Re: alfa-digest V8 #169 - Airflow sensor orientation

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

In a message dated 10/26/2001 1:55:42 AM Central Daylight Time, 
ltooz@domain.elided writes:


> 
> Hello all,
> Does K&N air filter really improve the performance at all or just costs 
> more and troulbesomes? I remembered replacing one of those free flow air 
> cleaner on my Lancia Scorpion, it's was just more noisy. 
> 
> Louis
> 91 Spider Veloce,
> Sunnyvale, CA
> 

       A filter that has small openings will trap more dirt.  They will also 
flow less air.  It takes air to make horsepower.  So there is a trade off 
between air flow and filter efficiency.
      The K&N flows more air.  It uses oil to help capture the dirt, which 
means it needs cleaned.  But then it is designed to be cleaned and re oiled.  
In my not at all humble opinion, the K&N probably is not as good at removing 
dirt from the air as a stock filter is.
       Many racers swear by the K&N filter.  One racer told me that scrubbing 
the K&N vigorously with gasoline would clean it and make it flow better.  In 
essence, he was making it almost like no air cleaner at all.  He is running 
the SCCA Show Room Stock race class which requires an air filter.
       I know that Vick Auto www.vickauto.com sells K&N filters to fit the 
stock air cleaner housings.  These should not make any more noise than stock 
as the air cleaner housing acts like a silencer.  Other vendors may be 
selling this style K&N also, but their catalogs do not list them.
       The question about the air flow sensor orientation was with a cone 
style filter as sold by IAP.  My IAP catalog says that their cone filter is 
not a K&N, but they could have changed suppliers.  This kit replaces the 
stock air cleaner housing and will make more noise.  As there is not a 
snorkel drawing air from beside the radiator, they also draw hot air into the 
engine.  Cold air is better than hot air for making horsepower.  That is why 
I suggested making a shroud around the cone filter or moving the cone filter 
to the grill area and connecting it with hose.
       You can also make your own air filter.  Take a stock flat style air 
cleaner.  Cut away the paper filter material leaving the rubber around the 
outside and the screen wire top.  Then fit bulk filter material from home 
depot, or better yet get some racing filter material from someone like 
Pegasus http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/
       So what do you want?  Air flow or rocks in your engine?  It is your 
decision.

Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City

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