Date:         Wed, 21 May 2008 00:49:19 -0700
Reply-To:     Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Subject:      Re: Air intake
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Date:    Wed, 21 May 2008 11:32:54 +1000
From:    Dave Yates <transparu@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Air intake

I've a Subi engine in my Vanagon and on recent trips in VERY dusty
conditions found the air filter collected too much dust.  At present it
is a
cone type with a cleanable paper filter.

Has anyone put their filter up through the panelwork that runs up the
corner
of the van to the air vent?  I can envisage some sort of a flexible
hose,
but I have trouble knowing what sort of filter to put up there, inside
the
vent, so that it doesn't change the appearance of the van.

An alternative might be to shroud the existing filter somehow so that
all
its air comes from up in that cavity, but the last thing I want to do is
reduce the air flow into the intake.

Any comments anyone?

Dave
downunder
----------------------------
Date:    Tue, 20 May 2008 19:18:46 -0700
From:    Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Air intake

Have you thought about getting a snorkel and sand trap out of a donor
Syncro? Comparing the Syncro intake and my 84 Westy intake, there is
much less dust with the Syncro snorkel. Maybe one of those K&N
washable filters that are coated with oil. I have no experience with
these permanent filters, but it's worth checking out. Perhaps there
are a few list members who offer their feedback on the K&N.

Keith O
--------------
Hi Dave from downunder.....

 From reading the Subi conversion yahoo list, parts from a Dodge Van can
be modified to shroud your paper cone filter (or the cone filter that
fits into the Dodge air-box). Info about the model and year are in the
archives or on Al Bells wonderful collection of conversion articles.
Some info can be gleamed and used from the inline-four gas and diesel
conversion articles also. Much reading here....

See link: http://www.members.shaw.ca/albell/index.html

Your question about installing a cone filter up inside the Air-Plenum
will be really limited as this area is very narrow/thin in size.
For-sure, duct incoming air from this upper plenum but the lower area
of the plenum is the only area large enough to mount an air-filter with
sufficient surface area for your Subi to breath easily in the dusty
operating conditions you mention.

I recall the question(s) about restricting air-flow to your Subi's TB
is pretty much a moot point. The TB itself is the limiting orifice to
your engines induction system! The stock '86 and newer Air Snorkel will
supply all the air your fire-breathing Subi can suck....

About air-filters. Dennis H. makes a good point about doing an oil
analysis to see what is possibly getting through your paper filter.
Some antidotal campfire stories about the K&N filters is worth
repeating. The Syncro Safari guys, playing around in the desert dust
(full of silica dust) were comparing notes at the end of the day. Folks
running K&N filters were seeing a light coating of silica dust inside
their TB's; down-stream from their carefully cleaned and oiled K&N
Filters. Folks running the stock Syncro snorkel, vortex dust separator
and stock air-box air-filter were not seeing any dust collecting on the
inside of the TB! Other notes; A freshly cleaned and oiled K&N filter
needs to condition itself by collecting some dust on its oily surface
to obtain best filtering results....Huh?  Meaning, before driving in
real dusty conditions, drive in a not too dusty place to get your
filter ready to really play in the dirt! Sounds like a bunch of
marketing doo-doo to me...... 8:(

If you are running in real dusty conditions, there is the optional
Heavy Duty Mann Filter that will fit into a stock '86 and newer
Air-Box. The filter medium in this heavy-duty filter is very
impressive!

Your issue though, is where to fit a stock 2.1 Air-box on your Subi
conversion? AFAIK.... there isn't enough room in either side-plenum to
stash an stock 2.1 air-box without carving up some sheet-metal....
Again, check on the Subi Yahoo conversion list for the most up to date
and newest incarnations of wrecking yard scrounged parts, made to
fit....

Good hunting Dave

Phil Z.
'86 Westie with way-too many mods
Campbell River, BC
-------------------------