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I'm just starting to fit my new header tank, and although it'll all fit in I'm not keen on having the air filter right next to a hot water tank where it is on the bulkhead. I was thinking I might cut a hole in the bonnet and have something like a K&N RC-2000 poking out the top.
I've seen plenty of cars with air filters poking out the top & sides, but was wondering if there would be a problem if it rains and then sucking water in? Are some filters more water resistant than others, or would there not be enough water ingress to be a problem?
I'd be grateful of any advice before I spend any money and/or get busy with a hacksaw.
Water ingress shouldn't be a problem in the rain with a gauze filter.
Water will damage your engine if it gets sucked in in large quantities - it'll form a hydraulic lock on the compression stroke and knacker the engine, but a little getting sucked through the filter won't do any harm.
After all, in common with the turbo tuning brigade I'm going to inject water with about 25% methanol added into my intakes using a fish-pond pump, a suction actuated switch and a fogging nozzle, so I can run my high compression engine designed for 100 octane fuel on 95 octane unleaded without it knocking.
An alternative to sticking the filter out of the bonnet would be to fit a remote filter somewhere near the front grille (assuming you have one) and run a big bore pipe up to an air box on the air intake.
Thanks - I had it my mind that water could knacker the engine, but if small amounts are okay then I'll crack on.
It's a Marlin Roadster with Griffin Power Systems Inlet manifold on a Zetec, pointing backwards and there is absolutely zero room to run a pipe anywhere, hence it's going to have to stick out the top.