A little less bling!

[hioctanefueler]

Having spent the last 18 months looking at a very shiny metallic air intake tube (from air filter to air flow metre), when opening the bonnet on my V8, I am at last prompted to replace it with something with a little less 'bling'. Racetech do an 'original equipment' replacement, but I seem to remember better quality alternatives being mentioned on the forum - does this ring a bell with anyone or is it a call to Racetech on Monday morning?.

Thanks for any advice on this.

[v8s4me]

The shiny alloy tube is original equipment.

[SJS357]

Hi Christopher,
RT are fabricating me one out of Stainless to replace my oddly shaped original I had.
Looking for a smooth air transition with no silly angles and a direct straight line into the AFM.
Just at polishers at moment but will post pics on my resto forum when back.

Simon.

[The Big G]

v8s4me said:

The shiny alloy tube is original equipment.

Here is mine but not looking too shiny.



Yours has a nice curve on it whereas mine as a abrupt 30 degree joint. Definitely not good for smooth airflow!

[v8s4me]

You could use silicon elbows to smooth out the air flow. These are off Ebay. Now where near as good as ACT stuff but they do the job. Suppose it all depends how much the Racetech tube is.

[hioctanefueler]

Thanks guys for all your replies and pics. I should have explained that the 'metallic' set up in my car is all flexible ducting except for a curved,S/S sleeve giving support in the centre. As mentioned, Racetech do an 'original equipment' replacement which from their photo looks easily long enough to extend from the filter to the AFM. As my car is a late '92, maybe TVR in their wisdom had introduced a slightly modified system by then?. I should add that the engine bay on the car has been highly (and carefully) detailed by a previous owner, with the only out of place item being this 'cor blimey' ducting!. Cheers ... Chris

[v8s4me]

hioctanefueler said:

........... As my car is a late '92, maybe TVR in their wisdom had introduced a slightly modified system by then?

more like the bloke who could do the pipe bending left have you got a link to the Racetech item. Thanks

[Top Gear TVR]

if its really about de-blinging, how about just some of the same black fexible hose over the top of the stainless? that will give it support and de-bling.

for me though the relative 'ugliness' is about the route it takes - efficient though it might be, there's something less attractive about this aspect of the v8s when compared to the v6.

I think I like v8s4me's most.....

Edited by Top Gear TVR on Monday 11th June 08:23

[v8s4me]

Thanks TG. My views were the same which is why I’ve thought about various ides to tidy up the engine bay and make it “cleaner". Ideas included turning the AFM through 90° using an elbow off a Griff and running a straight pipe to the air filter. Neater but it meant the AFM was directly above the exhaust manifold. Also tried a K&N cone filter above the wheel arch but that wasn’t quite right either so in the end the silicon tubes were the best compromise and meant I could fit a second gas strut.

[tinks v8S]

auto sol will bring it up shiney

[Barkychoc]

There is a reducer silicon hose that I found that fits brilliantly between the plenum and afm, I will dig out the details.

[Barkychoc]

SR80-70 Samco 80>70 ID BLUE STRAIGHT REDUCER
SSHC-70-90 STAINLESS HOSE CLIP 70-90MM
SSHC-80-100 STAINLESS HOSE CLIP 80-100MM

All bought from merlin motorsport not expensive

http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p4897/SAMCO-80%3...

You do have to carefully cut it down a bit.

Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 11th June 21:58