Eagle1
03-08-2004, 11:35 PM
One of the issues we have with the ATI Procharger centrifugal supercharger unit is that it is mounted so close to the radiator and a/c line that there is no room for a conventional air intake filter. All that is present is a wire mesh, which has a rather substantial gauge....so substantial that bits of honey bee, leaf, or grit may easily pass through.
The conundrum has been to come up with a reasonably effective filter element that can slip over the intake, effectively keep out the grit and gunk, and not impair air flow when the beastie begins to gulp air.
I have tried adapting the K&N Drycharger synthetic fabric element, and it works pretty well. The mesh is fine, but still allows for good air flow. It traps lots of stuff. The disadvantage is that over time the oil from the blow off tube gunks up the mesh, and it begins to starve the blower of air under high boost requirements. It is such a gradually growing problem that it is not really possible to notice it until you start accelerating and suddenly....gag, your horsepower suddenly flattens out its climb. To keep that from happening it is necessary to remove and clean or replace the little element on a regular basis. It is easy to do, and cheap insurance against having Mr. Moth take a one way journey through your impeller blades. The pictures show how much crud is caught that otherwise would go down the pipe on your expensive unit, adding to blade wear and reducing efficiencies and power over time.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287489403"><IMG (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287489403) SRC="http://www.imagestation.com/images/is/community/this_album_button.gif
The conundrum has been to come up with a reasonably effective filter element that can slip over the intake, effectively keep out the grit and gunk, and not impair air flow when the beastie begins to gulp air.
I have tried adapting the K&N Drycharger synthetic fabric element, and it works pretty well. The mesh is fine, but still allows for good air flow. It traps lots of stuff. The disadvantage is that over time the oil from the blow off tube gunks up the mesh, and it begins to starve the blower of air under high boost requirements. It is such a gradually growing problem that it is not really possible to notice it until you start accelerating and suddenly....gag, your horsepower suddenly flattens out its climb. To keep that from happening it is necessary to remove and clean or replace the little element on a regular basis. It is easy to do, and cheap insurance against having Mr. Moth take a one way journey through your impeller blades. The pictures show how much crud is caught that otherwise would go down the pipe on your expensive unit, adding to blade wear and reducing efficiencies and power over time.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287489403"><IMG (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287489403) SRC="http://www.imagestation.com/images/is/community/this_album_button.gif