Intake, Spark Plugs, Wipers, and Blower Hose
Today I embarked on a string of small projects for the SM.
First (and most exciting) was my “cheap-ass Intake” project. I had raided Home Depot on two occasions to stock up on tubes, adapters, and flanges so that I could build an air intake system for the car. I had ordered a K&N Filter with a 3″ inlet, and I knew that the Miata’s air meter inlet was a 2″ square. So my efforts were focused on this transition.
I spent most of my time in the plumbing aisle, where 2″ and 3″ ABS pipe was plentiful. However, once I got the 3″ pipe home, I realized that 3″ was the inside diameter, not the outside. The K&N filter would not slip over it. A 2 1/2″ pipe would have been perfect, but I couldn’t find any of that.
My wanderings brought me to the aisle with the gutter supplies. I was in search of the perfect flange, so that my creation could bolt up to the 4 studs that were at each corner of the 2″ inlet. I picked up what was to become the heart of the most beautiful and cheap Spec Miata intake system to date.
It was the flange that allows the downspout to connect to the gutter. Home Depot calls it an “Endpiece” (Item 049821150105, $4.31). It seemed that it just might work.
I got it all home, and decided to work out the “endpiece”. I cut the flange part out, leaving enough sheetmetal around it to still attach the screws. The opening in the flange was nearly a perfect match for the airflow meter inlet. So I drilled holes for the bolts, and voila — it went together almost perfectly. My filter with the 3″ opening was a little loose, so I wrapped several layers of duct tape around the metal flange to make it thicker. A K&N Filter with a 2 1/2″ opening would have been perfect.
So $32 for the filter, and $4 for the flange to connect it to the motor. I like it!
I also installed new Denso IK20 Iridium spark plugs, an accordion hose to connect the blower motor to the heater core (takes the place of the A/C condenser), and repainted the windshield wiper arms. Almost there…