Holes drilled where deck plate mod could go?

I bought a 1998 4cyl a month ago and I am in love with it. I am itching to do some mods to it. I was reading about the deck plate mod. I have never really worked on vehicles before but I feel like I could since I am a computer nerd that takes computers apart and fixes them and I dabble in contractor work.

I was wondering if I am looking at the right part in the truck where there could potentially be a deck plate, instead the guy that owned the truck before drilled holes into this casing (I know he did work on the exhaust manifold since it was cracked.)
Check it out



What do the holes mean? And should I replace all of that and do some sort of an air intake mod? Heh, I am new to this, but it's fun to research. I have been looking at the forum today.

 

He did a lazy ass mans almost deck plate mod.... Holes allow alittle more air in, deck plate allows more air in and has the option to close it up when there is the possibility of dirt or water that could enter the intake.

Looks like there wont be a way to close it off so u might want to look for a new intake box.

 

Yeah that's pretty redneck now you have no way of closing it up It's not going to hurt anything it just looks ghetto. You could do the deck plate mod and just block the holes left of from the back side with some thin plastic and silicone then you can at least close it up when you want.

 

Haha, I thought it was something along those lines - it would make practical sense that the holes would bring air in...
If I end up getting an Air Intake Kit from say K&N or AEM (I think) then would that be a substitute for the box and everything else? I think I was reading that the deckplate mod was a substitute to an air intake kit?

 

deck plate is under 20 bucks and gets better gains while the air intake is over 150 and the air element is much more exposed to the elements

 

x2 Get a junkyard intake and do the deckplate mod (what $50? max?) and dont waste the money on the K&N

 

Okay, so I have a 4x4 but this ad says there is an intake box off a 2x4 tacoma.. could it work?

http://medford.craigslist.org/pts/2621378524.html

 

same motor same intake

 

This is what a 4'' deck plate looks like. It only cost me $6. If you did the 4'' deck plate it might cover up those holes.