ARC Intakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 4
From: Durango, Colorado
BlitzSRM:
I would like to post a pic of my "jerry rigged" CAI -- and I even have it on my computer. But being a "senior member" I am too computer dumb to figure out how to get the pic on this post. I'll keep trying. In the meantime, check out that AUT CAI and radiator cooling plate on the "sponsored group buys" forum on this board, and you'll get the general idea. In fact, I have even ordered one of those AUTs as opening in the grill to radiator baffle is larger, it looks better, and is only $170 delivered.
Hope to get my pic on this board soon.
Thanks,
Richard
I would like to post a pic of my "jerry rigged" CAI -- and I even have it on my computer. But being a "senior member" I am too computer dumb to figure out how to get the pic on this post. I'll keep trying. In the meantime, check out that AUT CAI and radiator cooling plate on the "sponsored group buys" forum on this board, and you'll get the general idea. In fact, I have even ordered one of those AUTs as opening in the grill to radiator baffle is larger, it looks better, and is only $170 delivered.
Hope to get my pic on this board soon.
Thanks,
Richard
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 4
From: Durango, Colorado
Well, I'm getting a computer "geek" friend to come over in a few days to show me how to get pics on the boards. Unfair to call him a "geek" as he is also a record producer who has a platinum on his wall for a Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young record (back when they still had records). But he is computer savy, and he can help me fix this damn thing!
Basically, I'm running an insulated channel to an area I've shimmed out on the stock baffle between the grill and the radiator that runs from the stock intake horn to the top of the inside grill area. I built it out of double foil faced insulating sheets, with strips of sheet metal forming the frame, and a lot of black foam tape! I also removed the divider in my stock airbox and ran a 3" flex tube into the hole on the pax side of the engine bay (which I understand was the air source on at least one s2k prototype). I built a "flapper valve" inside the airbox to close off that air path in the event my air path to the grill ever went into "ram air." As all will see when my "geek" friend gets here, the whole thing has zero "bling" value, but has prevented hot weather heat soak bog, which was the goal.
When I replace this with the AUT unit when it gets here, there will be more "bling" value from this carbon fiber part. But my goal is not to show folks my engine bay, but to show them my tail lights! It looks like the AUT unit will have more square inches of frontal intake. It also lets more air get to the radiator, so I think I can sacrifice some of that by building and installing a "scoop" behind the grill into he frontal intake of he AUT to get more ram air. In other words, I'm going to "mod" a "mod!"
But back to the original topic of this thread, I just can't see the value of the ARC intake, unless you live in a culture where appearance under the hood is paramount, over and above performance. The s2k has at least one design defect, and one of them is the fact that it comes with a hot air intake --- i.e., one with no source of air outside the engine bay where things get really hot! It is the only MODERN car I've seen that has this problem. I guess Honda did this to give us s2k owners something to talk about and something to do in our spare time! But an air intake that is not ducted to outside air is a very dumb thing to do these days --- especially on a performance car. Heck, our V6 Mercedes sedan has TWIN airboxes, each with a ducted horn right to the grill. Even our I4 Ford truck has an air intake ducted to the grill.
It was 100 degrees today in Oklahoma City. But for my "jerry rigged" mod, I would have been taken at stoplights by Kia Rios! So, for those of us who want to (or need to) mod our cars as to air intake, I just can't see going with something that still pulls in that hot engine bay air!
Thanks,
Richard
Basically, I'm running an insulated channel to an area I've shimmed out on the stock baffle between the grill and the radiator that runs from the stock intake horn to the top of the inside grill area. I built it out of double foil faced insulating sheets, with strips of sheet metal forming the frame, and a lot of black foam tape! I also removed the divider in my stock airbox and ran a 3" flex tube into the hole on the pax side of the engine bay (which I understand was the air source on at least one s2k prototype). I built a "flapper valve" inside the airbox to close off that air path in the event my air path to the grill ever went into "ram air." As all will see when my "geek" friend gets here, the whole thing has zero "bling" value, but has prevented hot weather heat soak bog, which was the goal.
When I replace this with the AUT unit when it gets here, there will be more "bling" value from this carbon fiber part. But my goal is not to show folks my engine bay, but to show them my tail lights! It looks like the AUT unit will have more square inches of frontal intake. It also lets more air get to the radiator, so I think I can sacrifice some of that by building and installing a "scoop" behind the grill into he frontal intake of he AUT to get more ram air. In other words, I'm going to "mod" a "mod!"
But back to the original topic of this thread, I just can't see the value of the ARC intake, unless you live in a culture where appearance under the hood is paramount, over and above performance. The s2k has at least one design defect, and one of them is the fact that it comes with a hot air intake --- i.e., one with no source of air outside the engine bay where things get really hot! It is the only MODERN car I've seen that has this problem. I guess Honda did this to give us s2k owners something to talk about and something to do in our spare time! But an air intake that is not ducted to outside air is a very dumb thing to do these days --- especially on a performance car. Heck, our V6 Mercedes sedan has TWIN airboxes, each with a ducted horn right to the grill. Even our I4 Ford truck has an air intake ducted to the grill.
It was 100 degrees today in Oklahoma City. But for my "jerry rigged" mod, I would have been taken at stoplights by Kia Rios! So, for those of us who want to (or need to) mod our cars as to air intake, I just can't see going with something that still pulls in that hot engine bay air!
Thanks,
Richard
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by dolebludger,Jun 29 2005, 11:14 AM
Well, if the ARC draws its air from inside the engine bay, I find it difficult to see how it is any better than OEM. Because (IMO) THAT is the problem with OEM! The other cars I own (a Mercedes and a Ford) have intake ducting that runs from an intake horn behind the grill to the filter box. ALL other modern cars I've raised the hood on seem to have some version of intake of outside air. Only the s2k comes with an air intake that is isolated from outside air --- and right over the radiator for God's sake.
For any s2k air intake mod, I'd certainly recommend one that would access outside air. A Spoon comes to mind. On my car, I have "jerry rigged" sort of a home-made device that works like a Spoon but without the "kinks " that restrict airflow. No staggering power gains or changes in sound, but also no heat-soak bogging. Not very pretty, but it does what I wanted it to do.
I personally question use of AEMs and other "CAIs" that hang low in the engine bay, near the road surface. In addition to hydrolocking stories, do you know how hot that road surface gets?! Oh, in driving at high speed on a track, they probably do some good. But for regular driving? I think I'd forget those too.
Thanks,
Richard
For any s2k air intake mod, I'd certainly recommend one that would access outside air. A Spoon comes to mind. On my car, I have "jerry rigged" sort of a home-made device that works like a Spoon but without the "kinks " that restrict airflow. No staggering power gains or changes in sound, but also no heat-soak bogging. Not very pretty, but it does what I wanted it to do.
I personally question use of AEMs and other "CAIs" that hang low in the engine bay, near the road surface. In addition to hydrolocking stories, do you know how hot that road surface gets?! Oh, in driving at high speed on a track, they probably do some good. But for regular driving? I think I'd forget those too.
Thanks,
Richard