Aibox Identification?

[John042]

Hi again. Can anyone identify this air intake box please? I seems to be an original fit as two studs match up with lower mountings on the inner wing. There's no filtration other than a wire mesh, unless a square foam type element fitted behind it? Bl**dy close to the PAS pump though! Just in the right position to suck nice warm air in from the engine. I've got a Capri air box but that would require serious modification as it's a much taller unit. Thanks for any identification. John C.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi mate...If it were me i would not bother wasting days..Weeks...Months trying to figure out what the box is off..I would blank off that monstrosity of an excuse for an air filter ...Looks more like a chicken coop and then cut a 3" hole in the right place at the front and then plastic weld or fibreglass either a collar or plastic pipe there instead and the fit the filter in the nose cone ..You could either use a combination of bought alloy pipes and silicone or if you have the money have a custom intake feed made...Either way it will be a massive improvement on the existing shyte...

[John042]

Thanks Zig, big hole isn't it? I guess the best way forward is as you suggest. Christ knows were it came from but seem original from the two lower mounting studs welded to the chassis. However I now have a redundant Capri air box filter and adaptor plate. Any takers?? Cheers John C.

[mrzigazaga]

John...Are you absolutely sure that the PAS pump goes there?....I can't see TVR leaving it like that, Mine had a rectangular box that contained the filter that clipped on to what you have...It could be Capri...Granada...Sierra...Definitely a 2.8i though...I have looked for you for the last week but haven't found anything that matches...This is why i would go the route i did with Delilah...
I remember us robbing a Sierra one for mine as i had something similar to what you have now, I just wish i had kept the big square bit...Doh!!

If you are not in a hurry then you could send it me and i will modify it for you....As long as you can cover any cost of materials....

[RCK974X]

What Zig says is right....

That plastic airbox is from a Granada 2.8i of early 80's (the square body shape)

The reason that you have that home made mesh is because on original wedges the box cover assembly fits in the same space where the PAS pump is on your photo. Your PAS pump is in the original Ford position, but TVR moved it to the other side of engine, and shuffled alternator upwards for PAS versions. (I'm sure Zig will have some pics !!)

On the 2.8 Capri which had smaller engine bay, Ford used a much smaller narrower airbox - I'm sure there will be web pics around.

I reckon you may be able to use something like a K&N filter and clip the edges, but as you said in another thread, it still sucks in warm air. Zig's mod for his supercharged setup looked neat, you can probably copy that idea for an air pipe.

Even on original wedges, the air intake is too close to the rad, and I added a divertor plate to mine so it gets cold air.

Edited by RCK974X on Saturday 8th August 21:42

[RCK974X]

Attached photo of complete airbox from overhead, with my little ally mod around rad. Non PAS version, 1982

Can't see it very well, but it is the same 'back box' as in your photo !!

Edited by RCK974X on Saturday 8th August 22:20

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks for posting those up mate...I just cannot find ay of my early pics...Im going to have to trawl threw PH as i know most are on here somewhere...Mine was exactly the same as Andy's..Which probably had what mine did ...just a squashed 3" vent pointing straight at the rad...Errrr...Okay for warming the engine up quick but crap for running once it has warmed up!...So any mod in that department is a good one...I think the fittings that TVR placed for the unit will accommodate the variants of the same unit but its cheaper and more effective if you can improve on what you have..Ideally the less bends in an intake pipe the better and if its to be where i put mine then it will need regular cleaning or encasing..There are quite a few options as regards to that as there is a surprising amount of available space in the 280i nosecone than the 350i due to the rad position.

I hope whoever bodged that air filter set up didn't drive it a lot!....

[RCK974X]

Yeah, I cut down the inlet vent moulding a bit, and then made that divertor piece out of a bit of ally sheet , so that it just fits around side of rad, and used a few self tappers to attach it. Probably still sucks in some warm air, but nowhere near as bad as original !!

John, can try to take some more pics from different angles if it helps, and of rack too.

I have a memory (maybe dodgy) of someone saying there was a 'long pinion' version of the Ford power rack, this will not fit properly in wedge, but you can cut it down and re-machine the splines nearer the rack assy ??

There are some good pics around on web - even the 2.3 Cortina had alternator and PS pump in the same places (all the Cologne engines used the same Ford brackets), but that wedge pic in other thread neatly shows the special TVR modded setup.
I've also seen quite a few kits etc with home made alternator brackets to move it upwards !!

NB. There was a bit of variation between the years by Ford. The early alternator bracket tended to break - it was a very squarish casting, my photo is the later type. I don't think the 'triangle' front bracket ever changed, the slotted lower one changed very slightly, but all seem interchangeable (at least in my experience).

Edited by RCK974X on Sunday 9th August 07:28

[John042]

Thanks again for the informative pics. The plan is to get the beast running whilst outside before the winter so I'll leave the intake as it is for now. Zig, can I take you up on that kind offer to mod my intake box possibly in the Autumn for beer tokens of course? I've posted some pics of my steering rack on the other post ref' alternator mountings. There isn't any mounting holes for the PAS pump on timing cover; the drivers side. Cheers John C