So I just awoke from a sleep and for whatever reason just had an idea..

Many companies are still making products such as titanium, cf, and kevlar parts, as well as various trim upgrades. If someone makes TITANIUM GRADIENT BURNT FENDER TABS!!! im sure someone would buy them just because.

So as an AP1 owner, there are those faux vents. Behind the right vent lies my CAI filter, as is the configuration of many S2k owners. It would make sense to increase the air flow to this filter by removing the faux vent and putting some sort of mesh there, right? I assume direct air would have some positive impact on the performance on the CAI.

But then there is the worry of WATER. The dreaded side of the double edged sword that is the CAI. Its a risk as it is for some of us to run CAI's, and opening that vent would just increase the risk of hydrolock. So here is my idea, and its pretty simple.

PLUS

OEM looking vents that can close up 100% (or close to) just like AC vents, and for bonus points make it electronic so that the vents can be opened and closed remotely in the event of water/rain while driving. I noticed little mounts on the inside of this fake vent would be perfect to hold such a thing, and if it was sold at a reasonable price, I'm pretty sure many people would buy it.

We have some pretty brilliant people on these forums like chilicoke who can fabricate their own gear, and I'm hoping someone can take this idea and turn it into a product that anyone can buy.

 

Something tells me it will be a bit more complicated because air might open/close it. But this is a pretty darn cool idea IMHO.

 

thats alota work for that air... lol

 

Great concept, but I think the gains would be very minimal to negate the labor & cost.

 

You're going to have to have some strong equipment to hold those things closed at 100+ mph winds. Good idea but like everyone else said not very practical at all.

 

well they do make vacuum controled exhaust cutouts. So using one of those would ensure it stays closed and opens rapidly. But then again thats only for boosted applications where most ppl dont route intakes down to the bumper. Only thing is if you get on it in the rain, then of course it would open. Plus this i believe is over complicating things. i like the creativity and the idea but the gains just dont warrant the equipment/labor/price for a N/A setup.

 

You could use a small 12v servo motor placed with a controller inside of a sealed box utilizing a mechanical connection to control the vents position. Normally closed and open in the actuated position.

Finding a vent that can be easily modified would be the trick, but a trip to any junk yard could fix that problem.

Just a thought.

 

Can you snap a picture of the back of the bumper for us?

 

When I had my '02 with an AEM V1, I cut that faux vent out completely, but I don't believe there was any performance benefit. If I had it to do over again, I would have left it alone. There is WAY more air available to the air filter than is needed, and opening up the faux vent just increases the amount of dirt and debris that will reach the filter. I don't believe it makes any difference for hydrolock at all, since hydrolock occurs from full submersion, not spashes. I also wouldn't be surprised if the added turbulance around the air filter caused a performance reduction.

 

I glad that there are a few poeple on this forum that understand an intake will only suck up water if it has no other option. On my last car my air filter sat directly under a hood vent. I daily drove that car for over 5 years with out any issues, even in the worst storms.