Grassroots vs ghetto

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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.