Have been yakking with Rance at Xtreme about changing the air intake from the center top rear grill to the new style grill on the upper left side of rear like the new coach's at Foretravel.
The main advantage as far as I can tell is the intake of much less dirt to the air filter.
Knowing the 03 like my 01 intake makes for a dirty air filter very quick vs the 06 Phenix that runs many more miles/hours before any indication of becoming dirty.
Just wondering if anyone else has any interest in such an issue.
Guessing approx. $3k change, lot of fiberglass work.
Dave, I saw one on a late 90s model that James and Rance did when I was there for my slide work. It is a pretty good idea but you should have had it all done prior to the paint job. I think I would wait till you need a touch up or just trade yours off in a few years.
I have never seen the air filter minder move after 50,000 miles. Since the air filter is very easy to change, I don't see any payback in this $3K project.
I have thought about the location of the air intake. I thought that maybe FT put it up there where the air would not be as dirty as down lower. Seems as though it is in a low pressure area that does not help to feed air into the engine. That location might also help to keep rain water out of the intake more than one mounted on the side corner. FT may have relocated it in the new models in order to accomodate something else as well as improve the air flow. Someone several years ago cut a hole in the top rear cap and mounted some air scoops that looked like funnels on a ship. It's in the archieves and includes pictures if you can find it.
Here are the photos from Bob Pete's Ram Air Modification.
I am not interested in creating some monster looking critter with horns.
The purpose of the side intake was covered in the first posting.
The cost effectiveness is not an issue.
If I never looked at the air filter, I would not care either but the air filter does get dirty much faster with the origional top center air intake vs the newer side intake. Foretravel changed the air intake for some reason I would think
FWIW
I would bet that the ISX needed something less restrictive, and its far easier to incorporate a production change like that across the board. I'll never forget looking at the Phenix engine bay with the ISX side by side with the Nimbus ISM - one may not imagine an ISM being dinky, but it sure looked that way. There was near 2 foot of room from the top of the engine to the roof of the bay.
Dave M,
Let's assume the side intake would pull in less dirt. I really haven't had a problem with dirty air filters, even after some driving on a dirt road. I did replace the air filter once which looked dirty, but was ok according to the filter minder. Didn't notice any change afterward in the filter minder (yes I reset it) or in the mpg. If the side intake would improve air flow to the engine, there should be a gain in mpg, although it might not be enough to notice IMO. The only thing that I have done so far that improves mpg is to make sure that I drive with the transmission in the econ mode almost all the time. I too am not interested in putting ram air horns on the roof. If you decide to put in a side air intake, let us know how it works out.
Just found this topic and is about the same one I decided to change. My article on the rear intake although not as fancy as maybe some would want , does actually address this problem and for a heck of a lot less than 3k. It can be changed somewhat to suit personnal tastes I am sure. I gather it depends on where you drive or live as to how dirty your filter gets. When at the factory last Nov I asked one of the service guys about how most air filters look and he told me it was common to see leaves,fine twigs etc etc stuck to the filter (just like a rats nest) and that was what mine looked like on opening it for the first time. Now, no matter were I drive it is clear and just a fine mist of dust on it.
Maybe all it needs it to make it look as though it was original equipt. I am happy and spent that 3k on solar panels etc instead.
How many of us ever seen our air filter minder change? I wouldn't think any design changes would be cost effective unless we have to change our $100 air filters often.
Frankly Brett, I'm beginning to wonder if the darn thing works. Mine hasn't moved in seven years...it's been changed three times, though.
Maybe there's leak somewhere in my system? I presume the connection is from the clean side of the filter intake?
In the year we have had our coach with C8.3 engine, I've not seen the filter minder move. I asked FOT to check it in January, and I assume they did.
I do have a boost gauge and we frequently see boost over 20 psi. The engine appears to be getting plenty of air with the stock system. I like Haygarth's visor that diverts debris and can shield a camera.
My filter gauge has never moved either, even when I can shake 2 lb of dirt out of it, that amounts to approx. 3 cu in in volume.
Recommend everyone do what they like, and consider the guys who are concerned as too far gone to communicate with ;D
I realise everyone has their own idea but I look at it as doing something that is worth the same as a bottle of good wine and MAY just save your Turbo or engine, as being a far better investment than a $30000 paint job that does not change how the coach runs or protects it, but makes us feel better on how it looks . Everyone has their priorities I guess, and thats good.
It is very easy to check the filter minder with a vacuum pump.
Its easy to verify that the filter minder works, pull the tubing off at the filter housing, suck on the tube and watch the yellow ( yeller ) part move. OK, Sucking may get some more comments, but I am sure that everyone here has been a sucker at some time. :D
One of the things I do not understand is why anyone would want a forward facing air scoop. I would think that in a rain storm you would suck in a lot of water. We all know that engines do not run well on water and if there is enough then it destroys the engine as water does not compress.
Remember that there's a water drain in the bottom of the air filter canister. It's good to check it once in a while to make sure it hasn't aged and fallen out.