So I got bored at a friend's house and decided to cut my hood. I cut it directly above the airbox in the triangle recess (I'm running a modded factory airbox/ heat shielded/sealed to the hood, no lid). I now get fresh air directly to the filter without the downsides of a CAI. About 1/2 of the K&N gets air directly, so I may cut the intake tube and move the filter to the right about 2" inside the airbox so that it gets air dead center. It still has the OE snorkel/elbow on the left. Only thing left is to add black mesh: (Cell phone pics aren't the best quality, and it's dark outside)



I made a rounded half-funnel scoop supported by a metal bracket to direct air straight to the filter instead of going over it, which essentially boxes it in..







The butt dyno says theres improvement above 80 mph when "ramming" air becomes effective, but it's not worth my time to get actual dyno results considering that it isn't making extra power at low(er) speeds.
I'm also thinking about cutting the two matching areas under the windshield spray nozzles..

Thoughts?

 

Hmm not really into it. Looks weird, but all that matters is that you like it.

 

Pics don't do it justice . I do like it, it's different than everyone cutting 3 or 6 holes in the sides, and it's actually functional where most aren't.. And it'll prob look better if I do the 2 rear vents, but if I don't like it after, time for a new hood, so I'm gonna grab another hood first. Once I finish this with mesh it'll look complete..

 

I suspect that's actually a low pressure area at speed so the benefit may ultimately be lower underhood temps, not "ramming air".

 

The downside of a CAI is hydrolock from running through a deep puddle. Your filter is sucking water even if someone spits at you car. The next time you get bored, don't cut on your car.

 

That spot is not a low pressure area and it certainly receives a lot more flow volume (cfm) at speed. I'm gonna mount a flow meter at the edge of the airbox and test with the hole open/closed to be sure. There's an immediately noticeable difference. IATs dropped quite a bit as well. And I have no worries about water as I don't drive the S in the rain unless its by chance getting caught out in it on an otherwise nice day. I have an insert to slide in should that happen. Thanks for the replies though, even if it isn't your cup of tea..

 

Looks alright, It would be better if the filter was more integrated to the hole instead of just seeing a pod sitting halfway in the hole. You could make yourself an air box with a small dam to help prevent water getting to the filter as well.

 

I'm gonna move the filter to the right about 2 inches to square it up with the hole better. I ordered a prefilter to help in unexpected rain and made a blocking plate for the hole (which will be super inconvenient in a rainstorm). I may install a sheet of semipermeable membrane media under the mesh to keep water out, if it will work..

 

Neat! I like the "funnel" design on the underside of the hood. Bet it would work 10x better with an elevated scoop over the triangle cutout... but that would probably look horrible, lol.

A very "because racecar" mod if it does in fact decrease IAT's/underhood temps.

 

I was once asked if I ever did something that I immediately regretted...