Everyone says our engine bay is really hot and the air coming threw an intake heats up a lot so what would be the best thing to make one out of?

 

buy the needswings, it works, it looks great, and it fits. jim

 

I was thinking of making one a have a lot of friends with welding and fabing skills

 

Recently I've cut up some aluminum pieces and put it together. Seems to work out pretty well so far, and no welding! I just may have them powder coated next...Been playing around with various types the past year.

 

were are you getting your aluminium from? whats the wall thickness?

 

carbon fiber $$$$$

Renntech sexy time :drool:

 

What about wrapping the tubes with insulation type-cloth/tape stuff. I saw it in a catalog where you wrap exhaust or headers with it. Would that work to keep the heat out or no?

-Sam

 

I thought that the air was traveling so fast through the tube(s) that it would not have a chance to get hot. Seems like I remember reading somewhere in here that the air is traveling at around 120 mph through the CAI. Maybe I am wrong... won't be the first time.

 

theres a couple folks on the mb forums that wrapped their intake tubes with heat tape. not sure if it helps but looks cool. for approx 25$ couldnt hurt. for the s/c crowd the cooling seems to behelped from wrapping the bottom of the s/c and engine valley with heat insulation tape

 

I went to several shops that had pieces laying around, and of course one of my friends own shop had some. It's thin aluminum, not thick at all. So I just brought them home and cut them to fit. Didn't like the plastic Spectre pieces I originally had. One piece was actually melting! I have yet tried it at the track to see if there is any difference. I guess I'll find out next month and compare the times to Thumper's car.

 

what size would should it be made 3" for a single cai and is there any reason everyone has a rubber section by the belt? Is it just because the motor moves a little

 

Has anyone made one from carbon fiber it cost a lot but not that much compared to buying one premade from a shop

 

I can attest to the difference between carbon fiber and the plastic of the factory airbox.

The Renntech box I have after driving for a long period is just barely warm and the kevlar intake tubes are actually cool to the touch, CRAZY. The factory airbox after only a 20 min drive is already too hot to almost touch as well as the plastic tubes. big difference in heat.

 

does anyone know if kevlar or carbon fiber is better with the heat?

 

I think once you get to that level it wouldn't really matter unless your going for absolute top performance. The actual airflow plays the biggest factor, I don't think the difference in material would show much change in temp readings nevermind a dyno. I am no expert though. That being said if you can make something as beautiful as the Renntech for cheaper I will put my name on the list for sure.

 

Well, I can tell you right now its better than the plastic the car comes with. Like I said after driving for a long time, the Kevlar tubes are not hot, barely warm in fact.

 

Haha it probably won't look that great at all I was just thinking of making a single tube kinda like the other homemade ones I just kinds figures with the money I was saving I would use the best materails I could buy a 4 foot section of carbon fiber that's 3" for around 280 I would probably just use those rubber like boots to put it all together

 

Remember that metal pipes are going to conduct heat. If it is hotter outside the pipe then inside the pipe - insulate. If it is the other way around - do not. All of that metal is helping to heat up your intake charge.

That said, the general rule of thumb is that every 10 degrees Fahrenheit increase in air temp costs you approximately 1% at the crank. So it isn't the end of the world but there is SOME benefit to keeping things as cool as possible.

There are a variety of heat insulating wraps available but the best look I have found (and what I use on my Rotrex kit for the spyder) are lengths of silicone hose. I buy the same material as the couplers in 40" lengths and use it to insulate pipes.

You could use a piece of silicone hose starting from the plastic flex pipe all the way back and in between your connecting hoses. Then your intake would look like one long, continous piece of silicone hose (all the same color) except for a few clamps breaking it up and be fully insulated.

I can put you onto a good source if you are interested.

 

What a fantastic idea!