Originally Posted by delornut
If this were the ONLY modification you make I doubt you'll see anything noticable, performance wise, in every day driving. If you do other mod's that benefit from modifying the intake it's a needed modification to get the most out of those modifications. Engine performance depends, to an extent, on the velocity in the intake so length, shape and size all play a role in the design of the intake runners.
DeLornut
Seeing as the Needswings Devil Horns won't even mate up to the stock intake tubes, I think it goes without saying that any members utilizing the NDH system would have an aftermarket style intake.
180's point of "buffeting" is moot because the screen over the MAF serves to smooth out the airflow via laminar effect. Think kitchen sink; without screen, water gushes out. With screen inside nozzle, the water comes out smoothly at ANY flow rate.
The scoops were designed to be used in conjunction with a system with filters further down the line. They cannot be used with a normal Needswings intake for street duty, or you risk FOD.
However, I'm running a much bigger airbox than stock, with K&N panel filters and 3" intake tubes running through the radiator core. Max Cichon and BoilerUpXfire are also running intakes that would be able to utilize the NDH system.
I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the Canadian's assertions that the engines don't benefit from forward-facing scoops.
To wit,
I think we'd all agree that "ram air" has zero compressing benefits.
MY assertion, to clarify, is simply that the scoops yield a true, unadulterated, unobstructed clear path to fresh cool air. Yes, an opening that flanks the radiator can inhale air that is cooler than the air right beside the block. We get that. But I think it also stands to reason that ANY decrease in IATs is beneficial. Cooler air is most-certainly denser air.
At any rate, I think the only way to really lay this whole debate in the shade is to do real world tests; not ASSumptions from people who have no physics degrees. Until the people debating me present their PhD in physics, their opinion is worth exactly as much as mine. Math can make any statement true, but 100 degree weather and horrid humidity will make you actually start considering modifications that promote cooler breathing, not simply club the concepts with desktop mathematics before the first wrench is even turned.
Max has already obtained the figures for the stock intake's IATs @ 75 mph. Once the weather gets back into a reasonable temp range (i.e, LESS than 95 every day) I would love to test the IATs of a modded airbox under two conditions:
Intake tubes only; tubes will rest at either side of radiator, with no smooth path for direct frontal airflow to reach the tubes and remainder of intake.
Intake tubes and NDH system; scoops will be placed immediately behind the grill opening, forming a smooth channel directly to the intake tubes with no obstructions and shielding the IATs from radiator ambient heat.
In the end, the lowest IATs will reveal which intake system is most effective. We shall see.
Until the test results, all of the amateur, uncertified, self-proclaimed physicists in the world won't sway my agreement with the design.