Was browsing around at rotaryextreme.com and they now have some photos of the CAI they are working on. Interesting fitment:

http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rx8intake-1.jpg
http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rx8intake-2.jpg

SWEET--I wonder when and how much

but in fl weather i dont think i can use that intake. it will suck up water big time.

Dude, I was thinking the SAME EXACT THING! It rains so much here, and it wouldn't be too much of a problem if it weren't for the base I work at. Some of the roads there get flooded out by a foot or so in moderately heavy rain in a very short amount of time. You can go into the dental clinic for a cleaning, and come out to find your car sitting in 2-3 feet of standing water if you've parked on the far end of the lot. A co-worker has a Stratus R/T (I drive a Dodge Stratus !) with a CAI, and he did just that. Swallowed up a whole bunch of water and hydro-locked his engine. It still runs, but he had to replace the AFM for the tune of 300 or so...

Here, I think we'd need some kind of a tract-switcher, or the capability of swiveling that filter arm upwards...

There looks like there is a joint right where the tubing exits the main engine compartment. My guess is that you would be able to swivel the tubing up at that point.

-Mr. Wigggles

AEM makes a bypass filter to take care of what you guys are referring to. It is a filter that inserts inline somewhere in the engine compartment that opens when there is a pressure drop due to main filter clogging or inhaling water. The bypass has a foam filter which admitedly isn't the best type in the world but only really is working for a few seconds at a time anyways.

I just saw the CAI on rotary extreme. They say that it will be released September 15. They don't have any pricing on it yet though.

I just sent an email to rotaryextreme requesting them to have a dyno test for the new CAI. I didn't get any reply yet. I hope we can get more info when the CAI is released.

I dont see why people are so scared of getting the CAI... I had one on my 2001 Celica since 3 years ago and havent had one problem. Even with the NorCal rain and weather! Anyways unless you drive into lakes on a regular basis, CAI is fine. The air filter must be completely submerged in order for hydrolock to occur. I know FEED (Fujita) has an carbon fiber intake developed that extends to the front frame area but doesnt go below the horizon where the battery and stock air box are. They also have a CF heat shield to reduce heat soak which is very common in engines and especially rotary engines because they make so much heat.

Isn't the hole where the CAI protrudes forward where the stock box takes its air? Aside from some flow improvement it does not appear to be any colder than stock especially with the 3ft of heat conducting tubing.

dang, stupid thread, you post a pic that's too big, and you get an error and your message gets deleted. :mad:

anyway, the cold air intake looks like a good design, although they should have been able to rotate the intake pipe up more to get the filter off the ground. better than pulling in hot engine bay air.

looks like they got the idea from me, though ;)

man, talk about long arm intake...

the intake arm is what? 3 feet long? i am interested in seeing the dyno data

you'd think they could just get a different shaped filter instead of cone and make the pipe shorter.

Guys, correct me if i am wrong but we seem to be missing the air flow sensor from the picture!!

Originally posted by Spyder766
Guys, correct me if i am wrong but we seem to be missing the air flow sensor from the picture!!


Good call! Where is it???????????????:confused:

Guys, correct me if i am wrong but we seem to be missing the air flow sensor from the picture!!

If it's still in its prototype stages it probably hasn't been drilled in yet. If I'm not mistaken it doesn't take much to add it in---placement might be key, though.

BTW, if I remember correctly, the RX-8 supposively have two intake tracks, one for low RPM, and the second one opens for higher RPM. So I guess with this CAI design would lose that right ?? I wonder what would we lose if we do go with a CAI ??

Originally posted by Smoker
BTW, if I remember correctly, the RX-8 supposively have two intake tracks, one for low RPM, and the second one opens for higher RPM. So I guess with this CAI design would lose that right ?? I wonder what would we lose if we do go with a CAI ??

The stock intake pipe is only one pipe, it splits after the throttle body.

He's talking about the pipe before the air filter. On the 6 speeds there are 2 of them. Actually there is one that has a branch off of it. The long one is used until 7250 rpm when an actuator opens the shorter pipe. The autos don't have the shorter pipe.

i was looking at the flexi pipe that extend the orginal air box to give a kind of CAI but it seems that it is dirrected back to the engine bay, was toying with the idea of redirecting the pipe opening to the front grill to get ram cold air effect.

