I’m starting to feel bad because I know I’m chocking my engine with the stock air filter. So I’ve been tiring to design a “better” design. I could just put in a K&N in the stock box but that’s too easy. I want to make something new.

My first idea was making a new open box like this:



But figured it would get a lot more air, but most of the air would be hot as it would be coming straight from the top of the engine.

Then on the last rotary meet up down here I saw a fantastic idea for a new Carby boot so that the owner could use a pod filter. So I’m going to pinch the boot idea and put a pod behind the right light, use some aluminum sheet from the radiator stand to the strut tower so that whole area is shielded from the engine heat so the pod doesn’t suck it in. and now I’ve got something like this.



I know it’s a lot more work that just modding the stock box, but I want to relocate the filter from the top of the engine and shield it.

Do you know thing this set up will be effective?

 

I already thought of that, just never built it. Ill explain in greater detail later .

~T.J.

 

Ok here was my idea:

First I needed to make the box that would cover the top of the carb. This shouldnt be any harder than it needs to be. I personally like the idea of just a litteral box with a 3" piece of pipe welded through one side (see picture), and a hole in the bottom to mate with the carb opening. I liked the idea of a removeable lid too, so I would get a piece of threaded stock to go on the carb, and a wing nut or something for the top...You all know how that goes anyway.

Then, I was going to go get some of those metal bendy flexy hoses (3") they have the the duct work department at your hardware store. Theyre similar to the bendy part of a straw, but made in metal (they stretch longer or shorter too).

After I had those, I was going to make a mock up of where I wanted my CAI pipe to go (in front of rad, or in front of wheel behind vent for brake?) using these bendy flexy things. Then, I would carefully remove the mock up pipes and take them to an exhaust shop (or another shop with the same capabilities), and have them bend me a "real" intake pipe out of 3" piping that will go from the carb bonnet to the filter, where ever that end up.

Now that I have my intake pipe, I can return the bendy flexy things and claim they were the wrong thing. After I get my money back from those, I continue work. Take the long pipe you had made and look at it carefully and study it. Im trying to figure out where to cut it into sections (IC piping) so that the torque of the engine doesnt break anything and can have some slack, and also to aid in the removal and installation of the duct work.

After I had all that figured out, I was going to use the money I got back from the bendy flexy things and go buy some of those rubber pipe connectors like they use on IC piping (you can get these in the plumbing section of your hardware store).

Then, using the new connectors I could put eveything together. The size of filter I wanted was going to vary depending on where I ended up wanting it. Then filter should, in theroy, slide over the end of the 3" pipe I had made, and tighten down with a screw clamp .

After all that was said and done, I planned on trying to come up with some mounts to hold pieces in place in case they were moving or something. You dont want your filter just flopping around after all...

So there you have it. My idea...Basically. Pretty easy eh? The only thing I had a problem in figuring out was how to seal the lid of the box to the box. I had a few ideas, but never really looked into it because this project takes this stuff called "money". Its paper and has pictures of these dead guys on it here in America. I wouldnt know because I havent seen the stuff in so long...Anyway, maybe my ideas will help some of you in your projects .

~T.J.

PS - I suppose this would be a more difficult project for those of you who cant weld...
Oh well.

PPS - I wear my sunglasses at night .

 

By the way...That sounds a LOT like an idea I heard from some one here...*cough, cough* Manntis *cough* .

~T.J.

 

Dude I did that 3 years ago. But I dont use aluminum, it allows too much heat to transfer into the box.

 

*cough, cough*Lots of people have probably already thought of that and it sounds like a great idea *cough*.

~T.J.

 

rx7car, did you feel a difference in power?

 

Yes is the short answer. And I measured the carb inlet temps with and without a CAI and the differences were impressive. Better than I had expected. And the water temp is lower too.

BTW, nice CAD work you guys. Man I wish I could do that stuff, its way cool.

 

I knew I was subconsciously stealing this idea from many people, but I never remember seeing pictures of it.

Did mantis want to make it for the 12A or the 13B?

Rx7carl: have you got any pictures of this set up?, and what else could I use if I don’t use aluminums? It’s a light metal this dissipates heat quickly, I could use something like Plexiglas but I don’t want mess around with bending that stuff.

 

Some advice on materials: You want to use a material that has relatively low conduction. This will keep it from heating up and subsequently heating the air inside. The best materials would be some type of high temp plastic or fiberglass. These are both poor at conducting heat. Carbon Fiber can be very conductive so be careful of using it. If you want to use a metal, use steel instead of aluminum.

 

All sounds interesting.

I've still got this carb bonet I've yet to use this carb bonnet but, after reading this thread I think it would be perfect for a remote air filter setup. What about this thing coppied in fiber glass. Of course it is for a holley carb.

I already have a K&N filter on my car but would a remote cone filter help out more? I'd figure a remote filter with a heat shield might reduce intake temps a bit, and possibly be less restrictive.

 

I have plenty of pics of the setups I run. Different ones on different cars for different reasons. Ill try to upload some onto my cardomain site this week.

 

Does anyone offer a CAI setup for a stock 12a carb? Do people want one is my next question?

 

No, and
yes.

That I know of, no one makes a CAI for a 12A carbed engine.... and yes, people want them, as you can tell from this post...

 

Not that I know of. It's pretty easy to make. Youd have to engineer a helluva setup to get me to buy one.

 

Well I was playing with some foam I've got laying around, I really want to make something in fiberglass, and I sculpted out a plug for a mold just like the above pic of my holley carb bonnet. I've just gotta seal the foam and cast the mold. If the mold comes out well then I could make some copies... and a K&N cone filter is only about $40.

What all entails a "helluva setup" anyway? Gold plated? Carbon Fiber?

I'm going insane without my car so, I've gotta do something to keep my wits!

 

I'm still working on the CAI for the 12A. I'm having measurements done so the airbox enclosure up by the rad will be a tight seal, taking air from the front not the engine bay.

The carb bonnet looks great - I'm designing something similar, that will allow 12A owners to hook up the hoses etc. on the stock airbox so you're not forced to delete functions by switching to the CAI.

 

With a fiberglass bonnet holes could be drilled to add the nipples for any hose connections. I'll attend to that problem when it arises.

The plug I've made seems to be good, Working with a foam plug is so nice. I just applied two coats of glue which will allow me to sand it perfectly smooth so I can paint it and continue. I'll see if I can take some pictures of it tomorrow.

Mantis, do you have a prototype box made so far? If so do you have some pictures? I'm figuring your working with metal, but i'm sure a fiber box would be equaly functional.

If I can complete this project I'm gonna need a guniea pig car to test this out on. Right now I'm working of a stock carb which I picked up at the junkyard a while ago.

More work tommorrow!

 

Good job guys! Be sure to keep up the good work as I was to lazy (and poor) to do . How do either of you plan to make the duct work? I think sections of bent metal pipe (polished maybe ) might be cool as I was talking about in my post.

~T.J.

 

I think bent metal pipe would be best too, polished of course but, I'd have to pick up a tube bender. What's the normal diameter for intake pipe, 3"?

Again I'm not to this problem yet, I'll have to figure it out when I get there.

 

No, no bling bling for me. Youd have to come up with something better than what Ive got.

 

BTW if pratch ever gets off his *** and finishes this next installment , youll get to see one of my setups.

 

Speaking of ductwork, would it be worthwhile to put some sort of heat shielding (like a layer of foam covered in foil), or would the polished tubing suggested by RotorMotor be sufficient?

 

357, your in the ballpark now

 

Well with all this bragging, I think you should show us some pics! I'd love to see!