Installed K&N with heat shield today
 

Just finished about an hour ago. Took it for a test drive. All seems in order. Will post again with updates on rough idle etc.

Here is a pic of the final installation. You can see the heat shield.

Pic 02

Thanks for the photos, looks very similar to Chucks design at RE, but without the top cover. Lookforward to seeing your idle reports...

rx8fanatic

How does the heat shield attach? I'm waiting for VR to release the CF heat shield. I am hoping this will resolve the rough idle issue. Let me know.

Thanks...

The heat shield attaches with the screws that held secured the factory box. The left side, when you are looking at it, fits under the arm of the intake then you screw both in. The right side has a dedicated hole.

The back of the heat shield has holes for you to attach the clip that holds the vacuum canister and a hole to secure the vacuum switch in about the same spots as on the back of the factory box.

The top of the heat shield also has the holes for the engine cover to fit into. The whole thing was well thought out.

If you need a better explanation let me know.

The original cover for the car can fit over the K&N filter now?

Is the very end of the filter an open element as well or is is just a black rubber cap? It seems awfully close to the air inlet. I hope it is an open element so air can flow straight into the filter rather than trying to squeeze around the front of it. You don't want to air changing direction any more than it needs to.

Outlaws, the engine cover not the air intake cover. If you look at the first pic, it is the part just above the K&N label on the intake.

Rotarygod, the element is not open at the end. I assume one can change filter elements if they want. I too think the element is too big for the application. Any suggestions for an alternative element?

Yup. The one Rotary Extreme uses leaves 1.5 - 2 inches clearance to the air duct.

sorry but i thought the heat sheild problem was suppose to cover the top?

Who made the heat sheild and where did you get it? I'm hoping it will cure my rough idle.

K&N made the heat shield. It came in the new kit.

I have a 100+ mile trip on Wednesday night I have to make and will see how it holds up. I will post Thursday morning about the experience.

K&N must have had a change of heart then. I inquired with them directly about a heat sheild not more than a month ago, and they said they didn't have them.

K&N must have had a change of heart then. I inquired with them directly about a heat sheild not more than a month ago, and they said they didn't have them.

K&N must have had a change of heart then. I inquired with them directly about a heat sheild not more than a month ago, and they said they didn't have them.

you put insulati9on on your RE intake...how is the sound now?

I installed mine today, wasn't that impressed. First of all this thing is way to loud. When you really get on it, you'll let every freakin law enforcement officer in the area know where you're at.

no one answer my question,

i thought the heatsheild is suppose to cover the top like the re intake . so the heatsheild is really the side of it, it seems like hot air will still come from the top

i think if im not mistaken that he said that the stock cover will now fit on there

The heat shield protects the sides. There is no cover that covers the filter element.

The back side of the heat shield has holes on the top just like the the factory air box. The big black engine cover with the Mazda emblem fits in those holes. See the first picture. The edge of the engine cover is just north of the words typhoon.

Took the 100 mile+ trip. Intake performed well. No stalling or hesitation after stopping. Pushed clutch in while cruising to see if the idle would fluctuate and it did not. No change in mileage.

Butt and ear dyno displayed performance increase, but unknown if there really is any. There is a spot on the road after a stop sign I usually hit at 60 mph. When I got to the same spot yesterday I was above 60 mph. Could have been me driving harder than normal since I installed the intake.

Overall things seem good to go . . .

soo, after the install you cant significantly tell the difference? i was thinking about adding the same filter, but not if you cant tell any difference.

R8Z, significantly, no, but it sounds great under heavy throttle, looks cool under the hood, and I was going faster at the spot I mentioned above.

I always try to beat 60 mph by the time I hit the spot on the road. I did after the install. It also may have seemed that I was driving it harder since the sound is different. Who knows . . . I like it though.

I would offer you a test drive, but you are a little far to justify the road trip . . .

so theres no more hesitation at Stop and go traffic b/c then maybe ill reconsider the intake