8 replies to this topic

[mister bridger]

Recently changed from a cone type air filter to the standard air box with K&N filter inside. The flappy thing that attaches to the inlet side of the filter box is scruffy looking and I'd happily do away with it if it's not important, so...... is it? I guess it's some sort of air temperature control?

[nicklouse]

yep. it directs warm or cold air to the engine.

 

strip it and chrome it.

[mister bridger]

Bit of silver paint, maybe. I'm not made of money! Or bin it?

[blackbelt1990]

Ive blocked the hole up on mine but it's a mid 90s one so the flappy bit is internal rather than stuck on!

Would it be of any benefit to take the metal bit off and put a tube down to some cold air instead?

[mab01uk]

Before they fitted the automatic temperature control flap (which works via a bi-metallic strip and opens and closes depending on underbonnet temperature) the plastic air filter boxes were just fitted with a curved metal intake pipe, which you turned to a winter or summer position. (Winter being pointing down at the exhaust manifold)....you could fit one of these or just leave the filter box intake with no valve or pipe if you prefer.

 

Here is one fitted to a BMC 1100

http://magiccarpics....ancedSearch.php

Edited by mab01uk, 22 July 2016 - 06:13 PM.

[THE ANORAK]

Go to the keith cavler web site and read is article on how to get the best from the standard air box

[tiger99]

In view of the air flow through the area when the car is on the move, and the rate at which the intake air is moving at high revs, does anyone believe that moving the air intake to the summer or winter position actually makes any difference to the inlet air temperature? My guess is that it only helps avoid carburettor icing when stationary and idling. It doesn't affect the immediate warmup after starting, because the manifold takes a fair number of seconds to become hot, and in that sense it is as useless as the water heated manifold on some models. But it was there on all but possibly the very earliest Minis for some time, and I invariably switched it to the summer or winter position at the appropriate time. I am thinking that I probably wasted a minute or so of my time twice a year.

 

The A+ with thermostatic flap was a real timesaver, no need to adjust it, but again, did it make much difference?

[nicklouse]

But you would have changed its position at the same time as you changed your thermostat from summer to winter version. Which would have been done when you changed your oil from summer to winter grade.

But all this would have been done by the garage when your car went for its winter/summer tyres.

[fenghuang]

With my original exhaust manifold there was a pressed steel(?) duct that directed warm air from around the manifold to the temperature control flap.

When I fitted a stage 1 kit, the duct didn't fit, so air is just sucked from above or bellow the level of the air filter. I'd be surprised if it makes much diference without the manifold ducting. Does it?