killnine
Well-Known Member
So I thought a cowl air intake might be a good idea for the slant six to get some more air. I went to the hardware store and got a rubber pipe reduction coupler that goes from 3.5" ID to around 3" OD on the other side. I went to the auto parts store and got a 2.5-3.5" clamp, and a fairly cheap CAI accordion tube. I already had a plastic 3" air intake plate, but these are available at the auto parts store as well. I have an air cleaner with a round intake end that is around 3.5" diameter. The performance improvement is probably minor, but the air should be cooler and more available. It has a nice growl to it too, at least from the inside. This is probably not for everyone, as it can add some smells to the interior when you first start it up and when you shut it off.
There is a location right on the cowl, just above the seam, where there is a curve to it. This is where I set the 3" plate and used a pencil to mark the locations for the sheet metal screws, and traced the 3" inside diameter circle for cutting. I then used my dremel and a cutting wheel to cut the circle out, and drilled out some starter holes for the sheet metal screws. I cleaned up the cut after with a grinding wheel so it didn't have any sharp edges or burrs.
Then I took the opportunity to use some bent welding wire and a vacuum to clean out all the dirt from inside the cowl so no surprises were waiting for my air cleaner. I cut a square of some plastic mesh that I had around. I think it's for gardens or something. Anyhow, I put that behind the plate to catch any large debris before it goes down the tube. Of course the air filter would also catch it but I figured why not. Keep it in the cowl, and I can periodically remove the setup and vacuum it out.
I then screwed down the plate and the mesh, attached the end of the tube with the included rubber on it, and locked it down with the clamp. The other end I sort of screwed onto the rubber pipe reducer, and clamped it down with the reducers clamp, and then clamped down the end that goes onto the air cleaner. I think it looks pretty good, other than the grey 3" plate, which would look better in another color like black.
There is a location right on the cowl, just above the seam, where there is a curve to it. This is where I set the 3" plate and used a pencil to mark the locations for the sheet metal screws, and traced the 3" inside diameter circle for cutting. I then used my dremel and a cutting wheel to cut the circle out, and drilled out some starter holes for the sheet metal screws. I cleaned up the cut after with a grinding wheel so it didn't have any sharp edges or burrs.
Then I took the opportunity to use some bent welding wire and a vacuum to clean out all the dirt from inside the cowl so no surprises were waiting for my air cleaner. I cut a square of some plastic mesh that I had around. I think it's for gardens or something. Anyhow, I put that behind the plate to catch any large debris before it goes down the tube. Of course the air filter would also catch it but I figured why not. Keep it in the cowl, and I can periodically remove the setup and vacuum it out.
I then screwed down the plate and the mesh, attached the end of the tube with the included rubber on it, and locked it down with the clamp. The other end I sort of screwed onto the rubber pipe reducer, and clamped it down with the reducers clamp, and then clamped down the end that goes onto the air cleaner. I think it looks pretty good, other than the grey 3" plate, which would look better in another color like black.
It won't be hard to repaint, since most of it is flaking off already anyhow.
