Ok so I know the debate over cold air intakes over open element filters is an ongoing debate.But Heres an idea.well actually not mine but someone elses.If anyone has seen the cover of modified magazine with the rx 8 on it youll know what im taking about.the rx 8 has a custom ram air intake in the front bumper with a hole cutout and a rotary shape surrounding it.Im sure everyone knows where im going with this.This simple modification would make for one hell of a ram air system and thus solving our little problem.Now if anyone can actually fabricate this piece i would most definatly buy it.If not im going to look into getting it made and perhaps marketing it.

 

What I did was that I modifed a stock air duct so that it supplies cold air directly to my Blitz SUS Intake System. It looks pretty good and is extremely functional.

 

Wold the "ram" effect make much difference in a forced induction system like ours?

I'm pretty sure damien has done this. Lowers intake temps (as opposed to sucking air from the radiator or its proximity). A cheaper version without ram is available from adamc. Ultimately, I would think changing the IC has more effect that what you do to the front side of the turbos, as long as you keep the intake to the turbos relatively cool...

 

thats the problem thought.I have the blitz sus as well and also the aluminum hard pipes and those bastards get hot as ****.So Im pretty sure im not sucking in cold air.I just think it would look sweet with that hole in the front bumper and a c west front bumper.I just may pioneer this and see how it works out for me.Im pretty sure with a fmic and this ram air system the car will perform much better.

 

heres a pic of the setup on the rx 8

 

got any pics of your modification arexseven?

 

i'm not cutting a hole in my bumper.

 

well the mod isnt for everyone.but i dont think it looks ugly as long as we can get that same setup you see on the rx 8.Plus the benefits would be well worth it in my opinion.It would allow cold air to the intakes,reduced underhood temperatures as well as help your turbos work more efficiently as well as your intercooler.

 

I'll post a few photos on this thread this week-end. I think you'll really like the set-up. Actually looks "stock".

 

I agree. Wouldn't want to drive it while it rains either. Talk about "flooding" your engine!!

 

yea im buyin an Rx7 with an aftermarket intake but its no brand name it was just kinda pieced together with some hard pipes and filters. we got a top to bottom inspection on the car before we bought it and the guy said the intakes were bad b/c they drew air straight from the radiator?

is this a common problem? what can i do to fix this?

am i in the right place to be posting this? ( sorry i didnt really no where to ask it but this seemed good)

and its a 93 btw

 

Not sure what that really means. The intake/filters might be positioned so that they are not getting fresh/cold air. And only drawing air flow filtered through the radiator??

 

Just get the RE sleek lights with holes in em.

 

The sleek lights are hideous.That and the hole in the bumper on the rx 8 isnt just a hole.It also has a little routing if you have some better pics of the car.Which I happen to have since I bought the modified magazine with the car in it.They hooked it up directly to the turbo via pipe and couplers.But what im thinking is to run the same setup minus the direct piping.As long as your intakes are a little distance from the hole they should be relatively safe from rain.That and I didnt take into account the subframe underneath the front bumper so the would be hole will be lower than the direct path of the intakes.Thus preventing rain and rocks from ever having a linear path to your intakes.But still inserting tons of cold air into the general area of the intakes.And also a little rain mist in the engine bay wont hurt either.Can anyone say aquamist? hehe.This just might work.Well see.

 

are we talkign race car here? if so then cutting up your car isnt a big deal....
but for daily use its alittle extreme.

 

whats the big deal? its the same as having a hood scoop.or adding one.This mod would just target one of the major problems of the open element filters.getting cool air to the intakes.I mean if you can make it a clean install like the rx 8 pic i posted i actually think it would look good on the fd.
Has anyone seen the new bmw m3 csl?
Look at the drivers side front bumper and tell me what you see.Its a hole for the intake.

 

yes the filters are positioned so they are drawing hot air out of the rear of the radiator

do i just need new different CAI's ??

 

I think it is a useful idea. How would you sell it though? You can't really sell a hole as a kit. You would just have to sell a front bumper with the hole already done. I think they're are already some aftermarket bumpers with openings in the front. They just arn't big round holes. I'm guessing no one has done it yet because it's pretty ugly.

 

I dunno.I think its possible to fabricate the same piece used on the rx 8 which is a rotary shape with a pipe attached to it.So basically you cut a hole in your aftermarket bumper and add that rotary shaped accesory with the hole.If could get some more pics of the rx 8 with that setup you would see that its actually pretty sweet looking.

 

A ram air intake must be sealed. You can't do that with open filter elements. Your idea is not a ram intake.

However, I think that your idea will provide cooler air the the filters. Cooler air is always better. The problem to be solved, becomes other things coming thru the hole besides air. What will you do to keep out water, rocks leaves ...... etc??

Personally, I care too much about my car to cut a hole in my beautiful front bumper. The same thing can be accomplished by running a vent from another location.

 

damn I wish I had more pictures of the rx 8.If you look closely its not just a hole cut into the bumper.Its not that crude.Also from the looks of things if I were to do that modification to a c west bumper the hole will be about six inches lower than the intakes.Therefore the water and rocks wouldnt even hit the intakes.Another problem solved.That and if youre running a fmic which some of us will and or do.The extra water hitting the pipe will only cool the air even more.And yes it would be a true ram air but it would be close enough and very usefull in terms of performance.