Kitchen Waste Bin ???

[David]

That's exactly what I had in mind but couldn't think of what to Google for!

I just searched 'heat shield' on eBay and there's loads of options.

Perhaps there is something more rigid available, that you could build a guard from using a box net design.

 

[t-tony]

The same type of material the car makers use for under car heat shields would be ideal thinking about it. It's light and quite strong when shaped.

Tony.

 

[oldcarman]

If the flexible insulation were put inside the bin box it would decrease the volume but could also increase the velocity to the throttle body which should keep the air cooler. JIM

 

[Rha]

Thanks guys for your inputs, have protected the vulnerable underside and engine side to about 1/3 up with chrome tape and after a good run yesterday found nothing that causes real concern, however it was quite warm to say the least and the plastic was very pliable which is what I expected, so thanks David for saving me the work of finding suitable covering insulation. Will order some right now and hope I don't get any melt down on my way to the Mid Meet on Sunday cos I very much doubt I'll get it insulated in time. .Rha, Roy.

PS; just ordered it, be here Monday/Tue next, have to take it out to cover it so thinking get another bin cut it out to same dimensions to loan out for anyone to copy if any interest,

 

[Rha]

If the flexible insulation were put inside the bin box it would decrease the volume but could also increase the velocity to the throttle body which should keep the air cooler. JIM

Your right Jim but this is only a heat shield really not a ram system, could be used as such with a little bit of ingenuity, the volume of the box was not a consideration for me as I was only concerned with the colder air passage, should've asked you for advice, could've been onto something, too late in retrospect.

 

[oldcarman]

Never too late! Everyone goes through many prototypes before coming to something that covers all bases! I think you may be onto something that may be adaptable to most of our cars. By the velocity change I was merely talking about the fact that the layer of air in the centre of the flow wouldn't heat up as much as the outer layer that hugs the outer shield which combined with the thermal insulation also works as a bit of a shield on it's own. The BMW intake design is where this velocity increase would also benefit IMHO! The cooler the air the denser the charge entering the head and the more fuel that can be ingested for a more complete burn. This in turn caused a larger flame plume and therefore more power. Sorry, I'm running with this needlessly!! JIM

 

[Rha]

Forgot the, Before & After pics so here they are,

Looks nicer with the S/S gauze and clamps, but must have robbed me of at least 3-4hp, breathing in all that hot air, was it worth the effort???

Don't look as neat but just think, I must have gained at least what I lost, just the air stollen from the kidney grill along with the OEM filter housing would most likely have given me a gain so maybe there's a lesson leaned here and the only gain we can get from these supposedly performance filter mods is the noise from the open filters.if your not prepared to shield it I'm thinking there's gonna be very little gain, all this and I'm most likely back to squire one in the HP field. Still have to dismantle to apply insulation before I'll be happy..
The string has gone and the pipe secured. Intake rubber hose replaced. What to do next!!!!!!

 

[oldcarman]

After looking at @zedonist 's posts about the gains of a PiperCross over the K&N filter that's where I'd go Roy! Works out nice that the bonnet is tight against the shield but maybe a bit of foam attached would make an even better seal so you can take complete advantage of the extra cold air?? Just a suggestion. But I would definitely check out the post on the filter change and I believe it's around £40 according to my memory! JIM

 

[Rha]

After looking at @zedonist 's posts about the gains of a PiperCross over the K&N filter that's where I'd go Roy! Works out nice that the bonnet is tight against the shield but maybe a bit of foam attached would make an even better seal so you can take complete advantage of the extra cold air?? Just a suggestion. But I would definitely check out the post on the filter change and I believe it's around £40 according to my memory! JIM

Jim I did try some real nice shaped spong rubber around the top and it looked great but after getting bonnet stuck I had to relieve box top and lost spong in process, may get more so watch this space. As for the filter I'm not keen on the K&N cos of the oil getting on sensor, so again WTS.

 

[oldcarman]

I'd talk to Rich because he has all the numbers to back up the reasons for going to the PowerCross and I believe they will fit nicely into the shield. I'll get one as soon as I can afford it because I trust Rich's research as he's trying to wring as much power from his 1.9 as possible!! Good luck I think you're on the right track! JIM

 

[Antm72]

Looks good and from experience helps to keep the air alot cooler than without the sheild .
I found a kit on ebay for my last zed but the shield was a little flimsy made from very thin aluminium so i had it remade in steel looked like this managed to retain the original air intake to the front of it , need to make another now for my new zed.

Hats off to you nice mod and worth the effort!!!

 

[Rha]

Thanks Antm72, but it's not all dull and dusted yet, hope to finish it so its befitting to a BMW Z, how about the stollen air from the Kidney Grill for your Z. Roy.

 

[Antm72]

Yeah its certainly an area of a zed that is heavily sheilded from any air flow other than the stock fitted intake.
A good idea to get a bit more air and certainly an area to be investigated.
There is quite a void behind the spot light if i remember correctly often thought about piping a filter in to it then you could possibly open up the corner of the undershield into a scope and fill the void with cold air .
You can get a universal kit on ebay that may do the job will have to see whats possible.

 

[Antm72]

Some thing like this to get the filter down out of the engine bay im sure there is room to pass the piping in to the void.

 

[Rha]

Looked at these often enough but wanting to keep the induction tract as near to OEM and as short as poss I kept looking at the area behind the N/S H/Light and wondered why BMW didn't have some air ducting from part of the Kidney Grill, that's what led me to making a small but significant duct route from this area. I believe the catchment area is something near a 80mm inlet which being on the front of vehicle would be sufficient to feed the needs of 2.8 engine and with the 2nd 70mm feed from the bottom grill is more than enough, engine seems eager and a little more responsive and great smooth take up, but all this is not proved. Feel good factor for DIY 9/10.

 

[t-tony]

Sounds good, put me down for one. Talk again tomorrow. Roy.

@Rha, can you send me a PM please. I tried to pm you but I'm not allowed.

Tony.

 

[Rha]

Well had some time on my hands so decided to try my hand at insulating the outside of the home made air box.Used double sided tape to fix the the exhaust insulation material then finished the edges with chrome insulator tape, now the box should stay cooler helping to stop the air from picking up any heat from the sides.

Exhaust insulating material all ready waiting for me to get busy with the scissors.

Finished and ready to mount back into car, have enough material left over to insulate the rubber boots going into the induction manifold to see if maybe that helps too. More pics when it's mounted and the boots are insulated. Rha, Roy.

 

[t-tony]

Looking good Roy.

Tony.

 

[Rha]

Thanks Tony, so far cost about £25 or so, and the new boot which was split and obviously wouldn't have been noticed if I hadn't decided to do this, so win win situation. Roy.

 

[Althulas]

That what I call thinking outside of the box! I hope your error to are rewarded Rha