quote:Good looking design, but "Form over Function"
Understand your concerns.
However, compared to the stock 14" round cleaner I previously used - like most cars - I think moving the intake away from the firewall may in fact put the intake in a cooler, higher air-flow location.
Most of the new filters (like 90%) are now NOT under the screen (which surely holds heat despite the holes), whereas MOST of the 14" was under the screen.
Most of the new filters are in fact rearward of the headers, as opposed to the 14" unit that was all located above the headers.
Finally, the new filters have available air flow from above, whereas the old 14" only sourced air from the sides. The L/R sides of the 14" unit were getting air from above the headers, the front center from the firewall area (likely a pretty hot and low-air-movement area), and the rear center from above the intake manifold.
No real way for me to test intake air temperatures, but to my way of thinking, I think the new filters are surely no worse, and probably better, in sourcing 'cool' air.
Of course, 'cool' air in a Pantera engine bay is highly rare animal.
Larry