Air Intake systems

[franjae]

Can you guys tell me why these pod style filters are supposed to be free flowing and the stock airbox restrictive?

The only difference would be the filter material, is it not? So in theory, if you get a better filter, say K & N, to replace the stock, it would be good.

The NC intake is already out the front which is cooler, unlike the NA & NB, so the weakest link is the filter element itself.

[Alex]

actually panel filters are supposed to have very little restriction to air flow, it's more the design of the airbox, not sure what an NC airbox is like but with the NB there is a very narrow \"snorkel\" coming out of the airbox, removing this still only leaves a small hole in the airbox, while a pod removes the airbox all together leaving it nice and open

[Steampunk]

This helps explain things:

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_0892/article.html

[Matty]

Can you guys tell me why these pod style filters are supposed to be free flowing and the stock airbox restrictive?

The only difference would be the filter material, is it not? So in theory, if you get a better filter, say K & N, to replace the stock, it would be good.

The NC intake is already out the front which is cooler, unlike the NA & NB, so the weakest link is the filter element itself.

Not all airboxes are restrictive, and filters are almost never a significant restriction.

You won't know anything until you do some empirical testing (or find someone who has). So make yourself a manometer (plenty of advice on autospeed.com) and get to it! I've never heard anyone bother to do it on an MX-5 except me, which for something that is basically free to do (and can save you wasting money on unnecessary mods) is pretty unbelievable.