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TJ
TJ New Reader
9/18/08 8:02 p.m.

So I've been running a pipercross foam air filter on my mini and over the last couple years the foam has deteriorated more and more. I finally ordered a nice new K&N cone filter, but it won't be here until the day after my next autocross so I took matters into my own hands.

This solution cost me around $3 at Lowes. I bought a foam shop vac filter cover and cut it down and RTV'ed onto the frame. Not the best filtration, but I fugure it's better than no filter.

So is this grassroots, ghetto, or something else?

MrJoshua
MrJoshua SuperDork
9/18/08 8:16 p.m.

Just be careful it doesnt cook and crumble. I think there was a popular brand for second gen RX7s that did that.

TJ
TJ New Reader
9/18/08 8:25 p.m.

I only plan on using it for one day. About 30 miles to the autocross the autocross, and the 30 miles back home. My new filter should arrive the following day.

Stargazer
Stargazer HalfDork
9/18/08 8:57 p.m.

I dunno, I'd personally feel better with the stocker for a day. Air filter is one of the things I won't skimp on.

TJ
TJ New Reader
9/18/08 9:06 p.m.

This is all I have. The foam is pretty open - it won't stop much dust, but it will keep anything big from getting sucked in.

As a long term solution this is no good, but I am going to use this weekend and hope for the best.

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
9/18/08 9:25 p.m.

What is the risk of no filter for a couple of runs vs. sucking in the entire makeshift one?

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
9/18/08 10:05 p.m.

I remember running an aircooled beetle for 20,000 miles with no filter.. didn't seem to harm the car much

DrBoost
DrBoost Reader
9/18/08 10:33 p.m.

Yeah, I think I'd rather run filter less than risk that thing coming apart. One little backfire and that thing is going to melt and crumble. I wish you the best though, and that is some waaaay cool ghetto-fab stuff there

foxtrapper
foxtrapper SuperDork
9/19/08 7:25 a.m.

I was a strong believer in filters, until I encountered the world of outboard motors, which don't run any.

Good case in point, my wifes motor. Decades old now, god knows how many thousands of hours of use on rivers right beside farm fields of blowing dust and dirt.

I still tend to run filters, but I'm no longer so frantically obsessed and worried about it.

TJ
TJ New Reader
9/19/08 7:46 a.m.

I didn't think about a back fire - my car doesn't normally back fire- I have the other half of the foam - I will burn it for the sake of science and see how easy it burns.

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand Dork
9/19/08 8:00 a.m.

Looks pretty good. I'd say closer to grassroots than ghetto

Oh and speaking of shop vac filters, my sammy actually uses a shop vac filter! I didn't even realize until I saw one in a store the other day.

John Brown
John Brown GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
9/19/08 10:11 a.m.

Has anyone (else) used HVAC furnace weave to make an emergency air filter?

NYG95GA
NYG95GA Dork
9/19/08 10:15 a.m.

I think the difference between grasssroots and ghetto is a very thin line. Exploring this line would make for a great (and very long) thread!

Twin_Cam
Twin_Cam Dork
9/19/08 10:19 a.m.

I used a piece of t-shirt stretched over the throttle body and rubber-banded on once. Only for about 20 miles. Made blipping the throttle sound REALLY cool.

I don't think you'll have a problem without a filter for a few hours.

16vCorey
16vCorey Dork
9/19/08 10:28 a.m.
NYG95GA wrote: I think the difference between grasssroots and ghetto is a *very* thin line. Exploring this line would make for a great (and very long) thread!

Participating in the $200X Challenge is exploring the E36 M3 out of that line.

NYG95GA
NYG95GA Dork
9/19/08 10:59 a.m.
16vCorey wrote:
NYG95GA wrote: I think the difference between grasssroots and ghetto is a *very* thin line. Exploring this line would make for a great (and very long) thread!
Participating in the $200X Challenge is exploring the E36 M3 out of that line.

Excellent point!

John Brown
John Brown GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
9/19/08 11:06 a.m.

Why is it that no one has asked the OP about his Barbie brand retaining clamps?

bluej
bluej HalfDork
9/19/08 12:26 p.m.
John Brown wrote: Why is it that no one has asked the OP about his Barbie brand retaining clamps?

because ultimate grassroots is stealing parts of your daughter's toys to fix your own toys.

aircooled
aircooled Dork
9/19/08 12:30 p.m.
mad_machine wrote: I remember running an aircooled beetle for 20,000 miles with no filter.. didn't seem to harm the car much

Rear engined cars barely need filters at all. Because of the airflow path there is very little chance of anything of any mass getting to the carb. An air filters on a Corvairs last FOREVER.

Lugnut
Lugnut Reader
9/19/08 12:47 p.m.
mad_machine wrote: I remember running an aircooled beetle for 20,000 miles with no filter.. didn't seem to harm the car much

Yeah but then again, I seem to remember running an aircooled Beetle without oil for 20,000 miles. That didn't harm the car much, either!

Jensenman
Jensenman SuperDork
9/19/08 2:11 p.m.
Lugnut wrote:
mad_machine wrote: I remember running an aircooled beetle for 20,000 miles with no filter.. didn't seem to harm the car much
Yeah but then again, I seem to remember running an aircooled Beetle without oil for 20,000 miles. That didn't harm the car much, either!

When you the engine's internal clearances are measured with a ruler, there's not much damage that a grain of dirt can do.

TJ
TJ New Reader
9/19/08 7:13 p.m.

I don't have a daughter and those are not Barbie clips at all...they are genuine Harbor Freight micro clamps!

HF link

I took the clips off today - it seems the black RTV made a good enough seal. The air filter on a Mini points smack dab into the firewall so not much to get sucked in but air, but unless my burn test scares me, I'm going to run this Sunday instead of no filter at all.

mw
mw New Reader
9/19/08 7:33 p.m.

Steal some of you wife's/mom's panty hose. I've use them before and they make a decent filter. You can decide on the size of filter by stretching it more or less

NYG95GA
NYG95GA Dork
9/19/08 10:36 p.m.

Ahh, the old pantyhose air filter trick (makes a fair fan belt, too).. grassroots gold!

Wally
Wally GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
9/20/08 7:53 a.m.
foxtrapper wrote: Good case in point, my wifes motor. Decades old now, god knows how many thousands of hours of use on rivers right beside farm fields of blowing dust and dirt.

If my wife was motorized, I'd spend a couple bucks on a filter. Pay a little now, or get stuck doing the dishes yourself later.

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