Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance DIY Cool-air intake...opinions?

I was inspired by all these attempts at building heat shields. None of which seemed to make sense to me...boxing in your open element filter seems to contradict what we bought them for in the first place.
Seems to me that a better answer to the heat soak problem would be to channel cool air directly to the filter in some way.

Here's my attempt at that...

The materials (all found in the Plumbing dept. at Lowe's). Total cost was $33...not including the electrical tape that I already had.

- The intake "scoop"...a 4" round black rubber thing that funnels down to 2"
- A 2" to 2" extender (round black rubber)
- A 2" to 1.5" reducer (round black rubber)
- Four feet of 1.5" ribbed pool hose (it was the best I could find...)
- A "double wye" pvc drain connector (it has three openings to connect pvc pipe to).

I put together the 3 black rubber parts to make the "intake" of sorts. They connect with hose clamps
which are included. Next the hose went on, and then the double wye.
I decided that I wanted a more direct air flow to the air filter. So, with a hack saw, I cut off the middle
connector ring, then cut through the middle of the wye (laterally) twice. Thus opening up the three
seperate sections into one wide opening.

I mounted the intake behind the lower grill (CSVT), just inside of the driver's side fog light. I had to
remove the black plastic piece that was originally there.
Once the plastic piece was removed, I zip tied the intake section off and attached the hose. The hose is
snaked through the square hole (blocked) in the lower air dam, then back up toward the KKM air filter.
Next, I pulled the hose tight, trimmed it to the right length, attached the modified wye to the hose with
electricial tape, and zip tied it into place...directly under the KKM.
Lastly, I zip tied the hose away from any heat generating objects as best I could. I don't know what the
melting point of the hose is, but I'm assuming it's low.

Now, whether this contraption will actually channel cool air from behind the grill directly to the
filter...and how much...is still a mystery. I should find some sort of way to measure the air
temp near the filter to prove one way or the other if it is working.
Even if it is working...I don't know how much it will reduce the heat soak problem with an open element
air filter.

It's gotta help at least a little...

Get some pics for us to see

I'll see if I can either borrow my g/f's parents digicam or one from work and take & post some pix tomorrow.

this is under my guess.. it would work under moving conditions, where it scoops air in. But what about when the car is at a complete stop? No air can be scooped in. That's where the heatshield comes in. It blocks off a lot of the heat from the engine.. not all but a lot of it. But i would think that's why they made heat shields. I know enclosing "seems" kinda bad.. but it still puts more air than the stock box. The heat shield like the sho shop CAI looks pretty good. It blocks off the engine heat. This is just what i'm thinking. I'm not 100% sure though