When Paul purchased his EL XR6 it already had most of the factory goodies attached courtesy of it's previous owner - including body kit, sunroof and 16" Tickford wheels. Paul enjoyed it in this spec for some time before opting for a few small mods.
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Joining Tickford's already impressive list was a set of Genie headers and 2 1/2" exhaust right the way back. Taking inspiration from Ford's "Sequential" EL XR8 show car, Paul constructed his own version of their bonnet vent air intake! Starting out with a plastic laminate that he had carved and glued together, the first prototype lasted 6 months before the layers began to separate. So he got to and began the slow (and laborious) process of producing fibreglass moulds - something he is now not too keen to do again. |  |
Still - not too bad for someone who has had no previous experience in fibre glassing! Paul ended up having to make the scoop in two parts - allowing the complex shape to be physically possible. Unlike the original scoops - which Paul still keeps tucked away - the scoop now performs a practical purpose by funnelling cool air directly into the air box which just happens to be in the correct spot to allow this! According to Paul, this has made a small - but almost imperceptible - difference to acceleration.
"The scoop is not exactly the same as the Sequential's - I went more from memory than a photo." Paul fabricated a flat steel panel to fit underneath the scoop and seal against the top of the air box. Allowing the pinchweld (ex door rubber sealing strip) to take it's place is some 90 degree sheet metal strips riveted into the top of the original air box. Below that is a Finer Filter pod.
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"The hardest part of the job believe it or not was in constructing the stainless steel air intake!" Paul painstakingly cut and tig welded each bend section - and then die ground the welds smooth both inside and out! Needless to say he had the whole lot polished as well.
Not being one to keep his car hidden away in some shed - barely seeing the light of day, Paul regularly drives his car in club events, enjoying testing it's limits of adhesion on local circuits. Recently in a 800m standing start straight line speed event, he managed a creditable 188kph - better than some of the stock XR8's on hand!!! Understandably, Paul has been fending off offers to reproduce his work of art (bonnet scoop) and is looking for anyone interested so he can get some quotes from a glassier to reproduce his scoop. The more people the merrier (lower prices) so if you're interested, email us here and we'll pass your interest along. Please include your phone number in your email to secure your spot!
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