Clio 172 'In Line' air filter

[Ricardo]

Was having a think today about doing away with the air filter that's in the engine bay as it's probably soaking up the heat. I don't know if the air box has to be a specific size for volume of air but i'll run the idea i have in mind.

I'm looking at moving the battery inside the car but that's another question, so in moving the battery it will give me more room in the bay to put an air box in place.

My proposed plan is to use a GTT cylindrical airbox and fabricate each end to allow a flexi pipe to attach to each end. 1 end will attach to the inlet, the other will run down towards the foglight duct. So will the GTT filter box be too small? I ask as there are CDA carbon canisters out on the market that look the same size, and the air filter on the car now looks about the same diameter.

Silly idea??

[Penfold aka The Dealer]

It was always an Idea of mine to go down the same route...

Anything has to be better than the halfords air cone on there atm...

[Ricardo]

The air filter's not been a problem but know there's a better option. I've just copy and pasted this from Demon Tweeks about the BMC CDA:

Type 2: Recommended for engine over 1600cc. Outlets 70, 85mm. Length 200mm

[James George]

You not still got the original 172 air box, phase 1 had a lovely big round one as standard which was alot like the 5 GT one. Think cup race cars used the standard unit stuck straight on end of throttle body with the battery relocated.

[Nayls]

could you not just make a battery tray & mount it where the air filter is now? and then obviously the filter where the battery is now?

[Brigsy]

O.e renault V6 airbox (off an espace i think?) looks like a good mod for the 172..battery needs moving like.

[Ricardo]

You not still got the original 172 air box, phase 1 had a lovely big round one as standard which was alot like the 5 GT one. Think cup race cars used the standard unit stuck straight on end of throttle body with the battery relocated.

I don't have the OE box, it came with the air filter in the photo. Didn't the Clio cup cars use the V6 air box? I think a copy of the BMC with flexi pipe should work

[James George]

I don't have the OE box, it came with the air filter in the photo. Didn't the Clio cup cars use the V6 air box? I think a copy of the BMC with flexi pipe should work

The early cup racers had a large oe air box stuffed directly onto the throttle body, (was it V6 or 172? not sure, they are i believe pretty much the same, just different in that phase 1 has 2 small air feeds versus one much larger one on V6, same air filter size etc (source 2 buckets so will stand corrected). The later cup racers used a cone filter on length of pipe behind a panel. Andrew Cooke posted ren info sheet on this on Cliosport. Also found that Espace air box same as V6!

Have also seen battery relocated on 172 behind scuttle panel.

Pic nicked from 2 buckets of V6 air Box not quite cup racer setup

[Ricardo]

Thanks for the info, battery in the scuttle is something I'll look into.

[Adey aka Ewok]

Isnt air from the fog light duct very close to the Tarmac? And that's where the air would be at it's hottest on a sunny day?

[Ricardo]

Isnt air from the fog light duct very close to the Tarmac? And that's where the air would be at it's hottest on a sunny day?

While on the move at speed? The foglights will have ducting running to the brakes, I'll tee into the passenger side ducting with the flexi pipe. Or I'll run it somewhere else, I'll have a look in the engine bay this weekend

[Tony Walker]

The espace had a similar thing till england went through a pretty wet year and hydraulic'd lots of engines, renaults fix was to drill a hole at the top of the hose leading down so that water wouldnt be drawn up, i would adv u do that. or one day ull find a bit of a puddle will end up in

Also the phase 2 v6 air filter box seems to be a common upgrade for its baby brothers. most v6 owners fit a viper box tho as the airfilter replacement for said box is vvvvvvvvvv expensive. i think around £140? lol we have found another that fits but hasnt quite got the same surface area. but around £120 cheaper

[Matt@CodeRedMotorsports]

Code-Red style...?
Basically Maxi Clio copy.

[HAndy]

renault 21 turbo also shares the same airbox as shown above ,so does the r25 turbo, thats where i sourced mine from couldnt find the part number or if there still available through renault but the kn/jr cotton gauze air filters fit in them quite nicely with a 1/2 "foam circle placed in the bottom of the airbox

[Sam Fish]

My dad made this about 6 years ago. It picks up air from the lower opening and directs it to an ITG filter which fits on the other end. It is as large as possible without having to cut anything. It really is a tight fit! It scoops a large volume of air.
He developed it with ITG and they nodded with approval apparently. It has seen a rolling road with good gains.
Im finishing it off and using it as a plug to make some moulds (5 in total!).

Hoping to get one made in fibreglass/carbon soon