08-01-2007, 03:55 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Texarkana, Texas
Posts: 959
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Air Intake Mesh
Here are some photos of the air inlet vents covered with screen mesh on my 2000 Boxster S. I did some searches to see if others had done this, but came up empty handed. So I thought I’d at least share what I’ve done. I just worked and formed some screen material ($18 for a big roll at Home Depot, galvanized steel) directly over the side vent louvers. Since the louvers are a part of the mounting of the cover it would have required some significant modification of the mounting to install the vents without the louvers in place.
I know this might be too restrictive, but I like the look and I’ve got the air box desnorkeled and a K&N air filter in the stock air box, so maybe that will make up for it a little. I also hope to put a ram air style scoop on the inlet later to again help compensate for any restriction from the wire mesh.
I’m not driving my Boxster right now (broken foot), so any impact on performance won’t be evaluated for another two months. If there is an impact, then I’ll just take the louvers out and modify the side vent to mount without them. I doubt the wire mesh will be any less restrictive than the louvers on the air inlet side as those louvers block the bottom third of the opening.
Meanwhile I’ve used the same screen mesh on the front bumper grills and it looks pretty good. I removed the radiator shrouds first and thoroughly cleaned the radiators and straightened bent fins as much as possible. This fine mesh will certainly keep the front radiators much cleaner, but again I’ll have to wait a bit to see what impact it has on engine temperature.
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08-01-2007, 04:03 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Where the Sewer Meets the Sea, CA. USA
Posts: 2,695
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Wonder if there is mesh on her intake 
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08-02-2007, 08:01 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Texarkana, Texas
Posts: 959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by NickCats
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I used the same $18 roll of wire mesh that I got from Home Depot to make covers for the grills on the front bumper too. It was actually easier to do those grills than the side vents as there is less forming and molding of the wire required.
What I did was first I took off the front bumper. It's pretty easy and if you do a search you'll find a DIY article on the bumper removal. I then removed the left and right grills. They simply pop off to the rear. The center opening on the S model doesn't have a grill that needs to be removed. I then formed the wire mesh to fit into the holes and held it in place on the edges with zip ties. There are some holes left by tabs from where the grills insert. I just used these holes for the zip tie attachments.
Since the center opening on the S model doesn't have a grill covering, there are no holes to zip tie to. However, there's kind of an inner lip to the opening (which you can see) and an outer lip (on the inside of the bumper) which you can't see. I just made the mesh go over the whole thing and then used screws to hold the mesh to the outer lip. This meant making some holes in my bumper, but they can't be seen from the outside and I can always remove the mesh and put it back to 100% stock later - the holes won't be visible.
The front bumper mesh isn't perfect if you look at it within one foot. But standing up and looking down at it, it's just fine. I personally like the look.
I'll get some pictures later. I test fit the bumper and it will go back on fine. I'm just working on another project right now to put air horns under the bumper cover while I have it off.
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08-02-2007, 08:42 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 7,243
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I'm a little skiddish on putting mesh this fine on the intake and in front of the radiators. The other stuff I've seen has far larger holes, allowing more airflow.
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04-19-2009, 01:45 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kirk
I used the same $18 roll of wire mesh that I got from Home Depot to make covers for the grills on the front bumper too. It was actually easier to do those grills than the side vents as there is less forming and molding of the wire required.
What I did was first I took off the front bumper. It's pretty easy and if you do a search you'll find a DIY article on the bumper removal. I then removed the left and right grills. They simply pop off to the rear. The center opening on the S model doesn't have a grill that needs to be removed. I then formed the wire mesh to fit into the holes and held it in place on the edges with zip ties. There are some holes left by tabs from where the grills insert. I just used these holes for the zip tie attachments.
Since the center opening on the S model doesn't have a grill covering, there are no holes to zip tie to. However, there's kind of an inner lip to the opening (which you can see) and an outer lip (on the inside of the bumper) which you can't see. I just made the mesh go over the whole thing and then used screws to hold the mesh to the outer lip. This meant making some holes in my bumper, but they can't be seen from the outside and I can always remove the mesh and put it back to 100% stock later - the holes won't be visible.
The front bumper mesh isn't perfect if you look at it within one foot. But standing up and looking down at it, it's just fine. I personally like the look.
I'll get some pictures later. I test fit the bumper and it will go back on fine. I'm just working on another project right now to put air horns under the bumper cover while I have it off.
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Kirk -- do you have any pics of the front grill mesh? I'm really interested in seeing them as I'm wanting to do the same for my 05 Boxster
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04-20-2009, 07:48 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Texarkana, Texas
Posts: 959
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Mesh pic
Here's an old picture I dug up of the mesh on my stock bumper. I'm running a GT3 front bumper now, so I don't have any current pictures.
Kirk
__________________
2000 Boxster S - Gemballa body kit, GT3 front bumper, JRZ coilovers, lower stress bars
2003 911 Carrera 4S - TechArt body kit, TechArt coilovers, HRE wheels
1986 911 Carrera Targa - 3.2L, Euro pistons, 964 cams, steel slant nose widebody
1975 911S Targa - undergoing a full restoration and engine rebuild
Also In The Garage - '66 912, '69 912, '72 914 Chalon wide body, '73 914
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