348 intake

For 348 owners (I was one) there is an intake system on eBay for your cars, what do you think, has anybody ever installed it? Does it make a difference in HP? I'm just curious about it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Accessories___RTEC-SHF-II-Air-Intake-Systems-Ferrari-348-All-Models_W0QQitemZ250315488323QQddnZPartsQ20Q26Q20AccessoriesQQddiZ2811QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250315488323&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

 

Saw that myself browsing the parts, and although I think it looks a lot better than stock (in theory, the colors are not to my taste) I would think that it would actually be detrimental to performance due to pulling in hot engine bay air, rather than through the door strakes (mines a spider)

I'd also think that you could cobble your own together a good bit cheaper than $300...

The above are just thoughts and opinions, and we all know what they are like...

 

Just my opinion, but I would describe these things as total crapp on ANY car, and an absolute joke on a Ferrari.

 

It's my understanding that the stock intake system creates positive pressure at speed, therefore increasing horsepower. I would think, therefore, that merely adding a K&N filter to the stock system would generate more horsepower than one that draws air from the engine compartment at atmospheric pressure. Maybe also why static dyno figures have trouble coming up to factory horsepower readings too. Remember "Ram Air"?

 

That's some Ferrari tax!! $300 for $35 worth of parts.

 

+100.

 

Yikes, that thing is ugly.

Kai

 

It is an interesting set up, not unlike whatI was thinking of trying out on my car for a test. Not sure I want to spend $300 for it though.

 

I have purchased some carbon fibre CDA BMC air filters. These attach on to the 348 and still utilise the air intake through the door strakes. The benefit over the standard air box is that carbon fibre doesn't heat up and so will keep the air constantly cool that flows through it.

The air intake system on ebay mean that the filters are sitting right over the exhaust which is going to produce a lot of heat. This is not good. It also is sucking in air that is flowing around the engine compartment. This air, for want of a better description, is 'stale' air and not really being forced in to the air filters. Even the standard box is having cool air from outside being forced into it via the door strakes.

It might look good but I think it would be a pile of sh!te. Think about it the faster you go forward, the more air is being sucked in through the door strakes. This type of set up could never take in as much air as that. The advert makes a point of saying that it sits on top of the exhaust heatshield but will definately not get hot air from this. Well last time I checked, hot air rises and so this would be inevitable.

Not worth the money and could cause the engine to run hotter. Of course this is just my amature opinion.

 

I've considered utilizing CDA's on my own personally designed system. Do you mind if I see a photo of what you've done with yours?

 

I will post something up this weekend if I get the chance.

Here is a picture of the engine bay from someone else who did it. He needs to tidy it up a little but you can see how it looks.
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Nice - can you feel any improvement in power with the BMCs?

 

I would think it would be quite effective in reducing horsepower. The intake air would be hotter; the higher the intake air temp, the less dense the air is. Lower density = less HP. The rule-of-thumb I've heard is roughly a 1% HP decrease for every 10 degrees F increase in intake air temp, but I don't have a reference for that figure.

 

I LOVE the way the above picture looks, but looking at the BMC website am I correct in assuming you would have to order two kits, for a combined US currency amount of about $800????
Anybody got a cheaper way?

 

Since I live in Britain I obviously ordered mine here. I paid around £350 if I remember correctly and I got 2 boxes for this. I think back then the exchange rate was close to 2$ to the £ (oh how things change) so that would be close on $700 which would mean you are about right.

I now it might be expensive but BMC are very good quality and someone told me that they manufacture parts for F1 racing so I am guessing they really know their stuff.

 

They also did an EVOLUTION II version as well which was supposed to be even better.

For some reason they don't have that on their website anymore.

 

+1

+2

+3

 

It is not nearly as good looking or functional as the stock airbox (the only positive thing is the sound that it produces).

I have original box fitted with original size K/N. It has acces to fresh air it has siphone for the water and looks nice.
My opinion is that you loose hp with mounting theese on top of your exhaust.

 

+1 ............. the stock air boxes do have a nifty 'air water separator' ......