Need help with air intake system for testarossa

Currently, I am in the process of replacing my testarossa's rear decklid with the 512TR type. However, the 512TR engine is a different engine with the manifold being a little closer together and it sits slightly lower than the testarossa. So when my mechanic installed the new decklid, there was a horrific 3 inch gap right at the end!!! To circumvent this, he had to cut out a portion of the inner sheet of aluminium. This allows the lid to be shut but the air box had to be removed. So right now, I am trying to come up with a completely new air intake system which includes new air box/es (likely to be a dual air box system similar to those found in the 512, 355, 456/550/575), air hoses and air intake.

After surveying the engine compartment, I have identified a couple problem areas:

1) Where do I draw cold air from? Unlike the 512s, I believe cold air is taken from the side vents. Even if I somehow manage to find a way (quite unlikely) to run the hoses to the side vents, the air will be warm due to the radiators. I've thought about placing the intakes behind the right behind the rear bumper, but the air is likely to be of poor quality.

2) Where to put the air boxes? The water tank located on the left in the testarossa makes it difficult to position an air box there comfortably.

I am trying to get hold of a pair of 550 air boxes from one F-chat guy here and I'm not sure if it'll work. But I don't really have a choice. Altenatively, can anyone recommend other possible air boxes? I had wanted it to be in CF but can't seemed to locate any on the net. Perhaps someone here is knowledgeable enough to point me to the right direction.

Also, need some expert advice from anyone here as to how I should design this whole thing from scratch. My mechanic is good at fixing stuff but not designing.

Please throw out as many ideas as you can. Any idea is greatly appreciated considering I am quite challenged in this aspect.

thanks,
tuck

 

I was planning to, just didn't quite get round to do it. Will take some pictures tomorrow and post them

 

I will likely take air from the top of the flat portion as it's difficult to route air hoses all the way to the side intakes. Doesn't seem to have a passable route.

 

haha... thanks for the idea. But unlikely. I think this method looks good for older car but not the TR. Maybe because of the clean lines and wedge look, the potrusion will probably look quite out of place

 

That's actually a great idea but I'm converting the TR to 512M, so things sticking out is not what I am looking for. I guess this answers your question that it's for looks more than necessity. I really like the M look. Some may think I'm nuts but who cares, at the end of the day, I'm happy. I will show you guys the final product when it's completed in about 1 month's time.

Rain is not a big problem for the snorkel style scoops as long as at some point before it reaches the manifolds, there is a 'detour' (not sure if this is a right word) like a U-turn for the water to pass out.

 

you're right about the legitimate engineering issues. If I could, I wouldn't. But it was something that I had overlooked before I embarked on the project. Fortunately, this modification is quite minor so it's acceptable to me. I don't think performance will be affected as well if it's done tastefully and properly.

What running issues were you referring to?

 

Speedman, I know where you are coming from. This is a 512M conversion project which I happen to like a lot. Besides, when I purchased it 3 years back, there was a slight modification to the front and rear bumpers to the part M look. Then I was deciding between the TR and a 348. In fact I almost bought the pristine 1 owner 348, but decided to get the TR instead because of the massive size and updated look. It somehow looked more modern with the M parts. Along the way, I decided that I didn't want it to look neither here nor there, that's why I'm doing this. In my country, 512M and the TR costs around USD300K and USD100K respectively. And there are only 2 (I think) existing M here. That's why the conversion is a good alternative. Well... I will worry about the selling problem 20 years down the road, I guess. But thanks for your advice, I am also a stock kinda guy, but since it wasn't stock to begin with, what the heck....

 

ssshhhh.

 

Agree with the long down time. But isn't cosmetics part of the reason why we buy a ferrari?

 

some pictures of the work done. At the moment, my mechanic has built a prototype air filter box. Cold Air will still be taken from the middle and split into 2 separate boxes. The air will then travel upwards pass the filters into 2 hoses towards the manifolds. This method prevents water from going into the manifolds as water will leave the filter boxes at the bottom whereas the air will flow up.

Any ideas to improve this functionally as well as to make it look nicer?

Currently, the boxes are bolt onto the engine. Is this a good idea? Or is the engine frame a better bet?

If this is a decent idea, it will likely be made from CF for both weight and looks.

I have included some pictures of the front as well.
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