Need help with air intake system for testarossa

Currently, I am in the process of replacing my testarossa's rear decklid with the 512TR type. However, the 512TR engine is a different engine with the manifold being a little closer together and it sits slightly lower than the testarossa. So when my mechanic installed the new decklid, there was a horrific 3 inch gap right at the end!!! To circumvent this, he had to cut out a portion of the inner sheet of aluminium. This allows the lid to be shut but the air box had to be removed. So right now, I am trying to come up with a completely new air intake system which includes new air box/es (likely to be a dual air box system similar to those found in the 512, 355, 456/550/575), air hoses and air intake.

After surveying the engine compartment, I have identified a couple problem areas:

1) Where do I draw cold air from? Unlike the 512s, I believe cold air is taken from the side vents. Even if I somehow manage to find a way (quite unlikely) to run the hoses to the side vents, the air will be warm due to the radiators. I've thought about placing the intakes behind the right behind the rear bumper, but the air is likely to be of poor quality.

2) Where to put the air boxes? The water tank located on the left in the testarossa makes it difficult to position an air box there comfortably.

I am trying to get hold of a pair of 550 air boxes from one F-chat guy here and I'm not sure if it'll work. But I don't really have a choice. Altenatively, can anyone recommend other possible air boxes? I had wanted it to be in CF but can't seemed to locate any on the net. Perhaps someone here is knowledgeable enough to point me to the right direction.

Also, need some expert advice from anyone here as to how I should design this whole thing from scratch. My mechanic is good at fixing stuff but not designing.

Please throw out as many ideas as you can. Any idea is greatly appreciated considering I am quite challenged in this aspect.

thanks,
tuck

 

Maybe if you posted pictures of what you have now it might stimulate some thinking from Testarossa owners.

 

The air ENTERING the side vent is cold. It only gets hot AFTER going through the radiators. That is exactly why the intakes were put there on the 512.

With the turbulance behind the car at low level that area is all exhaust and is prob the worst area to put intakes. The top of the flat portion is not a bad area from the stand point of pressure and temp. That is why both the TR and BB had air intakes there.

 

You could cut open the flat area of the deck lid over the engine and install some big fat carbs that would protrude up through the deck with nice velocity stacks. You might even put a nice plexiglass cover over the top simular to a F-40 or a P4, and put screens over the intakes, so leaves and drool wont effect the performance.

 

Somthing along this line?? Just teasing of course, but, you have to admit....
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I have an extra "chicklet" out in my shop that I was going to modify. My idea is to use two slim snorkel style scoops molded onto the engine cover, that will take air in from just above the roof line - like a Lambo Diablo GT does. I think if done tastefully it would look very cool. Or you could use one larger scoop I suppose. You would loose some rear visibility though.....but what the heck. I made some concept sketches but never really got going on it. Rain might be a problem too....but I don't drive in the rain so no biggie. There must be a solution to your problem. And maybe if we all brainstorm we can come up with something.

May I ask....are you using a 512TR decklid because it looks or out of necessity or....? If I'm being too nosey just give me a poke-in-the-chops.

 

That echos my thoughts. You're going to an awful lot of trouble and expense here, with some legitimate engineering and running issues thrown in. You must REALLY like the 512 lid to put up with all this!

Ken

 

Hi Tuck,
What the hell is this all about?
Cutting metal sheets??
Changing the airbox??
Relocate the expansion tank?
OK,you can go cut in your Ford Escort,but NOT in your Ferrari!
Dude,don't go ruin your car,leave it as it is:ORIGINAL.
Change a seat,nice set of wheels or a steering wheel,but do not cut your Ferrari in pieces...
Would you buy a F-40,where some parts are cut away?
I don'ty think so.
Well,the potential buyer of your car in 20 years won't eather....
Bolt on,bolt off mod's,OK.
Further on:not OK....
The best advice from:
Speedman.

