after removing the original air box and installing a k&n filter, there are still two opening tubes on both left and right sides of the filter ... Is air being sucked in through these pipes? they are just wide open without anyfilter or anything, - they used to be connected to the air box but now they are just wiide open ready for anything to be sucked in.... im wondering what i should do with these , thanks a lot to rizz for answering all my questions... im a new comer with my mind wide open trying to learn all i can about my new car, i love it. thanks

 

It's supposed to be like that. I have the jwt popcharger and it's the same way. You'll be just fine. I don't believe those holes are sucking in air anymore and if they are, it still won't harm your motor. I don't know all the details of it except that it's supposed to be like that and it won't hurt your motor.

 

I found this. I believe that those two holes on either side could be explained by this article...read it all the way through..not very long.
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_1969/article.html

 

The holes that you're talking about are the original air inlets. They serve no purpose now since you have the cone filter. The majority of the air will now be sucked up from under the K&N air filter. You don't need to plug the holes. Your work is done. Relax and have a beer!

 

Do you guys think that they are expansion chambers as discussed in the article...to make it quieter? I think it's very possible.

 

To make it quieter?
The intake is at the very front of the car. Is your car 'noisier' now that you've changed the filter? I couldn't hear the difference between the new and old filter systems.
If you noticed that most of the engines that were discussed in the article were either 4cylinder or engines that basically had a 'short ram' style of intake, where the whole intake and filter system was located under the hood in close proximity to the engine. The Z has about 3.5 feet of piping leading to the intake plenum from the filter in an n/a. Twice that in a TT.
I don't think that the Z is susceptible to the conditions described in the article because of this.

 

then why are those chambers there?

 

 

ive read up on that website about resonators and all that..... still teh resonators are before the air filter, i still dont see why there would be open piping with any potential to to plenum... seems like this would just let in dirty air..... hmmmm, i guess you know more about this than i do, just putting some common thoughts into this, thanks for the feedback and links

 

Wait wait wait...What? What resonators are you talking about before the arfilter? If Your filter is installed correctly, then there is no way for dirty air to get in to the plenum. Try this. With the engine running, put your hand over the holes and rev the engine. Feel any suction? If so, then you did something wrong when installing the filter. I can't imagine how though. I just want to make sure that you're describing the right holes.

 

the air inlets im talking about are on the left and right side of the cone filter.. the inlets are oval shaped and just seem like the engine would be pulling air through...i put my hand over and ruved the engine, no sucking happend, but it still seems like air would float or get up into the engine somehow...... maybe..?? i dunno..., you probly know though, haha

 

I know which areas you are talking about. I'm not sure the details, but they're the way they should be. The air should be sucking in through the cone filter and not through those raeas. You should be fine.

 

The air inlets (that are unused after installing an aftermarket pop charge air filter), are the original ducting that brings outside air into the original airbox air filter. Their function now is simply clutter and they serve no purpose.

Not too many people remove them, as they are a pain in the butt and they are unseen, until the hood panel is removed.

Stick with 91ZXTT's advice. relax and have a beer !