I can't say too much right now but I want to clear up a few things:

1. The air mass sensor adaptor is being CNC-machined right now. The final product will have it. Right now we are just routing the pipes to make sure everything fits.

2. The overall length of the piping isn't longer than stock. The stock one has another inlet funnel that's located near the passenger headlight. Take off the top plastic panel right in front of the hood latch catch and you will see it.

3. The source of air matters a lot more than the length of pipe. The air travels inside the intake pipe so fast under full throttle, it can't be heated up that fast. There isn't enough contact area inside the pipe to heat up the air that fast. If you are still worried, you can wrap the pipe with Thermal Tech wrap. On the other hand, if your intake is sucking hot air, it does not matter how long of the pipe is.

4. The filter sits right behind the mesh on the bumper.

http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rx8intake-3.jpg

You can't really see the filter. It blends in with the mesh. I have to highlight that area with photoshop to show the filter.

5. After the prototype is done, we will put the car on the dyno and get some numbers.

Chuck Huang

Rotary Extreme.....

Thanks for the explaination. I won't make a single comment until you have done the time and dyno'd it.

Patiently waiting. Maybe a simple mod under $500 will get the car to it's 247hp and I will feel like Mazda paid for it. AND it won't void the warranty.

What happened to the dyno number?

http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rx8intake.html

..donald, chuck has not finished the protype yet.

considering the texas downpours and the suseptibility of streets to flooding with over 6" of depth, i would seriously worry about sucking in water with that filter here in texas, or in any state with heavy, random downpours.

more hp is not worth ruining an engine.

The filter sits 13" off the ground. The exhaust tip is 12" off the ground. If there is flood, the water will get into the engine from the exhaust port before it reaches the filter.

We have no floods in California so I don't understand how people can drive a sports car in the flood. Don't you need a SUV for that?

Chuck Huang

Originally posted by rx7aggie
considering the texas downpours and the suseptibility of streets to flooding with over 6" of depth, i would seriously worry about sucking in water with that filter here in texas, or in any state with heavy, random downpours.

more hp is not worth ruining an engine.

I am modifying a few things on the intake. You will see some dyno numbers by the 26th. Thank you.

Chuck Huang


Originally posted by donald121
What happened to the dyno number?

http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rx8intake.html

Thanks for all your hard work at rotary extreme i really appreciate it.

there are companies that make a bypass to prevent intake from sucking water up into the engine

Rotary Extreme (Chuck Huang) will not sell you any crap and he keeps his word. Just one satisfied 3rd gen customer's 2 cents worth.

Chuck, it's the 27th. Any dyno numbers?

We all know how accurate they will be... but it would still be nice to see.

I am redoing the whole thing. Right now I am making one that will be a short ram that can also be upgraded to cold air.

I will have some new prototype photos tomorrow.

Sorry it takes so long but I don't want to rush out products. I want to make it as perfectly as I can before I release them.

Chuck Huang

Originally posted by Rotary Extreme
Sorry it takes so long but I don't want to rush out products. I want to make it as perfectly as I can before I release them.
Amen to THAT, brother. We appreciate thoroughness. Can't wait to see final result - but I WILL. :D

Photos look good Chuck...getting excited!

i can't take the excitement, I am going to explode. I appreciate you doing it right the first time so I will continue to be patient. I am in line to order.

It's so cool watch stuff get developed for new cars i hope you guys get good #

What about the True-flow foam filters that use the stock housing?I posted a thread with a link on i.

AHHHHHHHHHHH. I CAN'T TAKE THE WAIT ANY LONGER!!!! :mad: ....:)

AHHHHHHHHHHH. I CAN'T TAKE THE WAIT ANY LONGER!!!! :mad: ....:)


double post, sorry!