 

As much as I would normally agree to keep these cars stock, when R&T did the article on the twin turbo compound supercharged 800+ HP Koenig TR, I wanted one. They basically had the Enzo 20 years ago. He already seems to have a spare deck lid, so its not like he cant undo whatever he does, I say go for it. Twelve fat velocity stacks just under the roof line, standing straight up into the air. Yeah baby! I bet the sound would insanly delicious. Especially with a nice Tubi and blown out cats for background music.

 

I just don't agree that cuttin' away metal sheet on a soooo expensive TR part is the right way to go...
I say:no room? Then don't.
If M Tyson wanted a Austin MINI,but the car was too small,would he cut away the roof section or did he pass by and go for another car?
Speedman.

 

hehe.

you guys should ask Tuck what he drives at work ....

.

 

I was planning to, just didn't quite get round to do it. Will take some pictures tomorrow and post them

 

I will likely take air from the top of the flat portion as it's difficult to route air hoses all the way to the side intakes. Doesn't seem to have a passable route.

 

haha... thanks for the idea. But unlikely. I think this method looks good for older car but not the TR. Maybe because of the clean lines and wedge look, the potrusion will probably look quite out of place

 

That's actually a great idea but I'm converting the TR to 512M, so things sticking out is not what I am looking for. I guess this answers your question that it's for looks more than necessity. I really like the M look. Some may think I'm nuts but who cares, at the end of the day, I'm happy. I will show you guys the final product when it's completed in about 1 month's time.

Rain is not a big problem for the snorkel style scoops as long as at some point before it reaches the manifolds, there is a 'detour' (not sure if this is a right word) like a U-turn for the water to pass out.

 

you're right about the legitimate engineering issues. If I could, I wouldn't. But it was something that I had overlooked before I embarked on the project. Fortunately, this modification is quite minor so it's acceptable to me. I don't think performance will be affected as well if it's done tastefully and properly.

What running issues were you referring to?

 

Speedman, I know where you are coming from. This is a 512M conversion project which I happen to like a lot. Besides, when I purchased it 3 years back, there was a slight modification to the front and rear bumpers to the part M look. Then I was deciding between the TR and a 348. In fact I almost bought the pristine 1 owner 348, but decided to get the TR instead because of the massive size and updated look. It somehow looked more modern with the M parts. Along the way, I decided that I didn't want it to look neither here nor there, that's why I'm doing this. In my country, 512M and the TR costs around USD300K and USD100K respectively. And there are only 2 (I think) existing M here. That's why the conversion is a good alternative. Well... I will worry about the selling problem 20 years down the road, I guess. But thanks for your advice, I am also a stock kinda guy, but since it wasn't stock to begin with, what the heck....

 

ssshhhh.

 

Yeah, the drool is a b!tch.

 

The whole thread is about air induction. You can't drive the car until that's sorted; that's what I meant by 'running issues'. Personally, if I had your car, I'd keep the stock deck and be driving it as we speak. The down time is also a price you're paying for cosmetics.

Ken

 

Agree with the long down time. But isn't cosmetics part of the reason why we buy a ferrari?

 

some pictures of the work done. At the moment, my mechanic has built a prototype air filter box. Cold Air will still be taken from the middle and split into 2 separate boxes. The air will then travel upwards pass the filters into 2 hoses towards the manifolds. This method prevents water from going into the manifolds as water will leave the filter boxes at the bottom whereas the air will flow up.

Any ideas to improve this functionally as well as to make it look nicer?

Currently, the boxes are bolt onto the engine. Is this a good idea? Or is the engine frame a better bet?

If this is a decent idea, it will likely be made from CF for both weight and looks.

I have included some pictures of the front as well.
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wow , you're going 512M.

good work there !

.

 

Interesting project. Looks like alot of fun converting a T-Rex into an M; are you making it lighter as well?

 

Tuck,
why don't you take off that 512 TR deck and buy one of these ath Norwood?
http://www.norwoodperformance.com/images/TRcarbonLid2a.jpg

There is also a firm who's making a very very nice air intake system in kevlar,with two filter units as the TR style.
I will look @ it and give you the link.
Anyway,WOW with the conversion....
I'll PM you later....
Speedman.