plexi glass boxed air filter

[Big B]

hey i saw a person on youtube who had their air filter boxed in plexi glass and had a ducted running from the box under side fender and under the bumper. would this be good idea for better cold air intake? and if so would it be hard to do?

 

[spyderdrifter]

Its no different than making a metal or plastic box, with the exception of being able to see inside it. You'd need more materials to make a good plexiglass one just because you can't bend plexiglass like you can metal and plastic. The ducting for it could be whatever you want, and flow from anywhere you want. It'll only be limited to your own imagination

 

[jdxnc]

Its no different than making a metal or plastic box, with the exception of being able to see inside it. You'd need more materials to make a good plexiglass one just because you can't bend plexiglass like you can metal and plastic. The ducting for it could be whatever you want, and flow from anywhere you want. It'll only be limited to your own imagination

If you place a plexiglass sheet in an oven(at a specific temp which I can't recall) you can bend it without deforming it. Works quite nicely, I've done it years ago.

 

[davidalindsey]

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PittsburghProjectDSM's Mitsubishi Eclipse

 

[Lofty]

Looks like he stole a K&N filter display off a counter of autozone and threw it into his engine....

 

[RipperXX]

I know I have been considering something like this for a while (though using non see though high temp sheet plastics vs plexi. I think plexi might not take to well to some of our under hood temps, and might get ugly after a few years (discolor), easily scratched etc. Theres some interesting plastics you can find online to purchase in sheets. Which my plan was to then use 90* angle aluminum pieces to build the box.

Thing im thinking about as well, is total filter surface area, we all know more is better as it will reduce the resistance and vaccume in the intake side, pre turbo making the turbos job easier. What I have been wondering is if I could build a box that uses two or more flat filters like in the pic above to draw the air in, and if that would yeild a larger filter surface area than a large cone filter. To bad for me im stuck in Afghanistan and stationed in Germany while my car is in Georgia.... In the coming years when I finally get to my car again I fully plan to build one or more air box's and test them. However if someone else wants to start experimenting hey more power to you! Good test data is always useful.

 

[Big B]

hahahaha stole a k&n filter display . but thanks alot guys great advice. hopefully i can post some pics of the finished product soon!

 

[knochgoon24]

I did something similar to what you're describing. I didn't add any ducting, but the hole where the stock SMIC piping went is now open. IATs dropped significantly compared to not having it. I used Plexiglas because I had it on hand and I hadn't seen it done. I used a pen torch and slowly heated it along a line before bending it over the corner of a table.

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[LiquidX]

Wes, do you have it sealed all around or is it open towards the fender?

 

[Big B]

yea good question is it open toward the fender and do you have the box mounted down or is it just sitting there?

 

[knochgoon24]

It's open towards the fender and towards the bottom. I need to cut it a little more to make it fit tighter. Then I'll use some foam tape to make it sealed.

The box is held in place by the intake pipe. It's a VERY tight fit around it. That slightly darker stripe on the intake by the box is actually a 2.5" t-bolt clamp around the 3" pipe. It's a perfect fit. Since there's no pressure, the clamp holds nicely without adding any more couplers to an already busy looking engine bay.

I'm washing the engine bay tomorrow and I'll try to get some better pictures to post.

 

[Big B]

ok great looks AWESOME! i might have to steal your ideas . do you think it would work jus as well with or without some kind of ducting?

 

[knochgoon24]

It would probably work better if I ducted or sealed it. Sorry I didn't get any photos. The rain has been a hassle.

Since I'm running SD, I have no temp sensor pre-turbo to really know just how much cooler it is.