I am not sure actually but I bet not too much. But PARTSMAN had a good idea of potentially diverting more air there into that tube. (I beleive that is what he was talking about.) I don't really want to plug it up. I like the look of the twin tubes. However, I may in the future if it doesn't really turn out to be useful.

Thank you,
JBravoMC

 

Sorry. I'm missing something here. The stock intake duct to the stock airbox goes around and under the tube connecting the airfilter with the throttle body. With the K&N the stock duct gets replaced with the short (normally) open-ended pipe that "points" to the filter, right? Do you close off the hole at the front bottom of the airbox to prevent hot air from entering the airbox?

wrt to plugging up the air coming from the duct above the radiator...why close off a source of fresh air, even if it's not direct or with a known CFM? There's little evidence that much air is being forced or rammed into the airbox from the cowl in front of the windshield... Of course, all the air that enters the engine has to come from somewhere (duh, Phil) but how each source contributes the supply is not clear to me. Some from the cowl, some from the front duct, (some from the IC scoop in my case) and some from leakage of seals at or near the firewall.)
Do we have any evidence/measurements that the air entering a closed-with-lid airbox is colder than entering a closed-with-bonnet-seals airbox?

cheers,

 

Dr. Phil,

I did close off the hole on the bottom. It wasn't prior to this endevour but is now.

As far as the measurements go, I do not have any. I will hopefully some day get into the testing and measuring stuff, but for now I look what seems to be the best approach and go for it. (BTW, I have been following your intake project and you IC Thermal Efficiency threads. Very cool stuff)

The way I see it, if I can keep the air source to the intake coming from as fresh and cold of an air supply as possible without any type of injection, etc... then I am at least doing something to improve the intake charge. I think sealing up the box to only allow air from the front scoop/tube and then also from the cowl is a good start. Getting more air into each of those pathways will be the next plan.

Man, I am seeing this turning into a long term project. Did I tell you all how much I like my Mini?

Thank you,
JBravoMC

 

JBMC - Thanks so much for sharing all your hard work, and for your openness and COOPERation in answering everyone's questions.

I know everyone appreciates it. BUT it seems to me that you deserve to get something out of this yourself beyond compliments and a really effective K&N unit on your own vehicle .

I, for example, would be more than willing to pay you whatever you think is fair for the template once you have it refined to the "next level" (or wherever you feel comfortable "releasing" it, along with whatever fab and assembly instructions your experience indicates it is helpful to provide with the drawings. Of course, I'd also probably pay something for a whole ready-to-bolt-in piece (so I don't have to cut and bend the metal or rivet it together or paint it all.)

Just a thought.

Motor on, Dude!!

 

likewise with me

 

That's the hole I was talking about. I was thinking about coating the box, including that hole, with some Thermo-Tec tape.

 

better yet just make a new box outa aluminum

 

I have the K&N Short Ram air intake for my MC and I've been gathering pieces of metal to do something like that in the future. Maybe now is the time.
Nice work!

 

Thanks for the offers.

As for the template, I think I will make one available once I have the intake refined a bit. I believe I can make it a bit easier to create and at the same time more efficient. I plan on doing this in the next week or two. Once it is complete and I am satisified with this part of the intake, I will make the templates available. I am not honestly looking for anything unless there is shiping for the template invloved.

Now, if it turns out to be something not too difficult to make, I may create a few of them for people who are interested. Who knows at this point. But, I will at the very least post the templates up somewhere here to download once the newer version is complete.

SayGoodbye, I will have to look into the Therma-Tec tape. I need something to help keep the heat out.

Thanks again,
JBravoMC

 

JBravoMC - nice work, and thanks for sharing with us!

I was never that keen on the idea of getting ambient air to the filter via the hood scoop as that air otherwise would have been used to cool the charged air; which I feel is a more significant role.

Some type of wrap or insulative spray coating would probably be worthwhile...

Again...

 

Here is a filter that will compliment your project. We used these on our 125 shifter, it was worth almost 6hp over the restricted muffled WKA unit. It will also take advantage of the hole in the OE box.
The filter is 1" longer ( than the K&N ) & has a nice ram at the base.
The link http://www.racearsenal.com/filters.htm

 

I don't know what you used to plug the hole, but a 2" Fernco CAP fits that hole perfect. Even though it's a cap, it works great there as a plug.

 

Very cool DYI project.
Pro looking all the way.

 

2" was too small for my unit. Maybe K&N changed the size of the opening somewhere along the way.

 

like yr work - well thought out and good execution.

Would the filter fit in the stock box? if so did you ever consider using it?

I especially like the short/direct path of the inbound air tube.