LiL BenNy

updates?

lurch519

i posted a graphic with before and after scanalyser graphs, and a sound clip just prior to yours benny, i dont have any pics yet, and i am getting a stock airbox to modify so it will look almost stock under the hood

LiL BenNy

any HP figures?

kw1k

hmm, it sounds alright

lurch519

no, no dyno time yet, havent had time

StealthFox

looks pretty good, wish it had a sort of cover because the pipe there doesnt look too great imo.

lurch519

i am actually waiting for another stock airbox to arrive so i can cut it up and run the aem through it. this will serve 2 purposes.

one, i will be able to store oil, funnel, rags, etc, for daily driving.

two, if i do it right, when i go to the dragstrip, i should be able to pack the box with ice, and hopefully reduce the air intake temp for slightly better performance.

plus, i will be able to make the engine look stock at a glance, and the engine cover will rest properly.

mikeschaefer

that's a real good idea

I'm really considering getting the AEM. I don't think I'd do the box mod thing though. I kind of like the look without the engine cover and it'd give a good excuse to keep it off :p I don't go to dragstrips either. Props for the ingenuity!

StealthFox

wow now that sounds like a good idea, just get some watertight/airtight freezer bags and put some dry ice or something that wont melt too fast in there and cram it in your intake box and let it sit a while.

i've never heard of anything like that before haha.

lurch519

well, if you ever go to the dragstrip, you will see guys running v8 muscle cars, and what they do is put a bag of ice on their intake manifold in between runs to cool it down. my idea is a little better as it is cooling the air as it enters the motor. :D

Hockeymurph14

Hey i was just wondering if ebay is still the only place where you can get the intake.

lurch519

nope, you local authorized aem dealer can now get it for you, but i hate to say it but ebay is probably the cheapest place for the intake

Hockeymurph14

How long dose it take the ebay dealer to get it too you.

lurch519

no clue, depends on the seller. i work for a car stereo and performance shop, so i just ordered mine through my distributor.

mamboy

i just bought the same intake from aem but have not installed it yet, waiting for that airflow adapter which will stop water from getting into my engine, aem highly recommends it. i do have a question, can you still place the cover over it once you do the installation.

lurch519

yes and no on your question. the cover will fit, but not be securely held down as the nipples on the cover that attach to the factory airbox will not have anything to grab onto as the factory air box is removed.

as to the "airflow adapter", its actually called an air bypass valve. by using that, you most likely will negate any positive hp gains that the intake will provide. also, it will only prevent the intake from acting like a straw and pulling a solid column of water up into the engine, meaning that the end of the intake is fully submerged. if you are driving through that much water, well, you shouldnt be driving through that much water.

with or without the bypass valve, driving in the rain will get some water in the motor, but not in significant quantities to affect your motor

mamboy

ok, so your suggestion is not to get the bypass valve. i wonder if a cover that part of the grille with black plastic do you think that will work. also did you install it yourself or had it done at a specialist, i see on the posts that the bumper has to come off for installation.

lurch519

i did the install myself. i do most of the work on my car myself, as i have access to plenty of tools, as well as a garage where i can work out of the elements. as to the bypass valve, i have used aem cai's for years, since about 2001 starting with my civic, and have never used a bypass valve. with the civics the filter is much lower to the ground, even with out lowering the car, than the filter for the rx8 cai is. i have had my aem on for about a month now, have had absolutely 0 problems with the rain.

there is really no way you can cover up the area to prevent water from getting in, as there are so many crack and crevices that water can get in through. again, the bypass doesnt protect against moisture from entering the intake system, which will happen whether you have the bypass on or not, what it does is prevent the intake from acting like a straw and sucking up water and hydrolocking the motor.

"AEMs patented Air Bypass Valve virtually eliminates the chance of hydro-lock in the event you submerge the filter of your AEM Cold Air induction system in water. On most systems, the valve installs along the upper portion of the inlet pipe and shuts down induction at the filter when it becomes submerged, rerouting air through its external diaphragm to keep water out and air flowing in. Patent #6,394,128."

this is taken directly from aem's website. notice that it says that it will help save you motor if you SUBMERGE the filter in water.

crossbow

The filter getting splashed or minorly wet isn't an issue. The water would be completely vaporized quite rapidly...and if it didn't, you just got some free water injection .

Now here's an interesting question...is it even possible for a rotary engine to hydrolock? Hydrolock is normally when water gets into the cylinders (water doesn't compress) and the piston moves up, can't compress the water, and a massive amount of force travels down to the rod, and either bends, brakes, or does massive damage to the rod/rod bearings.

You guys don't have pistons, cylinders, or rods . Might put a bit of stress on the E shaft, but I imagine you could probably just drain the water out and be alright...Maybe someone with actual knowledge can post about it.

mamboy

thanks lurch and crossbow you guys have been very helpful. Now lurch i have another question. racing beat claims that it gets extremely noisy inside with this intake is that true or is it just right, which is what im looking for.

lurch519

once the tertiary ports (third set) open around 7000 to 8000 rpm, it gets quite loud, almost like an exotic sports car. think of it like a 2000 honda civic si with an intake, when the vtec kicks in, it gets loud. on the 8, i would say its about 2 times as loud as the si when the tertiary's kick in. i like it. off throttle, its all right, at idle, especially when you are standing in front of the car, the intake sings, such a sweet sound.

as to the install, it is pretty straightforward. i must say that the instructions that are included with the aem arent quite right, as it tells you to undo some stuff that is just not necessary. i would say if you are going to do it yourself, set aside at least 4 hours. i did mine in about 6 hours, but i was doing it outside that day and it was raining off and on.

mamboy

we all make mistakes with our purchases sometimes and we need to admit to that, i had 19" wheels on a ford probe GT before this car and that was a big mistake being that i am from nyc. now i need for you to be honest about your AEM cai that you purchased, are you completely happy with it. i will get mine this week and have 30 days to return it as long as i don't install it with a 20% penalty of course. i really want it to sound nice but not extremely loud, do you think the air bypass valve will not make it as loud if i purchase that, i'm not concern with losing a few horsies. thanks lurch you've been of great help.

lurch519

i am completely happy with my aem. normal cruising noise is fine. as the rpms come up under full throttle, it gets louder and louder. i like the fact that it gets louder as i am used to hearing the engine and knowing when to shift, with the stock airbox on, if i had the radio even a little loud, you couldnt hear the engine and the shift beep. i cant say that the air bypass will make it any quieter.

mamboy

so long lurch, and enjoy what i think i one of the most exotic looking cars under 35, 000, even more so than the z.

lurch519

thanks mamboy, where are you from by the way