Air Intake on 99on front bumpers.....

[andrewrx7]

Hi there,

Any thoughts on the air intake on the 99 spec front bumpers?

Fitting my front number plate, it is apparent that it sits directly over the air intake! There is still room behind the plate, maybe an inch gap, but this is obviously a significant barrier to taking in air! I guess it may even be deflecting the air flow away from the intake!

Anyone with this front end ever thought about this? I think I am correct in saying that the air intake is in the number plate slot and not scooping air from the radiator hole.  (I presume Japanese plates are small and thinner, and not the chunky square things the UK has to have, so do not obstruct the opening).

Thoughs/solutions/corrections??

Cheers,

Andrew

[andrewrx7]

Piccy to maybe help explain what I\'m on about!

[Nath]

Take the front plate off and stick it in your front window , if you get pulled you put it back on , then you take it off the day after or just blag your way , "its a jap car they dont have front number plate mounts"

[scooby_si]

surely it would look a bit strange thou as there would just be a square thing with holes in it right at the front which is fairly obviously (hopefully not for "traffic" with above plan http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008\' target=\'_blank\'>http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/1040v.gif\' border=0>) & dunno how it\'d keep with the lines if the 7.............
Si

[Nath]

Do\'h my bad forgot this is the late spec bumper , as the older ones have the metal frame that you just unbolt and its gone :p

[kevint]

I managed to get a slightly smaller plate, still covers the holes you mention.

Kevin

[andrewrx7]

Was thinking about trying for a small personal number and going for a smaller plate, probably better than the large full sized plates though.

Bizarre bit of engineering, though. Mazda must have spent a fair bit of cash re-designing the bumper and air ducts, to get the extra air in and aid air flow, and then place them right behind the number plate! I can only assume, that they were designed with a tiny plate from Japan specifically in mind, with no thought to any other market!

Thinking about ways of adjusting the air scoops, to get around the number plate barrier......

[andrewrx7]

The problem, as described in the original thread.

Basically here is the air intake on the 99 spec bumpers.

[andrewrx7]

Here is the UK plate covering the intake very well!

[andrewrx7]

One solution:

The air box takes its air from the air cavity behind the bumper. The base of this is just plastic, so cut a hole into this, and attach subtle duct...

[andrewrx7]

Pic to show inside the bumper (taken from the engine looking forward, with the std air box removed)

[andrewrx7]

View from the front, showing the new duct just to the side of the no. plate. Slightly shaped to funnel air up into the cavity and to the std air box.

Maybe a bit paranoid, but can only see that the no plate over the intake can\'t be good!!

[iaint]

Unless it\'s significantly restricted it shouldn\'t be a problem - the air system sucks air in and isn\'t dependant on an air-ram effect.

Obviously if the intake is actually blocked off partially then it\'s a problem!

The intake on mine sits behing the plate (although about 4 inches back from it).  A benefit of this is less liklihood of large amounts of water being ingested by the intake on very wet days...

Iain

[andrewrx7]

Originally posted by iaint
Unless it\'s significantly restricted it shouldn\'t be a problem - the air system sucks air in and isn\'t dependant on an air-ram effect.

Obviously if the intake is actually blocked off partially then it\'s a problem!

The intake on mine sits behing the plate (although about 4 inches back from it).  A benefit of this is less liklihood of large amounts of water being ingested by the intake on very wet days...

Iain

I can get a finger between the plate and the bumper - i.e. the gap is only about 3/4inch. I appreciate if yours is 4 inches away, then there will be no restriction to the air flow! Its a bit of fun, makes me feel better about it anyway and was dead easy and cheap to do!

[iaint]

Certainly can\'t hurt too much having the extra vent as long as it doesn\'t give a too-direct route through to the intake system for water (i.e. driving in heavy spray).

If you look at the standard airbox it\'s quite a convoluted route from the intake to the filter box and appears to be designed to not only split the air flow between intercooler and filter but to also prevent water entering the system.

I was looking at various possibilities for getting a cold air feed to aftermarket filters and was considering using the driving light hole on my bumper but that would basically suck up too much moisture at that height.  Havent\' got a decent solution yet that doesn\'t involve a dremmel and the front bumper!

Iain