9xauto K&N "cold air" intake system

nhallman · 07-22-2003, 02:04 PM

Has anyone installed the "cold air" intake system from 9xauto.com:

http://www.9xauto.com/914filter.html

It can hardly be called a cold air intake since the air temp entering the filter is probably about the same as stock, and it looks like nothing but some aluminum plating with a K&N cone filter jammed on the end, but maybe it works.

Anybody know? Has anyone tried it?

Also, has anyone done business with 9xauto? Some of their stuff looks fairly cool, other stuff looks a bit like they're selling snake oil...

Thanks...

--Nick

kellzey · 07-22-2003, 02:17 PM

Some of their prices are a lot higher than other places. Their Fuel Door I found at www.martelbros.com for about half price. It's made by Moroso.

In regards to "benefit" of the cool air intake, I'd say negligible. I think there is a thread on this board about it already. I member questioned them about their claims with actual dyno results and they failed to offer any proof of horsepower gains.

Search the archives.

nhallman · 07-22-2003, 02:22 PM

I looked through the archives and couldn't find much on intake systems or on this system... maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

I did see one or two posts on this system, but no one seemed to know much about it.

If the gain is even slight on the top end, I'd be all for it... I'm mainly considering it b/c of autocross.

skline · skline's Garage

I think their prices are way too high. I wouldnt buy anything from them. But that is just me.

nhallman · 07-22-2003, 03:06 PM

OK, so maybe I should be leery of buying from these guys...

What about making something similar? It would seem pretty easy to do... and about 50 bucks cheaper.

But one question remains... does it help? At all?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 03:23 PM

I would imagine that unless you shrouded the intake and then somehow ducted it to outside air, it wont really make any difference. In fact, the increased temperature of the air around the engine bay might actually decrease power, as the intake air charge is hotter than what it would be if it were in the stock airbox.

A buddy's 1.7 had orginally come with A/C and we had removed it. What we plan on doing is fabricating a panel in the engine tins wehre the A/C compressor originally sat. What we are going to do is plumb a hose through that panel then duct it under the car for a cool air charge into the stock airbox. When it rains, he's going to have to disconnect the hose going into the airbox thoguh. I dont know if it will help at all, but we'll find out eventually. Im expecting that i may have to readjust the mixture and lean it out just a bit to compensate for the reduced temp.

Rog914 · 07-22-2003, 07:33 PM

I bought one from them. Not for the "cold air" reason, but to be able to see and get to the FI a little better. I got the 2.0L. When I got the kit I looked inside the elbo (2" PVC pipe from any hardware store) and noticed the did'nt even clean-up after tapping for the 3 barb fittings (some plastic hanging around where they drilled & tapped). Then when I went to install the air cleaner I could'nt shut the engine lid. So had to go to hardware store and get a 2" 45 degree elbo. Then aimed the 90 elbo toward the drivers door & put the 45 elbo toward the front & down enough for the rain tray to clear the air cleaner.
Would I buy one again? NO. I'll do it myself. You can buy most the parts at a hardware store. The biggest expence is the air cleaner.
I like the room it gives you when checking for vacuum leaks & just being able to see more of the engine.

Ralph

74 2.0

nhallman · 07-23-2003, 05:29 AM

For the 2.0, I can see your logic. For the 1.8 I don't think it would give me that much more room.

I thought about making it myself, but then I thought of another reason to ditch the idea altogether: rain. This thing is supposed to fit under the small side grille, right? So what happens when it rains through that grille directly on the filter?? The rain tray won't catch it, it's only under the grille on the engine cover.

74914 · 07-23-2003, 10:24 AM

Here's a link to the article that I based my setup on:
http://members.rennlist.com/demick/coldair.html
I just wanted a cheap way of getting rid of the oil bath filter and better access. Sounds like it might be peppier

Ed

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Demick Boyden tried routing the intake snorkel on his 2.0 motor to a number of different locations, and felt a "seat-of-the-pants" improvement when it was ducted to colder air.

That said, I'd just make the thing out of PCV pipe...

--DD

p914 · 07-27-2003, 11:17 AM

Made my own for $40 with a generic K&N and some PVC. and barbs from a plumbing supply store.

nhallman · 07-28-2003, 06:06 AM

OK, I can see where this is probably an improvement for the 2.0... but what about the 1.8? Anybody tried this?

Biggy72 · Biggy72's Garage

I'm sure it'd be just the same. The air anywhere in the engine compartment's not going to be too much cooler, so mainly it's just for better access and to get rid of the oil bath cooler.

Now if you could get cold air somehow it'd improve power, but where are you gonna get it from?

p914 · 07-28-2003, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Biggy72
Now if you could get cold air somehow it'd improve power, but where are you gonna get it from?

Some have run the K&N down through the engine cowl and others have run tubing from the front spoiler down the length of the undercarriage to the engine compartment.

nhallman · 07-28-2003, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by p914
Some have run the K&N down through the engine cowl and others have run tubing from the front spoiler down the length of the undercarriage to the engine compartment.

Where? Under the car? Through the center tunnel? If anyone has done this successfully (meaning, got more power from it), I'd love to see pictures.

Biggy72 · Biggy72's Garage

running clear from the front sounds like alot of work to me. Now if you could get it from under the car, that might work. I've seen cold air kits where they do that on rice burners too, and then they've got an inline filter above so when it rains and the bottom one gets wet so it won't take in air any more, the top one takes in all the air.

I'd like to see pics of how it was done

Jared at Pelican Parts · 07-28-2003, 12:33 PM

The idea is to run the tubing through one of the heater ducts, down to under the car, and then mount a scoop under the passenger seat area.

Va914 · 07-28-2003, 12:39 PM

I think if you are talking about connecting your intake to your heater tubes you'll be very unhappy with the results.

The air might be cooler up there....but what about the pressure drop? That's alot of tubing to draw air through. The "Ricers" have engines up front which leads to short runs of tubing to the front scoop.

Cheers
Kerry

nhallman · 07-28-2003, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Va914
I think if you are talking about connecting your intake to your heater tubes you'll be very unhappy with the results.

The air might be cooler up there....but what about the pressure drop? That's alot of tubing to draw air through. The "Ricers" have engines up front which leads to short runs of tubing to the front scoop.

Cheers
Kerry

Good point... that is a long haul... how about the other way? Going down through the cowl? Anyone tried that?

Barber Dave · Barber Dave's Garage

You should check Charlie Davis"s site (I lost his E-Mail) but someone on here will have it. He has a very through study on lowering to temps on both oil and air . he uses a NACA duct mounted in his rockey panel ,for air to a oil coooler. I think this could be used for getting cooler, denser air to the air cleaner or what ever you want. He has other neet ideas also. Makes for interesting reading.

Someone post his E-Mail .
Dave

Later in this post ,Philjacks has a link to Charlies site.