My car was just in the shop to get a replacement throttle housing. I have a DDM intake box and a blue Alta silicone tube. When I got my car back they left off the black plastic tube that goes from the grill to the bottom of the intake box. The tech said that the Alta tube fit too tight and he could not get the black plastic one back on properly and that it wasn't needed. I know the aftermarket intakes pull most of the air from the cowl, but won't it also pull in hot air from the engine now? Is that tube necessary, or should I just leave it off?

 

I really doesn't matter, but it does fit with an aftermarket intake and silicone tube.

 

They were just lazy to put it back. Mine fits without anything pushing on it with loads of room.

 

Yeah, mines fit there too.. I would rather have them complete the job.

 

if it goes to the air box and CAN be functional id put it back on.

on my intake (i know different but still) the stock tube would have just had air going to nothing so its gone

 

There has been evidence posted here on NAM, some years back, showing that at higher speeds there is a positive air flow in that duct to the airbox. It also seals the hole at the bottom front of the airbox, which in your case is currently allowing a whole lot of hot engine air directly into the airbox (bad!)
You'll see in my case, that I removed the Helmholtz resonator and moisture catch tubes from the duct, but that's just 'coz I'm a loony...

 

Do you by any chance have an automatic? Not sure whether it matters or not, but the engine is about 1/2" closer to the passenger side of the car and a little higher than one in a manual transmission car. Might make a difference in clearance.

 

mine fit with alta silicone no problem!