RXster

I made a custom FTP air inlet for my ’90 vert. I’m willing to bet more air flows through here than my headlight scoop! Total cost < $25. I’ve attached a few pics to go along with the explanation. Here’s what I did:

1. Bought expanded metal grating from Home Depot (hardware isle) and cut exactly to the shape of the FTP opening. Primed and painted to match.

2. Bought thin plexiglass from Home Depot and cut to fit behind the metal grate. This plexi is held in place with the outside bolt only. It is angled to deflect air towards the open plenum next to the headlight and still lets the headlight shine through if you FTP. I added a metal strap that catches a bumper bolt and is angled up behind the plexi. This keeps the plexi from pushing too far in and interfering when the headlight retracts. This is very important!

3. Need 10-32 x 1.500” bolts and nylon lock nuts (qty 4), plus two large nuts per side (8 total) to act as spacers. The spacers nuts are put behind the metal grate to bring it out flush with the top edge of the car. I think they are ½” high each.

4. You’ll also need thin sheetmetal (Home Depot) to make a plenum in the area next the headlight. I cut and bent it until I was happy with the fit. I used metal foil tape to fill in all the seams. I also took advantage of a bolt in that area to hold the plenum in place.

5. Test carefully to make sure it doesn’t interfere with the headlight when it retracts.

RXster

Here is the grill and plexi

RXster

Here is the plenum. Air deflects off the plexi and into this area. I've got it pretty well sealed up, so air flows up to my cold air box. You'll need to remove the hood weatherstrip and the plastic thing that holds the hood rod.

It's hard to see in the pic, but the plenum has two vertical walls and the right wall is bolted to a factory stud that sticks through. I just put a nut on it. It also has a floor that goes from the front of the bumper and slopes up to the top of the frame.

This took me a few hours to make!

gr0undz3r0

nice setup dude. I like it.

Samps

your filter looks really small, what kind is it? getting a bigger one would help take advantage of the extra air you are trying to vent.

rx7style

iTrader: (1)

I'm impressed.

I have the KSP headlight cover as well, and I ran a 3" pipe from underneath the car up right to the air filter, and I'm finding that keeps the temps down by the air fiter dramatically. SO I just bought brand new FTP lenses from Mazda, and it's nice to be able to still use those.

But that looks great, why don't you show us some pics of your whole car???

Evil Aviator

Wow, that's interesting. That's one of the few CAI's that I have seen that doesn't have to fight the radiator for air - and it looks good, too!

Christopher

BRAVO!!

Bigmike

Nice setup!

skibum9199

I think its great, would love to see some more pics though, closeups of how that plexi fits in?


~Jesse

RXster

I'll try to get a close up of the plexi installed when I get a chance. Picture this. ...
use one screw (outside edge) to hold in the plexi in place. The plexi is flat, but it is installed at the maximum allowable angle that still permits operation of the light. I'm going to guess the gap this creates is over 1" + the height of the opening in the car. I use a piece of metal strapping to keep the plexi from blowing in any further and interfering with the headlight opening and closing.

What keeps it on an angle?....the top edge of the plexi has a step in it. The far edge (opposite end from attachment screw) is taller and is held out by the round bar running across the top of the bumper. The top edge at the attachment screw just fits under the bar.....get it. The round bar sets the angle.

I know this will be difficult to photograph....hope the description helps.

I really don't think it is that restrictive and a guy that races Mazda's at Rotec.com in FL saw it and thought it was a pretty good idea. I really do think more air could flow through this area than the headlight cover. Of course the air needs to make a sharp right turn and then a left turn and then flow between the hood and the top of the frame, but it is being forced in.

Who knows short of installing a pito tube an being scientific about it...but I like the look a lot better than the stock FTP's and it still functions as an FTP.

skibum9199

I yanked out my ftp lenses yesterday, i really like how it looks w/out them, i think i'll leave it that way. Mind if i do something similar to yours? --i think its a terrific idea! The only prob I see is getting enough air through that skinny part... I think I may cut out a rectangle in the piece of sheet metal that separates the front compartment from the engine bay, that way i'll have a good volume of air flowing... I guess if you felt so inclined and had the time you could sell that as a kit, might be some good interest, or just pass it along, thats even better!


~Jesse

turboedRX-7

Looks good! I now have a 88 Black T2, and it came without one lense, so I took out the other one. I do like the looks too and I have been wondering how to get more cold air in too! Keep me posted on both your setups!
Good luck (Skill)!

Gene

iTrader: (1)

I have something similar on mine, the previous owner installed it... it looks like the stock FTP lenses were hollowed out with a dremel tool, leaving only the outline shape, and then the mesh put inside them. I don't have any pics, but it looks good

Mykl

Not bad! I don't think I'd do it to my car, but it looks so much better than not having anything in there at all.

I like the way my FTPs look so I'm leaving them in. Some day I'll get around to either doing the headlight mod or ordering some of those trick Jap-spec ones that light up.

The Ace

Just in the same spot: trying to find a way to completely ditch my box and all hoses, and try to get a cold-air box with a huge cone filter, and then trying to divert as much fresh air as possible in there (from the FTP, from the stock intake tube, from a hose up to the bumper, from a scoop on the hood, from the scoop on the headlight, anything). Still trying to figure things out...

mazda7

iTrader: (1)

i was thinking of doing something a little different but i want to get opinions first.

I am about to repaint my 87 na. I saw an add-on side scoop from Summit racing the other day and came up with this idea for using it on my seven.

I am going to cut a hole in my hood above the air filter just slightly smaller than the scoop. I am going to apply some expansion metal from home depot on the under side of the hood over the hole. Then put the scoop over the hole and mold it into my hood. This would force a great deal of air into my cold air box.

The scoop comes in carbon fiber look but I am going to paint it to match my hood. I think if I leave enough metal under the front of the hood I won't have to worry about water. I have a solution I think will work though if water becomes a problem.

Any way see what you think and let me know.


I love my 7!!!!!