Just being lazy and haven't checked all the forums for this intake. I just received the new issue of MC2 and saw the 'An International Affair' article. The dude has the ABD Monster Force installed and I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions or experience with it. I currently have the aFe intake. Any bodies two cents would help.

 

I believe this is the intake you are talking about:



I don't think this is going to provide much change compared to the aFe intake.
As you can see, both intake setups are very similar.
The only advantage this intake has, is the fact that the tube is made out of steel and that it is shorter compared to the stock one that the aFe setup uses.
But if you already have an aFe intake, I wouldn't expect any big changes if you are going to switch to this one.
Maybe a little bit more noise, a little bit better gas response.

Kind regards

Der Abt

 

I would pay good $$ if such a part existed and was available.

Like MGW, I had the R53 bonnet installed some time ago in conjunction with other necessary body work and strictly for aesthetic purposes. However, I would love to install a heat-shielded CAI if I could route the scoop intake over to the CAI cavity.

There are other NAMmers (e.g., FPM) who would probably be in the market for this type of mod too. At least one (Jeffy) fabricated something similar with a piece of screen and fiberglass, but I'm not familiar with this type of fab work and I want something that looks finished and professional. Still looking...

 

What about moving the MC battery to the rear and putting a MCS CAI on it?
dont know if this is possible or not just an idea

 

Actually, this seems like a lot of extra work and you'd still be left with the original, primary engineering challenge to overcome--i.e., routing the air intake from the scoop to the CAI while isolating it from the ambient air in the engine compartment.

I'm sure the person with the right skills could easily fashion a single piece add on that fastens to the underside of the scoop cavity, and ports the air over to the front, drivers-side corner of the engine compartment that is already bounded by the CAI heat shield. Now we just need to find that person.

 

Does a CAI gains more than a K&N panel filter?

 

Check out this thread :
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=124139
And this one:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=127590

Performance wise you could put them in this order (the first giving the highest gain) :

1)Closed carbon intake (up to 7hp with a CDA has been achieved on a Mini)
2)Open intake with heatshield (these intakes can also provide good gains)
3)Panel filter (the cheapest option, they do add something, but it's not much)

Cost wise, this is how to order them (the first being the cheapest) :

1)Panel filter
2)Open intake with heatshield
3)Closed carbon intake

Kind regards

Der Abt

 

Building my own 'cuz it's more fun than buying:

 

This question is aimed at Der Abt:

I currently (as you should know) compete in STS so any modifications to the body to accomadate a CAI are not allowed. I recently recieved a custom ECU tune from Mini Madness and durring which the techs noticed my intake air temp was at 140deg with outside air temp of 70deg. I have a K&N SRI installed and it is going bye bye. On a side note I will be relocating my battery (and changing it to a lightweight dry cell) to the boot. This should allow the installation of the Mini Madness cooper S CAI w/ cowl mod. I am expecting to modify the filter box (because of the lower profile of the cooper hood) by cutting it down. what are your thoughts on this matter. Take in mind I'm not relocating the battery for room for the CAI it will be relocated regardless. If you have a better idea for a CAI I would like to hear it.

Thanks
Clinton

 

Well, first of all, the quality of the Mini Madness intake looks to be really good.
On top of that, the heatshield that comes with it, look almost perfect to install on a Cooper non S (after some cutting).
The reason for this is because the part of the heatshield that isn't closed, can be attached on the front shield (the one on top of your radiator) of your cooper, after some cutting here and there.

It really depends how you want to start with this project.
You can still use your K&N intake, if you can make your own heatshield.

Or you could buy an intake with a heatshield and do some modifications to get more cold air (look below).

You could also use a closed carbon intake, I've had some great results with those.
And to be honest, the highest gains I've ever seen from an intake, were all achieved with closed carbon intakes.
The one I would suggest is the CDA.
I've posted several setup in my intake thread.

It really depends what setup you prefer.
Panel filter, open intake with heatshield, carbon intake ?
Like I said before in this thread :

Performance wise you could put them in this order (the first giving the highest gain) :

1)Closed carbon intake (up to 7hp with a CDA has been achieved on a Mini)
2)Open intake with heatshield (these intakes can also provide good gains)
3)Panel filter (the cheapest option, they do add something, but it's not much)

Cost wise, this is how to order them (the first being the cheapest) :

1)Panel filter
2)Open intake with heatshield
3)Closed carbon intake

If you decide to go for an intake with heatshield (or this could also be used for a carbon intake), there are a few modifications you could do.

My advice would be, get as much cold air into that shield as you can.
You could use three basic sources to get cold air.

The first one and the most obvious is of course from the front, using a big flexible tube.
Here's an example of my Raid Max HP setup taking air from the front :



The second source is from the grill under your windshield (look at my CDA setup, this is where I take cold air).
Many people think that there isn't much cold air to get from there, but I tell you, dyno results have shown the opposite.
I believe even one of the JCW intakes for the Cooper takes air from there.
All you need to do is remove a plastic piece and you've got a cold air supply.
Here's a picture of my CDA setup taking air from the box (100% closed off from the engine compartment) which gets cold air from the grill under the windshield:



You could combine these sources and take cold air from all of them.
You could cut an extra hole in the heatshield of the Mini Madness intake (or anther intake) for the second tube, or use a connection piece to join the two tubes into that one hole.

