the OE included AUX switches, I would still recommend against running wires there on a JL because of where they exit on the inside of the dash (the HVAC system components are packaged a lot closer together on the JL).

 

[jdofmemi]

Well, I am impressed with the level of detail ROAM has gone through to make sure this product works right.

 

[BaddestCross]

Well, I am impressed with the level of detail ROAM has gone through to make sure this product works right.

Right? I'm not a fan of snorkels in general, but I am a fan of science, design, and doing the right thing. A company actually looking out for their customer is refreshing.



--
Build Thread - Adventures of Fiona - https://wayalife.com/showthread.php?t=47407

 

[RCVRY]

Appreciate the level of engineering and due diligence with your product.

But can we still fold down the windshield?

Just sayin. [emoji6]


Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

 

[Ddays]

Do you mean the external snorkel tube itself or the airflow/cross section of the internal engine to cowl piece (pictured above)?

If you're talking about the cross section of the internal engine to cowl piece, we've made a few unpleasant discoveries during dyno testing on our previous experiential prototypes so we've had to increment a few more revisions. On our initial experimental prototypes, when installed on a JL with a 3.6L, there was a consistent ~3-5hp loss at lower RPMs that we couldn't explain despite having better/correct flow (via flow bench testing, less flow restriction vs stock when tested on a SuperFlow flow bench) and having larger cross sections everywhere vs stock. This was truly bizarre because when installed on a JL with a 2.0L, not only do we not lose power we actually gain hp. And although a similar hp loss can be measured on a 3.6L JL when a Mopar JL snorkel is installed, this was a phenomenon that we deemed needed to be investigated fully.

While the minor hp loss could have been easily attributed to dyno variances, but we decided instead that this should be verified with more vehicles and more dynos. So we went from testing with a dynojet to an axle hub dyno instead which eliminated the variable of tires. This was actually easier said than done because even the angle of the rear driveshaft played a part in the measured power output, which was solved by buiding a jig to hold the vehicle at a constant height during testing.

This still didn't explain why we're gaining power on a 2.0L - but losing power and only at low RPMs with a 3.6L, however small an amount.

After a few more rounds of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) development and factoring, we started over with a transitional or "variable" flow centric flow model instead. Apparently the venturi effect, helmholtz effect, and sizing the plenum correctly played a bigger role than previously theorized, and all influence transitional airflow, or in other words the "initial" momentum of air. So by making improvements to account for better "variable" flow and then eliminating low speed air tumble regions and air merge paths, we've eliminated a bunch of flow restrictions that are apparently only present during low airflow speeds which our superflow flow bench testing did not show because it measures at a constant setting.

To summarize the above, we're now at where we're at least not consistently losing a tiny amount of power vs stock anymore (if not a consistent few hp gain in a few places). Who could've thought that we'd lose power with a straight pipe with minimal bends?

The reason for the power gain on the 2.0L was also discovered as well eventually: The 2.0L heat soaks a lot more vs the 3.6L, and by relocating the intake point, we've improved the IATs (intake air temps), (special thanks to HPT for logging support). We've been able to verify this phenomenon by simply connecting a hose to the intake inlet of of 2.0L and then when relocated *anywhere* (or a few feet away) we were then able to reproduce the power gain during dyno testing.

:jaw drop: LOL, I was just asking if the snorkel looked good!


But I appreciate the level of detail you went to explain the the tube!