Carbon Fibre Air Box

[daftlad]

Spoke with Paul at Austec last week, and they are looking at carbon fibre trumpets. He suggested the original airbox is quite good as standard........but..

I just wondered how much better a box made in carbon would look? Would certainly make a more aggresive induction noise.

Anyone know of anyone who does limited number fabrications, and is anyone else interested if the price wasn't too OTT (relatively speaking).

[nubbin]

Speak to jools at Joospeed, he knows someone who does small volume, very high quality carbon fibre stuff. Not cheap though...

[2 sheds]

We made the carbon trumpet modification to the S6 airbox at Austec, the problem i have with making a new airbox in carbon is for cosmetic reasons only it would be expensive, if we can find a better design then thats a different story altogether.
Tim

[sacha]

For estetic reason, it is possible to cover the current airbox with carbon. This is done simply ( it is simple but you have to know what you are doing) by rubbing the surface down and then applying a layer of carbon with epoxy resin, I have been thinking of doing this to my new car. I have done this to other parts in the past, but it is risky!

[daftlad]

2 sheds said:

We made the carbon trumpet modification to the S6 airbox at Austec, the problem i have with making a new airbox in carbon is for cosmetic reasons only it would be expensive, if we can find a better design then thats a different story altogether. Tim

Tim
1. I guess two questions then.
Ball park cost of standard box in carbon, with trumpets?
2. Is it realistic to think that worthwhile gains can be attained with a revised box - given Pauls comments about the standard box being quiet efficient?

[2 sheds]

daftlad said:

2 sheds said: We made the carbon trumpet modification to the S6 airbox at Austec, the problem i have with making a new airbox in carbon is for cosmetic reasons only it would be expensive, if we can find a better design then thats a different story altogether. Tim Tim 1. I guess two questions then. Ball park cost of standard box in carbon, with trumpets? 2. Is it realistic to think that worthwhile gains can be attained with a revised box - given Pauls comments about the standard box being quiet efficient?

1. typically air-boxes cost £250-400, can't give more at this stage, trumpets a bit extra
2. yes unlikely to find gains with new box, We will be testing very soon.
Tim

[daftlad]

Tim
YHM

[joospeed]

I did a bit of quick testing the other week on a 4 litre tuscan with no air box but variable length trumpets .. there was no length i found that gave a massive gain, and any small gains found were massively offset by a big loss somewhere else in the range. I didn't do any remapping as there wasn't time, just put the trumpets on and played around. you haven't quite got the waaay over rich mixture on the sp6 cars that gives you a comfort buffer for playing on the ajp8 cars, but the mixture didnt appear to be compromising the power, the lengths were.

On this basis I'd be very surprised if a change of airbox gives anything at all .. certainly on improving airflow with diferent filters it's a complete non-starter unlike the ajp8 which is right on the limit of the std filter at about 400bhp. The sp6 airfilter is massively overspecced so seems tvr learned their lesson with the ajp8.

[2 sheds]

Interesting Joolz, I agree that we probably won't see big gains as these engines are already making big figures and the inlet tracts are pretty good, I'll let you know what we find ? or don't, yes i wonder what the S6 filter is rated at ? certainly much more than the engine needs.

[mjc]

Can I ask a question? (please dont shoot me down in flames..!)

Would the engine benefit from semi-forced induction (i'm thinking along the lines of some sort of ram-air induction)...?

The reason I ask is that I believe the air intake is currently a 4" hose which goes straight down to the cars underbody... not a great place I would have though bearing in mind venturi effects etc....

If this was modified / re-routed to the front of the car, to be fed from one of the air inlet vents would this give any noticible benefits?

[joospeed]

mjc said:

Can I ask a question? (please dont shoot me down in flames..!) Would the engine benefit from semi-forced induction (i'm thinking along the lines of some sort of ram-air induction)...? The reason I ask is that I believe the air intake is currently a 4" hose which goes straight down to the cars underbody... not a great place I would have though bearing in mind venturi effects etc.... If this was modified / re-routed to the front of the car, to be fed from one of the air inlet vents would this give any noticible benefits?

basically no .. you need air speds of like 150mph to make less than 5% increase in power .. if you search the net there's some info on aeroplane research into naca ducts and power increases .. basically not worth the effort.

[sacha]

I remember a member called yahoo who had a forced intake,,,,

here
www.pistonheads.com/members/showProfile.asp?memberId=8349

check out the photos on his profile

[daftlad]

joospeed said:

mjc said: Can I ask a question? (please dont shoot me down in flames..!) Would the engine benefit from semi-forced induction (i'm thinking along the lines of some sort of ram-air induction)...? The reason I ask is that I believe the air intake is currently a 4" hose which goes straight down to the cars underbody... not a great place I would have though bearing in mind venturi effects etc.... If this was modified / re-routed to the front of the car, to be fed from one of the air inlet vents would this give any noticible benefits? basically no .. you need air speds of like 150mph to make less than 5% increase in power .. if you search the net there's some info on aeroplane research into naca ducts and power increases .. basically not worth the effort.

Seems to work well on motorcycles. Is there a fundamental difference?