Panda 2012+ Panda 312 Cross, Full Build Story

[gar074]

Watching this thread with great interest

 

[A3jeroen]

Doesn't it have a cold air intake from the factory?

gr J

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Doesn't it have a cold air intake from the factory?

gr J

I wondered that. The air intake is from just alongside the near side (in the U.K.) headlight, direct from outside so not warmed in any way. Also, as the OP’s car is a TwinAir, there’s also an intercooler on the turbo.

 

[A3jeroen]

I'm always afraid that people buy an expensive mushroom filter that sucks hot air and ruìns performance when they say they're gonna upgrade to a cold air intake...

gr J

 

[The Pretender]

Doesn't it have a cold air intake from the factory?

gr J

Not really, just a snorkel in front of the battery.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Not really, just a snorkel in front of the battery.

Yea, but that’s drawing cold air in from ahead of the car. Although the filter sits on top of the engine, all the air going through it comes through that ‘snorkel’. Each revolution of the engine draws 0.45 litres of air (the volume of one cylinder of the 0.9 litre engine). So at 1500 rpm that’s pulling nearly 700 litres of air through the filter every minute. That means the air in the filter box will never get a chance to become warmed by the engine? Conversely, if instead that air is drawn from the back of the engine bay it will be warmer than air from the front of the car owing to all the ‘hot stuff’ under the bonnet (Unless the plan is to cut a hole in the bonnet?)

 

[The Pretender]

As long driving the car will provide cold air, but in Stop and Go traffic it will draws warm/hot air from the engine bay.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

As long driving the car will provide cold air, but in Stop and Go traffic it will draws warm/hot air from the engine bay.

Fair comment - but then so would an intake at the back of the bonnet — I’d say more so in fact?

 

[chris3234]

How would the engine suck cold air from the back of the engine?

 

[DaveMcT]

Performance is irrelevant in stop-go traffic. However, warmer incoming air (due to engine heat-soaking the airbox) would actually improve fuel consumption so what's not to like?

 

[A3jeroen]

Less oxygen means less fuel (lambdasensor) and a smaller bang...

gr J

 

[SaltyBill]

I'm always afraid that people buy an expensive mushroom filter that sucks hot air and ruìns performance when they say they're gonna upgrade to a cold air intake...

gr J

I thought the same , but ALL factory intakes are restrictive. My Tuner's first recommendation is a pod filter, with a larger diameter intake. The twin air connects a 70mm pipe to a inbuilt filter housing that sits on the engine bay, this then funnels to the front of the car with a tiny 50mm pipe. The Italian tuner near me said this is the first thing to replace. ( i prefer to trust the professionals with actual dyno results ). I then have the option for increased turbo impeller, Downpipe ( unrestricted) full exhaust, and he said i can reach 130hp. Anyway i love the sound of the intake with a short run pod filter.

 

[SaltyBill]

I ended up moving the water resevoir back to oem. I just used one 45 degree 70mm diameter tubing. and a 70mm ram air filter. It fit snug as a bug. Sounds amazing. Next week a few more parts will arrive. I hope to have it at the tuners in a few weeks. i am still undecided Whether i upgrade the turbo and install a downpipe..

 

[SaltyBill]

here is a video after install.

 

[atronic]

here is a video after install.

Im glad I already have my Fiesta for whooshy noises otherwise I would be doing this.
Have you fitted a duct at all from the front bumper area? Cool to see someone try this regardless of power loss/gain.

 

[SaltyBill]

Im glad I already have my Fiesta for whooshy noises otherwise I would be doing this.
Have you fitted a duct at all from the front bumper area? Cool to see someone try this regardless of power loss/gain.

i was thinking to try find some flexi tube and run it through to the side of the intercooler. Maybe i might give it a try.

 

[SaltyBill]

Installed the LED' headlights. I had to readjust the headlight beam using the 6mm hex screws behind the light fittings. I took it for a drive yesterday night. Amazing difference, the OEM headlights are horrible.

 

[SaltyBill]

I have ordered the Suspension spacer kit and wheel spacers. they should arrive next week. My Cooper discovery tyres should arrive next week also... its going to look awesome.. I searched online for a hew panda cross with the same size tyres.. I noticed that the rear and front side plastics had to be cut allitle so the tyres fit... Lets see what happens.. i am sure i have to modify as the tyres i am purchasing are massive....Very excited
tyres ive purchased are
4 x Cooper Discoverer A / T3 Sport 2 215/80 R15 102T 3PMSF
wish me luck

 

[Bigbananafeet]

I'm enjoying this thread. I've got the exact same car, even the same colour! I've thought about a remap and maybe improve the headlights with better bulbs too.

Can I ask what bulbs those are and are they road legal? Any before after shots of the beam pattern? Also keen to hear your thoughts on remap drivability and performance once you've had it. There's no "real world" info out there that I can find for twin air remaps on a panda.

When my warranty is up mine might be well be going for a visit to the tuner that looked after my old Focus ST500.