Improving the Mania CAI

[End User]

So after finally getting around to cleaning my Mania CAI, I noticed that the opening underneath the windscreen where it sucks the air in, is not very large. It would seem a pretty simple mod to dremel a bit more of the plastic bit allow a greater throughput of air.
But, I don't know much about air fuel ratios and what impact (if any) more air would have on performance.
I guess a larger opening would mean more dirt, leaves, twigs, water (:?) could clog the filter.

Has anyone tried this?

[Uncle Arthur]

The Loch Stewart intake required no additional plastic removal at all for no apparent harm...

[End User]

Yes, I do find the boomy-ness of it a bit annoying at low revs.
The high pitched whistling/sucking noise @ 7000 RPM does sound pretty good though Like an F16 Jet Fighter @ Mach 3. Ok, maybe not that good.

[16bit]

after speaking to garry stewart (son of the inventor of that intake) a year or two ago I think the reason it goes there is because of high pressure area that forms. so removing the plastic on the top will remove that high pressure area and the entire point of its position - at least i think so. probably worth being tested to be honest.

[Sean]

That hole already existing in your plastic is a bit of a worry - Easy way for water to find its way into the setup

[Fatty]

so can i get a definitive answer on this.... are ALL the mania CAI's installed like that!? so the water and leaves etc just run off down your windscreen and into your intake??

cutting into the plastic like that seems a bit dodgy to me. my mx5 factory CAI sits under the plastic, i recently cleaned it after 2 years and it had 2 leaves in it. there was a photo posted on this forum not too long ago, showing a CAI choked full of leaves. was that intake a mania one?? if so, that would confirm my thoughts that cutting that plastic is less than ideal.

[Spranga]

I have cleaned my intake out twice in about two years. My car is parked outside most of the time and on each occasion there was only a few pieces of leaf litter. It is not a big deal to clean it. I have never heard of any problems with water either. The design allows for some water to get into the throat of the intake without actually going into the filter. The filter is raised above the casing. Any water that get in during heavy rain must just eventually evaporate as I have never seen water inside the filter casing.

Also I love all the noises mine makes. I have even grown to loving the various buzzing noises

[stevesports]

click on spranga's youtube link in his signature. Pretty much the type of induction noise you would expect.

[Sean]

so can i get a definitive answer on this.... are ALL the mania CAI's installed like that!? so the water and leaves etc just run off down your windscreen and into your intake??

cutting into the plastic like that seems a bit dodgy to me. my mx5 factory CAI sits under the plastic, i recently cleaned it after 2 years and it had 2 leaves in it. there was a photo posted on this forum not too long ago, showing a CAI choked full of leaves. was that intake a mania one?? if so, that would confirm my thoughts that cutting that plastic is less than ideal.

Second that..
Also can anyone confirm the gains experienced with this mod?

I had one of the original Loch Stuart boxes on an MX5 ages ago. To my knowledge it was the first design of airbox in an MX5 to use the hole into tht plenum area below the windscreen, and many have then made similar designs.

I never had issues, but mine kept the plastic intact, which was why I questioned the plastic in the pictures here being cut up.