NC/NC2 CAI

[LuckyCat]

Would anyone who has fitted a CAI to the above mentioned models still have the original plumbing? If so would someone please tell me the outside diameter of the inlet pipe that sits behind the nose cone? (at the "in" end not at the airbox)

Thank you

chris

[Regie]

im pretty sure its a bellmouth at the end of the pipe

gimme 10 and ill get some measurements

[Regie]

the bellmouth bit is approx 118mm

the flex tubing is apporox 85mm in diameter

[LuckyCat]

Thank you, sir

chris

[Guy_Coles]

What did you do Chris.........

[LuckyCat]

What did you do Chris.........

Guy after reading the performance projects book, it occurred to me that all I need do is route the intake so it gets the cold air coming through the grille. So I am adding some extra piping so I can access it. It should be a simple matter of adding some silicone type flexible hose to extend the existing intake pipe down below the plate into the cavity behind the nose cone. I think I can do this, with difficulty, without removing the nose. It won't be perfect and it won't cost much to find out if it is effective.

It probably won't offer much improvement, but it's worth experimenting.

cheers
Chris

[Charlie Brown]

Worth a try but I think you won’t gain a thing. The stock NC intake is already out front taking in cool air.

The power/torque increase (very small) you get by adding say the AEM intake, is due to the repositioning of the filter which allows an increased length of intake piping that changes the intake harmonics.

[Sailor]

Chris, be very careful that you don't create a scoop that will suck in lots of water when that car coming the other way throws up a puddle.
An hydrauliced engine is not a pretty sight.

[LuckyCat]

Worth a try but I think you won’t gain a thing. The stock NC intake is already out front taking in cool air.

The power/torque increase (very small) you get by adding say the AEM intake, is due to the repositioning of the filter which allows an increased length of intake piping that changes the intake harmonics.

Good advice thank you.

Chris

[NitroDann]

I dont have any NC dyno experience, but Id be amazed if the AEM intake makes more power due to intake resonance. Amazed.

The car has a plenum designed for that, and thats where 99% of resonant charging happens.

Also If increasing intake tract length helped torque the manufacturer who has 1000x more development power and research and info on the engine would have done it from the factory.

Id also be surprised if its intake position affects power, having seen the stock intake on an NC.

Perhaps in a dyno cell it makes a difference, but it may well be like the popular 5.7L intakes, which produce more power in a dyno room, however at road speed dont add any performance.

Id guess it had to do with a free'er flowing filter and a more direct, flowing intake pipe.

Again, no direct experience. I havnt even seen an AEM intake.

Dann

[Sailor]

Advice from the experts who have dynoed filters is that aftermarket filters show no gain until boost is applied.
From then on the Cosworth filter appears to show best gain.

[NitroDann]

Stationary dyno cell does not equal moving at road speed.

Dann

[Charlie Brown]

I dont have any NC dyno experience, but Id be amazed if the AEM intake makes more power due to intake resonance. Amazed.

The car has a plenum designed for that, and thats where 99% of resonant charging happens.

Also If increasing intake tract length helped torque the manufacturer who has 1000x more development power and research and info on the engine would have done it from the factory.

Id also be surprised if its intake position affects power, having seen the stock intake on an NC.

Perhaps in a dyno cell it makes a difference, but it may well be like the popular 5.7L intakes, which produce more power in a dyno room, however at road speed dont add any performance.

Id guess it had to do with a free'er flowing filter and a more direct, flowing intake pipe.

Again, no direct experience. I havnt even seen an AEM intake.

Dann

Dann to answer your comments above, here's the excerpt from the Goodwin Racing site:

“AEM makes this great cold air intake for the Mazda MX5 Miata. Also sold by Mazda as the MazdaSpeed intake if you want to pay more for the exact same intake!

The stock Miata airbox is restrictive by its design to allow use of an inexpensive and flat paper filter. The AEM intake achieves better breathing by using a much higher flowing velocity stack conical filter placed directly in the flow of cool air in the "mouth" of the Miata.

Not only will this intake give your MX5 Miata much freer breathing and quicker acceleration, but also provide a nice deep growl at high revs.

This is the same intake that MAZDA sells for all MX5s in the new Pro Spec racing series. “

[NitroDann]

Both of them intake air from roughly the same pressure and temperature.

Im going with the air filter part still.

Dann

[Apu]

I think the point is you'd be paying $X00 for <5kW gain...which really won't amount to much on the road. However, if you want that nicer induction note, bit of bling, etc then that's a different story.

It's up to you if you want to pay more for that, and whether or not you're prepared to pay the extra $100+ for the brand.

In fact, I might bring in the Works Engineering equivalent of the AEM setup and dyno them, haha! I'm going to be doing that for a couple of Honda and Evo setups, just to prove the price differential isn't worth it.

And I know for a fact that the quality of the Works Engineering filter will outperform many of the top name Japanese brands as they've been independently tested and reviewed. I'll revive those articles when we're done with the comparisons.