Does anyone know where I can buy, or how (if) I could fabricate a heat shield for my K&N Typhoon? I'm pleased with the sound and throttle response, but I have concerns over the intake sharing the same (hot) air as the engine.
The K&N website lists a hp gain of 3.4 for this system on this engine, although I wonder how given that it is taking in warmer air than with the stock airbox. The shorter and straighter path for air intake for the Typhoon vs. stock has to account for some gain, but it is not a true CAI.
I know there are other systems which feature heat shields, but I am reluctant to toss the Typhoon and spend more money just for a heat shield.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

Well... you could make your own. It's not complicated, just a little time consuming to get it just right.

 

Looks to be sheetmetal and poprivets.

Hard to fabricate? Expensive?

 

I felt the same way with my K&N, so my mechanic friend and I decided to make a little 3 sided box with a small pipe coming out of it so it could connect to the air inlet tube. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

 

Thanks for your reply and offer of help drsilvermini; though I neglected to mention that mine is an R50 , and the photo from your post shows an R53 (56?).

Again, thank you for offering to help.

 

BTW drsilvermini, what materials did you use to make the box? Maybe I can use it to make one for my R50.

 

I forget what it was it was a little longer than a year ago and it was just laying around my buddy's shop, i'll give him a ring tomorrow and then pm you and let you know!

 

A guy I know spent a lot of time creating this :



It stops all the hot air from getting to the intake.
Not hot air from below, above, ...
And he cut holes (it's something you do or don't do) in the front panel to get more cold air to the intake faster.

 

Stainless steel and poprivets. This is the test model. Shielded on two sides and the bottom. Made some mockups with cardboard over a three day period before I settled on this one. Polished the engine side to reflect heat, coated the inside with truckbed liner for some (minor) insulation. Butted up tight against radiator assembly -with slit hoses for sealing- not hard to make once the format is established, and it seems to help. Butt-dyno, which I know Der Abt frowns on (don't blame him), but it's all I've got right now.

 

I also wasn't satisfied with the K&N's lack of isolalation from engine heat, etc. My Dad and I made a "cold air box" from Plexi and aluminum framing. I cut a 5 inch hole in the firewall too...that was risky and NOT recommended. Check my pics and feel free to email. An off-topic question for drsilvermini; do you have any pics of your custom subwoofer enclosure? I recently built mine and am curious to see other designs. Awwright guys, I'm back to work...enough obsessing for now!

 

Again, thanks to all for your input. You have been most helpful.

Time to start building!

 

jlloyd, here are a couple of pics of my subwoofer box, hope you like it!