Mikey303LSZ Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 This is my current air filter location. I want cold fresh air but afraid of water related issues when driving in the rain. Anyone got thoughts or experience they could share? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattd428 Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 What's wrong with that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Don't drive it in the rain or use half of a coffee can around the filter , you get the idea . Looking good . I don't like the idea of driving my Z and ZX in the rain , not fun . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 I used OE air filter box with K&N filter ( came with car ) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 I had the same concerns. The hood covers it pretty well. Mine is the same and it has been fine. Have raced on days with 4" of standing water on the track and rain so hard I couldn't see the cones. Car ran great. No traction but plenty of power. K&n would have us oil their filters but I never do because I don't want the mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zfan1 Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 I had mine up front like yours (bigger filter) but Im guessing it caused some sort of turbulance because my Z would start to run real hot. I moved it into the engine compartment, it's now in front of air vent at radiator support and that cured my over heating issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zfan1 Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 This is a before and after shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 This is a before and after shot Looks great . I just don't like idea of sucking hot air from engine compartment ( hurts HP ) , especially with headers . I would build some kind of block off panels/plates or box . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geno51 Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Ok, I will be the one to point out that small amounts of water like that involved with rain are good for the motor. Small droplets are no problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Ok, I will be the one to point out that small amounts of water like that involved with rain are good for the motor. Small droplets are no problem Quoted for truth! Keeps the pistons clean. The concern for me was somehow scooping a bunch of water up. I have an engine block table that shows what happens when you do that (from a friend). I used a plastic cutting board and black tape in case of emergencies when I got caught in the rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreco Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Meh, i just left mine in the engine compartment. Didn't feel like cutting a larger hole in the radiator support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 I'm in the process of using a 280zx air cleaner welding a pipe to the bottom the same size as the elbows to get more flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 On the growing to-do list is some pre-radiator-support radiator shrouding/frontal area block off that will create some protection of my air filter from rain drops but will preserve the "cold air" effect of being forward of the radiator support. Will get to it sometime in the next two winters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 (edited) Air filter vs water - I actually got hit by snow slush one time where it came all the way past the radiator and drowned the air cleaner on my 340 Cuda. Had to remove the filter element to get home and then hit a puddle a mile from home that drowned the engine. Fortunately it didn't hydrolock and I was able to start it ok later. I currently have my filter behind the radiator on the drivers side but I would prefer the colder air in front of the radiator. I did a studly in college that showed a 100 degree intake air temperature difference is worth about 5% in HP. If I move mine to in front of the radiator I will probably build a shield in front of it or maybe even an inlet that can generate some inlet pressure with speed - although the same college study showed that the "ram" effect didn't become effective until speeds in excess of 90 MPH. Edited May 22, 2014 by Phantom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 tuff z Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Mine is forward of the rad, cooler air and drops that IAT at least 50 degrees. Running a DE one year at WGi during a pretty heavy rainstorm [downpour, typical upstate NY weather pattern] and it cut out a little. In the 20,000 miles I've now logged since spring 2006 that is the 1 and only time and that was a momentary sputter. My K&N is oiled but has no shielding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 There's about 3 feet of tubing between the filter and the throttle body with three or four 90-degree bends. That's a pretty good water trap before the throttle body. You're good-go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage42 Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 (edited) I currently have my filter behind the radiator on the drivers side but I would prefer the colder air in front of the radiator. I did a studly in college that showed a 100 degree intake air temperature difference is worth about 5% in HP. You are right about that, Bill. I was reading a book on race car engineering from HPD (Honda Performance Development) and they said the difference between a true cold air intake (taking air from in front of the radiator) and the hot air under the hood was roughly 3% more power with cool air per 1000cc (1 liter), which would be roughly 17-20 HP on most LS powered Zs. That is well worth it. As for the water issue, the only way you'd really get enough water to the filter is to practically submerge the front end enough to actually get enough water through the filter, around the intake and into the cylinders to cause a real problem. Water injection isn't a bad thing and a little water does wonders in getting the carbon deposits to go away. I'm running mine up front. Edited May 23, 2014 by Savage42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey303LSZ Posted May 23, 2014 Author Share Posted May 23, 2014 Thanks for all the feedback. Savage - I'm assuming you drive yours in the rain? I'll make a sheet metal deflector at some point but I want to fire this thing up soon and get it on the road. Just a little worried about hydrolock if I get stuck in a rain storm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
260DET Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 (edited) Am a bit rusty* on S30's but for the S130 the filter is going where the op's second 90 degree bend is located. Probably semi enclose it inside the engine bay, cool air feed through the hole in the radiator support panel. If the filter could be mounted there in a S30 it should be better, fewer bends and not picking up hot air from the radiator too. * unintended pun, really Edited May 23, 2014 by 260DET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 You are right about that, Bill. I was reading a book on race car engineering from HPD (Honda Performance Development) and they said the difference between a true cold air intake (taking air from in front of the radiator) and the hot air under the hood was roughly 3% more power with cool air per 1000cc (1 liter), which would be roughly 17-20 HP on most LS powered Zs. That is well worth it. As for the water issue, the only way you'd really get enough water to the filter is to practically submerge the front end enough to actually get enough water through the filter, around the intake and into the cylinders to cause a real problem. Water injection isn't a bad thing and a little water does wonders in getting the carbon deposits to go away. I'm running mine up front. 280Z-06 Pics 275 (Medium).jpg Gary - most of the Detroit OEM's at the time were claiming a 5% boost in HP with their fresh air intake "shaker" hoods and my tests confirmed that. This was back in 1970 and I did the testing with my '70 340 'Cuda. You're right about the water. In each case with the 'Cuda I got hit will a wall of either slouch or water from a passing vehicle. The first one soaked the filter and choked the engine. The second one flooded the engine with water. Mikey -the worst thing that will happen with an air filter in front of the grill is that it gets hit by a solid wave of water that soaks it and then oxygen starves the motor. No damage to the motor that way. You just have to dry the filter out and you're good to go. Regular rain should not cause any real issues - especially the stuff you'll encounter in Colorado. I knew lots of guys with them located up front driving them through Gulf Coast frog chokers with no real issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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