Coating my Fujita intake tube...possibly wrinkle black?
 

I considered coating my intake tube with a wrinkle coat due to the nature of the wrinkle adds new raised surfaces and more surface area...which helps aid in cooling. Problem is when painting the tube this helps insulate the tube and the already hot engine bay air...so its a catch-22. I'm trying to think of ways to maximize cooling while on a budget. I've seen foil-looking tube wraps, but the cost doesn't justify it.

Another route I've been thinking about is making a custom cold air scoop throwing colder outside-engine-bay-air into a modified stock heat shield or "box". Problem is the OE sheet metal below the existing air box...hmmmmmmm.

Am I on the right path in coating my polished intake tube here or should I leave it all Nat-Ur-Al?

Also, has anyone explored exactly what room or the lack there of there might been underneath the sheet metal underneath the factory air box?

All comments/suggestions/ideas welcome!

I'd bet money you won't be able to perceive any difference in performance whatsoever with any of the suggestions you've made regarding changing the coating on the tube.

As you note you'll need to cut metal for a "true" cold air intake, which is why nobody sells one for the car.

Very valid point, and I'd agree...since I don't have infinite access to a dyno. LOL I just might do it to be different then.

As far as the possible cold air induction goes, my friend has a shop with plasma torch and TIG welds. I'll run this by him to see what we can do in his off-hours. I'll need to see though what room, if any, there might be though below that sheet metal.

Well, I got my lightly used Fujita chrome finished intake tube and filter today. I see that they actually made a run of wrinkle black coated intakes, so it'll look like "factory"...but I'll coat it more times for a more pronounced textured finish. Looks like I'll be breaking out the space heater this weekend!

Oh, should I rough up the chrome coating with a Scotch Brite pad before painting it?

lengthening the intake into fender area could also negatively impact your peak torque rpm, moving peak torque to occur at an earlier rpm could leave you running out of steam sooner than you'd like.

This was a big consideration when I designed my intake. I wanted to keep the stock peak torque right where it was to keep it from feeling like I was out of power in the top end.

The intake would remain a short ram...I would just like to snorkel the colder air from the front or wheel well into the engine bay area to suck in.