OK, I believe I've been thinking. A dangerous pastime, I know.
I'm currently running a big fat ITG foam open-air filter under that hot-house hood, and I'm sick of the hot air. I want cold air, dangit!
I've been visiting the "Bobistheoilguy" forums, where pretty much everybody bashes any air filter media besides paper because they let too much dirt in the engine. I've heard of guys taking off their K&N's and finding visible dirt in the MAF, so the naysayers are believable, despite what I used to think about "deep media" and its superior filtration. The Chicken Littles also quote oil analysis results to back up their claims, and a lot of guys are dumping their K&N's and foam deals for good quality OEM or Purolator, Wix, etc paper.
I also look at my intake system, and I just can't see that the filter is that much of a restriction. I mean, is the engine really not getting enough air at WOT? Look at that throttle body on my stock, 96 SE.
What about panel filter vs SVT "cone?" The SVT cone paper filter offers an additional 8% of filter area over the non-SVT panel, but somebody said it offers 30% better flow (hard to believe--maybe that's the whole induction system?) The SVT filter is the same one used on mid 90's V-8 Mustang Cobras. Are you going to tell me that an engine half the size is starved for air--by the filter?
Anyway, what I'm coming to is that the stock system is pretty darn good. I want my engine to get the best protection with good performance. I want to stay legal for SCCA Solo II STS competition, so I can't change or alter the TB, or hog out any holes for a true aftermarket CAI, but I can install an SVT airbox with a clean paper air filter, and I can either use a flexible hose to the fender area to draw cool air, or I can install the SVT fender adapter. Either way, I think the flow will be 1) superior to stock and 2) cooler and therefore superior to my present system, or any pseudo-sealed "cold air" box I could fabricate on the cheap.
That's my 2 cents. Any thoughtful commentary is welcome.
