However, it looks like this set up allows the engine to breath in cooler air from in front of the radiator and the right front wheel well. And I think this set up was originally a good idea borrowed from the L-82s.

 

Question is;

Will an open (mesh sided) air filter cover cause the engine to breath in warmer air from inside the engine compartment and then make it run poorer/hotter? 

DAVE

Yeah, looks are important too, as long as I'm not screwin' it up. And I would'nt mind a bit more noise at all.

 

DaveM,

That's mighty generous! I'll take it! (Dinner is on me when we meet up in Pa.)

 

 

The snorkel units have a heat stove unit that attached to the exhaust manifolds.  Hot air from around the manifolds would travel up to the air cleaner and blend with the cold air from outside.

 

By having heated air on a cold engine (exhaust manifolds warm up very fast) the choke could be set a bit leaner and come off a tad quicker.  This reduced emissions on engine warm up.

 

Without the set up, you may need to richen the choke pulloff a tiny bit, and delay the choke opening, again a tiny bit.

 

With that done, you won't notice anydifference other that a slight increase in engine warm up time.  Probably not enough to notice.

 

The cool air into a warm engine will make it perform a bit better.  Cool air is denser and as a result gets more air into the engine that hot air will.  But the restriction of the duct work will usually offset the advantage, and the open mesh type will flow more without the restriction.  It's usually about a toss up, and sometimes the lack of duct work actually works better.

Here's what it looks like, except with out the Bow-Tie nut.