Sorry for off the topic, but I would like to say I just received the clear sidemarker from Rotary Extreme. Their shipping is super fast. I ordered it on Wed and received it on Fri. Two thumbs up! :D Can't wait for the CAI. I think I will purchase from Rotary Extreme again.

same goes for me

I feel your pain bengal

.......must have intake...CAN'T BREATHE....AHHH....:eek:

.......must have intake...CAN'T BREATHE....AHHH....:eek:

Originally posted by Bengal Tiger
.......must have intake...CAN'T BREATHE....AHHH....:eek:

tell me about it

I cant wait anymore

i'm trying to figure out why in the world people are investing money in the thunder intake...and what ever happened to K&N....remember the crazy numbers they came up with? everyone's starting to lose credibility without the follow ups or updates. i know rotaryextreme will pull through though...i mean, how can they go wrong with a genuine cold air intake, there's money to be made...sigh...cold air:)

I don't know if anyone read about K & N but I am concerned now. I always used k & N on jet skis but I linked an article on K & N gauze filter testing and others too and freaked out when I read it.

In the net search around about air filters and many studies are now showing that the best media is oiled foam not gauze. I am all for better flow but not at the expense of engine life or unfiltered crud. The particles that got through on the K & N were disturbing to me. That is why I have asked if anyone knew or has used a True-Flow filter. They don't have a lot of different filters yet from what I read on the site but I am really interested in them as a performance option.

That article on the K&N test was discussed a while back on the RX7 forum. I don't remember the details, but it seems there was some question as to the relevance of the test methods used. At any rate, I've always been leery of those foam filters breaking up and getting bits sucked into my engine. I have no direct experience with it, however I've never looked under the hood of a race car and seen one.

jds

isnt the K&N due for release early nov

Here is the interesting point. They are JUST discovering them in the racing world but for years they have been used in very dusty conditions - caterpillars and other heavy equipment also in trucks that are around dirty air. Supposedly they really filter well. What is amazing though is that they too offer gains in HP. They have several cars recently added to the filter line. They are also know as GCA filters. Check out the articles section. They show dyno charts and increases. On an RSX they showed a 8.8 hp gain and 5.7 ft lb gain.

Look for yourself:

http://www.gcatrueflow.com/

Kind of reminds me of what we use in Nitro R.C.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LX3410&P=0

Interesting stuff! That actually sounds pretty reasonable. I wonder how different their foam is from the "traditional" oiled foam filter elements that a lot of the Japanese tuners have been using (and which, rightly or wrongly, I'm somewhat predisposed not to like).

jds

Originally posted by RodsterinFL
Here is the interesting point. They are JUST discovering them in the racing world but for years they have been used in very dusty conditions - caterpillars and other heavy equipment also in trucks that are around dirty air. Supposedly they really filter well. What is amazing though is that they too offer gains in HP. They have several cars recently added to the filter line. They are also know as GCA filters. Check out the articles section. They show dyno charts and increases. On an RSX they showed a 8.8 hp gain and 5.7 ft lb gain.

Look for yourself:

http://www.gcatrueflow.com/

can't they at least give us an update....what's going on with that cai....:(

..seems to me that most aftermarket modifications are taking their time. I didnt notice this with the 350Z...nevertheless, I'd rather wait and have them do it well...BUT i hope its within the 6 mth timeframe for the $500 dcard from mazda ( it expires after 6mths)

ALERT!! I WILL NOT BUY THE CAI IF IT IS PUT ON SALE AFTER MY CARD EXPIRES. but why the hell would it EVER take that long.:p

me likes.. me wants.. sigh

The short arm one is done. Dyno sheet is here:

http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rx8intakedyno.jpg

Max hp gain is 14 rwhp. The hp tops at 195.2 rwhp.

For ordering info, please go to

http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rx8intake.html

Thank you.

Chuck Huang

Your link (http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rx8intake.html) does not appear to be working...

works fine for me

Works ok 4 me 2

The photos of the finished product have been added on the website. Please don't forget to refresh the page to see the latest info. Thank you.

Chuck Huang

Great news, are you goinfg to be posting pics of the ram intake as well? That is what I am waiting for. Are we still looking at a time frame of Nov 21st like it says on the site? I busting Jerry, busting!!!! (sorry for the Seinfeld reference)