Air Intake Options

[Smokey Boyer]

I have a Chimaera 500, mine for a few weeks now. The air intake system needs some attention.



The current system is as follows;

72mm plenum (76mm outer diameter).
blue elbow silicone hose is actually a narrower diameter than the plenum inlet and steps down from 76mm as it leaves the plenum before the curve,
No AFM
The black carbon looking cone has 102mm inlet and outlet and houses a K&N cone filter which is in good condition, although gets very hot due to its location.
The black air feed pipe to the filter is very poor condition, and is only just long enough to just reach through the bulkhead next to the radiator.
The hole in the bulkhead has been enlarged and the 102mm air pipe just goes through it, although it deforms to more of a square. I think the hole could be reshaped to make it more round and suited to a 102mm pipe but it will be a tight fit next to the radiator.
There is an air temp sensor mounted in the black inlet pipe but it gets hot and gives duff readings due to its location.

I want to relocate the air temp sensor and filter to avoid heat soak. I also want to change the elbow as it seems daft for it to narrow so close to the plenum.

I have looked at a few options.

1. Replace the entire system with an ACT Performance intake with new filter. Fit the air temp sensor in the pipe near to the air filter which moves it to a cooler place in the nose of the car. Cost will be about £240

2. Replace the elbow with a 76 to 102mm silicone reducer elbow. Run a 102mm flexible, smooth internal wall, pipe from the elbow through the bulkhead to the existing K&N filter re-located in the nose of the car, perhaps behind the nearside indicator. Optionally run a air intake pipe from the filter to near to the main front grill. Fit the air temp sensor in the pipe near the air filter. Cost will be £100 using

http://www.autosiliconehoses.com/silicone-polyeste...
http://www.autosiliconehoses.com/silicone-2-ply-ai...
http://www.autosiliconehoses.com/custom-alloy-stra...

optional extra to bring in cold air through the grill

http://www.autosiliconehoses.com/silicone-hose-sho...

3. similar to number 2, but use a normal 76mm elbow, with a 76mm pipe. Use a 76 to 102mm reducer pipe in the nose of the car to attach the existing K&N filer. This solution would be easier to route through the bulkhead than the 102mm pipe. Cost will be about £100

I could always put a new filter with option 2 or 3.

While I am happy to do the work, I am not sure which system would be best. The ACT one seems appealing but the cost puts me off a little bit. If anyone has any suggestions or comments, I would appreciate some help.

Edited by Smokey Boyer on Friday 15th May 09:48

[Smokey Boyer]

I can now see why the large carbon cone filter is where it is. Very tight for space in the nose of the car. I thought it would fit in fine until tried it. It does fit but I think I would end up squashing the air hose if I position it to avoid blocking the air flow to the radiator, which sort of defeats the point of having a 102mm diameter pipe.

I also think the default ACT kit is not going to the suitable as the reservoir and pipes for the power steering pump are going to be in the way.

[Smokey Boyer]

I think going for a pipercross or K&N standard cylinder type filter is going to be my only sensible option now. Where would the filter be mounted normally? How it the filter normally held in place?