Well, I thought the other thread was getting a little long, so here's a new one about the intake. I installed it this morning, it's an absolutely beautiful day here...high on the lakefront (where I live) was about 75...perfectly sunny skies.

So, I removed the old box, which as it turns out is quite a contraption. It's not hard to get out, but it's HUGE! That went easily. The air box and filter weigh 9-10 pounds! The MG is under four with filter...

Then I had a surprise in store for me. I hadn't had my S2000 here to look at how the intake will actually go in the engine compartment. All this time, I had been thinking that the intake went sort of forward. Well, it actually goes back towards the block and the scoop sticks down just below and between the Spoon x-brace. As it turs out, there is something of a ram-air effect in play here. I was even more pleased with the design...and it's far enough from the radiator that I don't see any hot air induction either. It's closer to the block, but it's carbon fiber, so it's a good insulator.

I drove 123 miles, about 75 on the highway and the rest around town. I have wrestled with the issue of dyno'ing, but I just don't think you can get a good read. And Ultimate Lurker suggested that I do some passes before and after with a stop watch...I don't think that would be accurate, nor do I think that the difference would be measureable and/or repeatable with a stop watch, but perhaps with a Gtech, but I don't have one. (I still admire you, UL!)

There is a nice kick, on the highway, especially...I think the design is effective and works well. I was actually surprised a couple of times how fast I was going. Around town, it's probably the same, but perhaps a little added power...I think this design is, however, more effective at speed rather than doinking around on city streets.

What I should have done was gotten a thermometer and taped it inside the stock box and done the same with the MG intake. This, of course, occurred to me AFTER i put it in.

The one thing that is quite obvious with the intake is the sound! Holy crap, it's sounds freaking WICKED! It doesn't have that deep growl you get with the air box cover off. It has this higher pitched screaming banshee of a wail! It sounds AWESOME!

Anyway, you would probably expect me to say what I said, but keep in mind that MG Racing isn't paying me a dime. I'm being objective as I possibly can be...

Well, there you have it...questions?

 

too bad there isn't a dyno in a wind tunnel somewhere around (grin).

 

Looks.. interesting.

When is someone going to make a replacement for that rubber elbow running from the air filter to the throttle body? That cant be helping airflow.


Greg, any pics from below so we can get a better idea of where the intake points?

 

Greg, I have some non-performance questions regarding this intake:

How loud would you say the intake's wail is, at WOT especially?

What is the difference (in your opinion) in volume between light-throttle cruising and WOT?

Have you driven/heard the HKS Hiper exhaust at all? That definitely has a "wail" sound to it, and 1 street away it can sound like an F1 car doing some qualifying laps. My question for you is, how well would you say this intake sound complement the exhaust sound of the HKS?

And finally, to calibrate your responses to my personal tastes , how do you *feel* about the deep growl of having the airbox cover off the stock intake?

Thanks Greg!

 

I will take these shots tomorrow...I should have done it today, but I didn't. Look for them tomorrow...

 

SteveUCI, I HAVE the HKS Hiper exhaust on the car. I would say the two sounds work very well together. Whereas the Mugen exhaust, for example, has the deeper, thunderous note, the HKS is F1-esque. I like them both a great deal. The wail that the intake generates works nicely with the HKS mainly because the two sounds are somewhat similar. At WOT the sounds are furious and insane, raspy and somewhat higher pitched. It's DEFINITELY louder, how much? Man, I don't know how to quantify that. But it sure gets people attention!

The VTEC transition is more pronounced, as well...

Personally, the deeper growl sans air box cover was cool, but it didn't fit what I thought the car should sound like. It's a nimble and fast sports car, not a big heavy V8 monster...and that, to me, is what running the air box cover on sounded like. Additionally, the performance loss you have without the cover...that's a whole other story.

At WOT, it means business...man, what an awesome sound. I had to drive through a couple of my favorite tunnels...and WOW, it's truly awesome.

 

Perhaps one of those G-Tech items should be added to your Christmas list.

 

My birthday is coming up! It's the Friday of S2KDays!

 

Damn you, Greg! Just when I thought the airbox was a minor replacement item on my to-do list, you go and blow that idea out of the water.

I'm not a big carbon fiber fan (I think it looks sweet, but too pricey for the (personally) minor change in look), but WOW does that piece look sweet. $400 is still out of my I-gotta-do-it price range for something as minor as the airbox, but should the market pick up soon, I'll have to reconsider that stance.

I'd be more than happy to become a sponsoree for deeply discounted prices on such toys (but they had better be tasteful stickers I'm forced to slap on ). <sigh> some guys have all the luck...

At least I can be happy with my new stereo install...

 

Man, that thing looks baaad!!!