To shield or not to shield?????

[Mark302]

I just put a K and N on our 2003 cobra. It is just an open filter but I am really undecided on if I should make a nice shield fo it or not. The fast guys have no shield??? ALL opinions wanted!!! Thanks.

[Greg@GLD]

Don't most of the "fast guys" run the CAI-style? In all the years I have been around this hobby, having underhood air get into the motor has always been a no-no.

When you go racing, you can pop out that passenger side headlamp in seconds though, so you'll have cool air getting right to the K/N. Do you know how to work the "quick release" headlamps Mark?

[Jesse James]

Performance wise no gains whatsoever with the shield. Like Greg mentioned though, and from my experience, the fan wash from the radiator fans without a shield will increase your air intake temps, especially if you're stuck in traffic in the summer. You'll see the heat waves comming out of the vents on the hood!!

[Mark302]

Thanks for the responses guys! What do you run on your car James?

Nitrous Pete, Jim D'Amor(sp) and some of the Strictly employees run just an open filter That is what confuses me.

[Greg@GLD]

How much street driving do they do? Cjeck your PM's Mark...

[Jesse James]

Mark,
Is the K&N an open ended style or does it have the black rubber end with K&N on it?

It's been a while since I was in the 03-04 Cobra stuff. The guys you mentioned were running the S&B style filter from various sources but it had a reverse conical end. I tried both, better performance and power from the S&B style although minimal. The S&B will act like a CAI with the headlight removed, but very little difference under hood. The plastic style shield may not look as good as some of the billet ones out there, but again "heatsoak" is somewhat of an issue and the plastic will do just fine.
Hope this helps. This is just from "my experience and opinion" and certainly may be argued by more than a few.

[Fatstang]

I run an open filter under the hood, i fabbed up a shield, but noticed nothing with and without it.

[Mark302]

Thanks Steve!

[Mark302]

Mark,
Is the K&N an open ended style or does it have the black rubber end with K&N on it?

It's been a while since I was in the 03-04 Cobra stuff. The guys you mentioned were running the S&B style filter from various sources but it had a reverse conical end. I tried both, better performance and power from the S&B style although minimal. The S&B will act like a CAI with the headlight removed, but very little difference under hood. The plastic style shield may not look as good as some of the billet ones out there, but again "heatsoak" is somewhat of an issue and the plastic will do just fine.
Hope this helps. This is just from "my experience and opinion" and certainly may be argued by more than a few.

That is the kind of filter I am using also. Thanks for the info!

[ponyride00]

My buddy at work runs a UPR cold air kit and loves it.

[Mark302]

I had considered the UPR but everyone claims that you should not put any sort of bend before the mass air???

[SuperSonic]

The underhood temps of the supercharged cobras get pretty high thanks to the Heaton blower, so I would shield it as much as possible for every day driving. Do the hood vent modification by opening those vents up as much as possible, that lets lots more hot air out from under the hood. I use a drop in K&N in the factory airbox with the snorkel thingy removed.

[Mark302]

I will probily have something made. Thanks!

[dufkis]

I will probily have something made. Thanks!

I'm sure u coudl fab something up, I've seen u and ur bro fab up heat shields at the track, and turn out looking real good and fitting well.

[ChargedBlack03]

I run a densecharger in the fender and I really like it.

[Mark302]

I'm sure u coudl fab something up, I've seen u and ur bro fab up heat shields at the track, and turn out looking real good and fitting well.

That was funny!!! :rockon:

[mattsnake]

I run the K&N FIPK with the shield around it and it seems to work good. I also opened up the hood vents and you can actually see the heat rise out of them.

[NMRA7251]

I run a densecharger in the fender and I really like it.
It's a great CAI. PITA to get in, but works great. Pete got me one for my car too. Love having the filter in the fender instead of under the hood. Looks better too.