I went and got a compression test done using a Mazda compression tester on my FD and the shop owner said that he does not recommend Apexi intakes unless they are properly ducted. He was saying that they just suck up the hot air from the bay, combined with stock IC increases IAT temps leading to higher risk of detonation. My car is stock with the stock ecu, twins seq, greddy Ti cat back.

Anyone have any input?

 

The shop owner is giving you good advice. I expect the bay area is pretty cool this time of year. That WILL change and under-hood temps WILL rise and that intake WILL suck hot air. It's not a cold air intake.
Some open intakes can be improved a bit with the use of shielding or ducting to isolate it from engine heat and source some of it's air from ambient entering through the nose. IIRC the Apex'i 's are a little larger cone and canted at the end. Might make it a little more difficult.

If you want to leave your car as close to stock as possible (and there is NOTHING wrong with that), I would recommend using the stock air box and doing a "cheap bastard" modification. You could Private Message a member here named 'adam c' for his kit. Includes ducting, instructions on modifying the stock duct to source air from beneath the box (and the front nose). Very effective, inexpensive and since you're in California, it's invisible for visual emissions inspection. https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...ox-mod-121491/

 

I do plan on modifying it however the intake and exhaust were on the car from the previous owner when I bought it so I don't have the stock airbox. Right now I figure I will take it slow for the first year to find what he did and what needs to be adressed. I have been looking into the rx7 store vmount kit which will probably be the route I go, along with some shielding and ducting to divert cold air to the intakes. I did see that the petite intakes use some shielding.
By no means did I mean to imply that the shop owner was givinge bad advice, just wanted to get some opinions.