Another option (third source) is cutting holes into that front plate on top of your radiator.
Here's an example I showed some time ago :



This is very effective.
I know the guy with that setup shown above, and it really helps (dyno proof).
He made his own heatshield, and takes cold air from the front scoop and through those holes he made in that front panel.
A good setup.

If that still wouldn't be enough, you could also take off your front bumper, drill a hole, put a tube in there, put the bumper back on, and you take air from there.
Here's a picture to show you what I'm talking about :



But I think if you use more than one source, you should be ok.

When taking air from the front and from the grill under the windshield, no real body modifications have to be done.
The other two sources require some cutting, so you'll have to check whether they allow this or not.

One of the best setup I have ever seen (however, I doubt whether this will be allowed in STS), is the Kelleners setup.



This is probably the best intake setup around.
Together with custom software for this intake, Kelleners saw a gain of 7hp.

Kind regards

Der Abt

 

Thanks for all the great info Der Abt I think I will go with the best of both worlds. I will relocate the battery to the boot, install the Mini Madness CAI w/cowl mod (because I can't cut or drill holes...only for mounting), replace the filter with the BMC CDA filter and finally replace the cowl grills with Ociari scoops (for looks of course ) for added positive pressure on the outside air side of the filter. Yes this would be expensive but would'nt I be taking it a step further by putting the CDA filter in a cold box? As well as "faking" a slight F/I with the cowl scoop? I could fab a bell venturi w/screen (I'm quite handy with fiberglass) to the back side of the cowl scoop and connect that directly to the CDA. This would also be STS legal. I could go one step further and put some white vinyl on the hood in front of the scoop (to keep the surface cool in the hot AZ sun). I can't cut out the front end either (besides even though that is fresh air from the front...it's hot air heated by the 140deg + pavement). Your thoughts BTW this is alot of work I know...but I also want to knock around a few honda civics in STS, so every little bit helps.

 

Not a bad idea, but there are a few things I would like to point out.

You're not the first person who placed a CDA inside a cold box.
See picture below :


The thing is, it's not really a must to put a CDA inside a cold box (heatshield).
The carbon box itself makes sure that the intake inside stays cool enough.
The setup that you see on the picture above ran 99.9% the same numbers as my setup, so it's safe to say that a heatshield around a CDA is kinda useless.

I would suggest going for the CDA setup (the highest gains I have seen with an intake were with a BMC CDA) and making sure that there is a reliable supply of cold air.
Installing a heatshield around the CDA won't do much.

You see, an intake can only do so much.
Unless you install it in a more extreme way (see Kelleners setup or the setup shown on the above picture) an intake can only provide you with a certain amount of horsepower and torque.
The Kelleners setup was good for 5hp with no software adjustment (peak power) and 7hp with a software adjustment (also peak power), now, my setup provided a gain of about 4hp (peak) and a lot more torque.
So, unless you use an extreme form of installation (see Kelleners setup or the setup shown on the picture above) you can only gain so much.
What I'm talking about here, is a limit that cannot be crossed unless you go for an extreme setup.
I reached that limit with my "easy" but reliable CDA setup.

Another way to reach that limit is to use an open intake with heatshield.
But when you go that way, there are a couple of adjustments that you have to do, and that are not STS legal.
Like drilling holes in the front panel etc.
That's also one of the reason why I suggest the CDA setup, it allows bigger gains in an STS legal way.

Regarding your idea about adjusting the front side to drop the temperature.
I feel like this isn't really necessary because when the car is moving, there is a pretty big airstream that is in contact with the front grill.
This airstream also helps keep the front part of the car cool.

What you could do, is install an air diverter plate.
This will force more air into the engine room.

Picture :



Another thing you can do is wrap your header.
It doesn't really matter whether it's a stock one or another one, a wrapped header will stay cooler which means the airstream inside the engine compartment stays cooler.

Kind regards

Der Abt

 

A diverter plate like this one.
http://www.m7tuning.com/parts/popup_image.php?pID=25

 

Yep.

 

[quote=Der Abt;2018386]You've got several options.
The good thing is that you are asking for a cold air intake.
Here are some of the options that you have regarding cold air intakes :

Raid Max HP


BMC CDA

I bought a second hand 2002 Mini Cooper 6 years ago. It came complete with a Green Intake system that looks similar to the BMC CDA above and a Borla exhaust system. The breather hose needs to be replaced and I can't find a replacement. It seems I can get breather hoses at 3" and 3 1/2", but not the
3 1/8" that I measure on the can of the Green intake system (has a cone air filter). First of all, do I need to have a breather hose at all? Secondly, the current breather hose is taped with metal tape to seal up the holes that have developed. Also, the hose is bent around to the point where it almost pinches itself off at one of the turns in the "S" that it makes.

I am not a great auto mechanic, but understand mechanical things. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

bigbasin

 

That intake tubing looks like aviation "scat tubing"....it comes it black fabric, or orange, which is silicone rubber covered to make it a bit more durable. Not sure where to get it where you are, but the stuff has many uses...and is popular outside of aviation....you may find that classic car places can get it for you...it can be used for interior ducts for cars when they do custom work...like adding AC to a street rod, or used for a brake ducts....it might require a few phone calls...stuff like that is not typically listed online....