Cold Air Intake Question: Opinions

[Black Sun 5.0]

When I bought my '91, the previous owner had a BBK cold air intake already installed in the fenderwell. What I was wondering is this: is it worth it to keep it in the fenderwell or can I just put a K&N filter under the hood without losing any flow to the intake? It's a pain to get to the filter to clean under the fenderwell, it would be easier under the hood. Plus, it wouldn't get as dirty with all the dirt that is kicked up under the fender. Something tells me I wouldn't experience any power loss, but I'm looking for opinions.

 

[banditmwp]

I don't know...the air under the hood is warmer than the air coming thru the fender, but i agree with the pain in the @$$ part

 

[redterror302]

I would keep the cold air into the fenderwell. It is much cooler in the fender then in the engine bay. That's why people ice their intake, they are trying to get the coolest intake charge they can. The gains might be marginal, but if you already have it, why pay to get an air filter that might decrease performance.

If that 5 extra minutes is that much of a pain, then by all means get rid of it. I just don't think it would be worth it.

 

[sixty9boss302]

They did a test that i read about the other day and they compared the stock setup with k&n panel...the fenderwell CAI and then the engine bay CAI. They ran the car down the 1/4 and they also used a thermometer to measure the air temp in the intake pipe. The stock setup and the fenderwell CAI measured very close...maybe with a small advantage to the CAI. But the engine bay was significantly worse and the intake air temp was aquite a bit hotter. Not something that i would pay even more money for. You probly already have the optimal setup i would not change it. Hope this helps. Later

 

[lxsteed]

Its really not that complicated to lay down and reach up there with a nut driver and loosen the clamp.

 

[BADPONYsc]

I have the fenderwell BBK kit, but have never had the engine bay setup... but I know people who have had both and they said there were noticable differences between the two... noticable in the way the car drove and also noticable in the time slips. The fenderwell design has been tested and proven to be better and most people who have tried both will confirm that.
Taking the fenderwell filter out is kind of tricky, but how often does it have to come out though, really? Mine's been in there for three years and looks as new as the day I put it in. The K&N style filters recommendation for cleaning is like every million miles (exagerating) or something like that right? K&N even says themselves that the filters flow better when they are a little dirty, instead of brand-spanking-new. That's why they don't recommend cleaning them too often.
Hope this helps!

 

[Mavrick]

What kind of dissadvantages are we talking here? Less than a tenth in the 1/4? 1-2hp?

I just bought a UPR filtersystem.. and it's just a conical filter that attatches to the MAM, and a chrome inlet pipe to go from the MAMA to the TB. I wanted to get a K&N panel for the stock airbox, but this deal came up so i bought it.

 

[two_stangs]

Its really not that complicated to lay down and reach up there with a nut driver and loosen the clamp.

I'm with him. It's really quite easy to get to. I have the Fenderwell and have no complaints.

 

[WLDHRSE]

I have also heard that the air from the fan creates a lot of turbulance in the intake path on cars with the cone filter in the engine bay.

I personally have all three setups. My 88 LX has a K&N cone. My 93 LX has a MAC fenderwell CAI. My 93 GT has a K&N flat panel in the factory box. One of these days I should do some experimenting.

Cliff

 

[YELLOWLXCOUPE]

Keep The Fender Filter.... Colder Air Is Much Better

Just My 2cents

 

[Black Sun 5.0]

Thanks for the replies, I'll keep it in the fender.