K&N vs ITG air filters

[givory]

I have the standard K&N filter set-up on a 2.0L/Weber 40's vintage racer. Is there any breathe-easier performance pick-up to be had with the ITG filters? Or should I spend my money elsewhere?
Thanks,
Gavin
VARAC #58

[Carrera3.5L]

I can't tell you if there will be a horsepower gain for your specific application, but I have dyno tested K&N & ITG filters (panel type & cylindrical type) back-to-back on various water-cooled VW applications with virtually zero difference in performance.

Ralph

[KobaltBlau]

What about filtering quality? is ITG any better than K&N?

[Porschekid962]

I think most all F1 teams use ITG or is it BMC, not sure. I would think that at this stage in the game they are all rather close to each other in terms of performance.

[Henry Schmidt]

I have never been a fan of foam filters.
They seem overly fragile and the ITG filter seems vulnerable to disaster when confronted with water.
If I did my calculations correctly, the K&N filter as used on the dual Weber / PMO carbs will flow 568 or so CFM each. That for each side. Let say your 2.5 spins 20,000 rpm this should still be enough. Just kiddy but you get the point.
K&N flow well, filter well and are reusable.
Plus I think they look great.

[campbellcj]

ITG's flow down through the top, so it sure seems like there should be some difference. In particular in my 914-6, the tops of the filters are right up against the GT-style 'mesh' engine lid to the outside world, whereas the K&N's (with watershield tops) suck air from several inches down into the engine compartment. This factor (which may be totally insignificant) is of course different on the 911 or other configurations.

I have both types of filters, and switched to the K&N watershield setup to cut the noise (ITG's are LOUD) and also to guard against water intake, as unlikely as it is considering where I live and how darn much the car sits in the garage.

[Henry Schmidt]

The point I was making is that K&Ns flow more than enough air for 911 engines of any size. Some feel that the foam filters require cleaning more often to just keep up.
If you are suggesting that by being higher in the engine compartment is allowing for cooler, more dense air you might have a point. Could the horse power difference be measured? who knows.

[givory]

... appreciate the good advice guys - thanks. Like Chris above, my car is a 914, and the thought of cooler air draw did cross my mind. But it sounds like that on my list of winter job priorities, installing a foam filter should be right down there with scraping-off undercoating.
Gavin