I currently run (as you can see from my sig) a drop-in K&N. I am of course aware that there's a large school of thought that this is the best intake setup for an Evo. Then again, most (all?) Evos I have seen that put down more than 350 to the wheels seem to run some sort of conical filter or similar. Also, there is a thread (cannot find it atm, sorry) that showed a test where they measured pressure drop across the stock box with a K&N vs. a Buschur conical intake, and the Buschur came out about 2x as good.

So long story short: I did a ton of searching, and still never came up with a good answer to the following questions:
1. Some people claim 6-8 whp gains from conical filters over a drop in. Is that for real? (and yes I know they have to be tuned for due to erratic MAF readings)
2. Does anyone have a sense for how temperature enters into the mix? Something just bothers me about having an open conical element right where the stock box used to be, away from any good source of cold air.
3. It seems like the stock box could be modified to flow better...indeed the thread I mentioned above showed that the gap between stock and conical narrowed a lot when the scoop was removed (but then you get into sucking hot air again). Anyone have any experience with that? I think I remember seeing one thread where someone cut up his stock box...
4. I have heard Evos with conical elements up under the hood, and I don't care for how they sound. The stock box gets this sexy jet-engine whine under boost, whereas the conical element has a resonant metallic grinding sound. Can anyone recommend an intake system with better flow than the stock unit but a similar subdued sound?

 

If you get a short ram intake, you won't get as much power as a cold air since, it's sucking in hot air from the engine bay, but you also won't have to worry about sucking up water. I'd rather take just a little less power rather than constantly worrying whenever it rains.
Since you want an intake system with the same sound as the stock, you probably want an aftermarket intake box like the ARC super induction box:
http://lancershop.com/customer/produ...&cat=83&page=1

 

here is the k&n vs. buschur filter test you are talking about https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=198058 most of us that run a cone filter (i personally run the buschur because its a dry filter) still leave the snorkel in place as to direct cool air towards the intake. i have just a cone filter attached to my stock maf pipe and have no "metallic" sound when under boost, more of a jet engine llike you described.

 

i also got the hks cone like filter with the stock snorkel to get some cooler air into the bay. The arc kit looks good and im sure thats a better way to get cooler air into the mix. with just a K&N drop in i got 1/10 second faster once before.......

 

ARC intake box

 

I just swapped back from an ETS Intake Pipe and Cone Filter to the Stock Snorkel and ARC Box. I couldn't be happier. Much more low-end back. All I was doing is pouring in the hot Oklahoma air. See mods in sig.

 

Thanks all. The ARC box is one I was looking at, although it is a little pricey. I'm a horsepower-per-dollar kinda guy, although as I said I do have other concerns like my intake not sounding like a Kirby vacuum cleaner on crystal meth. But I had not heard any ARC testimonials before and I was glad to get some.

 

There definitely is an advantage of CAI for a NA motor, but for turbo'd cars we heat the intake up (from the turbo) and then cool via the intercooler. Opening the stock box does help the top end (against my gut ) and was addressed in detail in one of the advanced forums...So net / net, you can benefit by either cutting up the airbox or replacing with an open element...Remember to re-tune the car though...

 

Is it really worth that kinda money...$300+ for a few HP?

 

I know (from personal experience) how much this is asking, but if you could provide a link I would be eternally grateful.

 

I'm guessing, it all depends on the income of someone, and someone that's power hungry. I was actually thinking of what intake could work best for an Evo. I think some people might enjoy having a matching color of their car or maybe even brands like K&N <_< but hey I like the HKS one cause I always see the fat turbos and the HKS filter on it xD lol

 

He does have a point though. The ARC box is $300 for the box and nothing else. Even if it sounds way better than a short-ram intake (and looks super-tight, which it does), it costs 4 times as much. At that point, I'd probably say I'd live with the louder sound or the less hp and save the cash. Esp when you can buy something like the injen setup that's a short ram, UICP, AND LICP for only a little more than the ARC. So for me it's not about spending that much money or not, it's if I am going to spend that much, what's the most I can get out of it.

 

Think I'd personally rather spend the cash on something else that will give more hp.

 

Like I said $300+ for an intake to me is a waste...I'd either do Buschur cone filter or my setup which is a works filter with cutout in the side of my intake box.

Here is the thread on the filter box cutout...

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=244028

...minimal increase as far as the annoying PPSSSSSHT sound and doesn't draw too much hot air from the engine cause the cutout is on the opposite side.

 

exactly. personally i use the buschur filter because its $80, dry filter, and proven.