A buddy of mine has a 92 toy truck with the hood rusting on the drivers side front corner. Instead of replacing the entire hood an idea came to mind. What if you took and basically sealed the airfilter corner with maybe plexy glass bordering the air filter (open element style) into that corner. Now the air filter would not breate off of the engine air. With that rusted corner if he cut it out and constructed it with a mesh screen or pick up tube design of some sort would that not increase HP? The engine would then be sucking cooler cleaner air from outside. good idea or chit? Blue

 

cooler denser air will gain more performance, however, what about the rain and elements? im thinking bad idea here....

 

It would basically be a cold air intake of sorts like ricers use. They run their tubes to the lower bumper to suck air that being down there tends to get dusty or contain exhaust fumes. Any opinions at all bout this? Blue

 

If we constructed some sort of cover like a cowel induction I wonder if that would work. Or building a shield on the inside that prevents direct shots of rain touching the filter with a drain at the bottom.

 

i think it may look goofy..... but hey, it sounds like you want to do it anyways.... so have at it... post pics.....

 

A '92 shouldn't be breathing off engine air. It should already be ducted to a cool air source.

That said, your method may work, and may give you a little boost as high(er) speeds when the air pressure at the front of the vehicle builds up. You've got to open to that high pressure though. Open to the top of the hood will not get it. You've got to be open to the front, and at the front of the vehicle to gain it.

Only other very real issue from your description is water. If it's open to the top, rain can and will get into it. Parked during a gulley washer of a storm can have this fill up the intake with water. So ensure you've got a water drain at the bottom of the box. Ensure it's big enough to handle the potential rain water flow.

 

If there was a substantial size water drain, wouldnt that eliminate the "fresh air induction"?

 

you can always filter the air after it enters the tubes

 

Yep, it frequently does. The degree of impact depends on how large a drain hole is used and where the end of the drain tube is. That said, a 1/2 hole would probably be sufficient, even if the intake were facing straight up. Locate the drain tube exit in another high pressure area and you further help take care of air pressure loss.

 

Seal it to the hood with foam, a couple layers of 3/8" weatherstipping works well. Then just put some form of scoop over it.