Evilution designed silicone intake pipe.

[fastturb]

I guess if the original plumbing is worth something, I could epoxy and duct tape it back together. Right now it makes a good hamster playhouse. I hope the smart hamsters still have a place to live.

[Evilution]

Originally Posted by BARNEY O

Buying parts from a MB dealership cheap, Are you out'a touch with reality or wearing rose colored glasses?

Nope, I'm in touch and in Europe

Can I assume you have actually checked the price of this part from smart before chipping into this discussion with your thoughts?

[BARNEY O]

Part# A1320900304 $80.10 US dollars

[TMACK]

Originally Posted by BARNEY O

Part# A1320900304 $80.10 US dollars

OK, I'll sell my 09 resonator box for $2.00 and charge you $150.00 to re-install it.

[BARNEY O]

Originally Posted by TMACK

OK, I'll sell my 09 resonator box for $2.00 and charge you $150.00 to re-install it.

TMACK, give MXRACER51 a shout. I think he was looking for a project

[TMACK]

Originally Posted by BARNEY O

TMACK, give MXRACER51 a shout. I think he was looking for a project

Oh. Well, if it's a PROJECT, I'll give the box away.

[Smart Enuf]

Back on topic, it didn't take long for the copycat market to spring up:

Here's Kane's original silicone-tube design:



And here's one by Adkins Performance, just sprung up on eBay:



Not quite sure what the Adkins' design does with the crankcase vent tube, which normally plugs into the air intake tube.

I told Kane about this, and here's his response (asked to be posted):

I didn't think it would take long, we live in a rip off world these days.
I'm still happy that my design is superior to this one for 2 reasons.
It has a wider inside diameter and is smooth all the way through. Unless
they used a very expensive laser welder, that weld is going to be rough on
the inside and the shape of the pipe means they'll not be able to grind it
smooth internally.

Who are these people anyway, have you heard of them before? I suspect the
pipe was just copied by a company for one of the big smart names in
America and sold through outlets and small companies such as this. If you
could pass my comments on to the SCOA forum, that would be great.

Cheers,
Kane.

[mvaldes]

FWIW, I've been beta testing the Area451 cc with it's pedal maps since my second tank with Kane's tube installed. Of course that means I've been driving my smart in a MUCH less fuel efficient way but my mpg on the last 3 tanks has been constant. I hope it's due to an mpg increase from to his intake that's compensating for the extra foot pressure. But the season is changing so probably so is the gas mix at the pump so I don't really know, but I'll take it!

[SmartMadness]

"Who are these people anyway, have you heard of them before? I suspect the
pipe was just copied by a company for one of the big smart names in
America and sold through outlets and small companies such as this. If you
could pass my comments on to the SCOA forum, that would be great."

The copied part is made by a person named Jonathan who owns Adkins Performance. I have met him on several occasions at car shows and recently at SEMA while he was working at another vendors booth. As far as I know he manufacturers and sells his own parts through his own eBay store.

A similar pipe was also made by Smart Car Performance after he seen the Silicone hose we offer. It was designed to be a competing product and now it looks like the competing product has a knock off version as well.

[BARNEY O]

Looks like Kane's 1st design has better flow capabilities than current design's (no sharp bends) nice smooth large radius A+. If the vent hose was removed from intake hose the air intake flow would be enhanced even more.

Barney O...Low budget no copy