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NB Randall Cowl Intake V2

NB Randall Cowl Intake V2

Exclusive to Flyin' Miata!

Regular price $125.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $125.00 USD
Sale Sold out
More expected on Jan 22, 2025.
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Description

There are lots of intakes out there, but most of them make more noise than power. If you have an open air filter under the hood, especially if you don't have a heat shield, it's going to suck in hot air. Even a heat shield won't help much if it isn't fully enclosed. Hot air is less dense - i.e., it has less oxygen - so it's going to make less power. That open air filter is great for making noise, which can make the car feel stronger, but if it's sucking in hot air it's probably making less power than the stock intake. But what if they have dyno results?! Was that dyno testing done with the hood closed? If not, it's not a valid test.

We solved this problem a long time ago with our Randall cowl induction intake. It reuses the stock intake and air box for simplicity and economy (the stock parts flow great for the power levels here), but it makes it so the air comes from the base of the windshield. The benefit is twofold. First, it sucks in truly cold air, from outside of the engine bay. Second, it's force-fed - the base of the windshield is a high-pressure area, so more speed = more air forced into the engine. This results in a dyno-proven - with the hood closed! - 5 hp, as measured at the wheels. It also adds a bit of intake growl, although it's more subtle than an open filter.

The Randall has been gone for a while - our original supplier retired - but we've brought it back better than ever. It's now silicone, which makes the install dramatically easier than the old rigid tube. It's also about half the price! It's more durable, and we now have a firewall plate to secure the end of the hose. The firewall plate also eases installation (it's ridiculously easy to locate the hole), visually cleans things up, secures your clutch line, and has a simple (and unintrusive, flow-wise) screen to keep the intake from sucking up leaves in the cowl.

Installation involves cutting a hole in the flange at the top of your firewall (the firewall plate is your template, so it's pretty easy). This may not be allowed in some race classes, so do your homework. 1 3/8" (35mm) hole saw required, not included.

CARB approved (D-601-5) so it's fully legal everywhere in the US. Since it's pre-airbox, it's likely legal everywhere, but check your local rules to be sure.

Fits all NBs with left-hand drive, with no issues with cruise control or shock tower braces, though the cruise control actuator will have to be relocated slightly. Sorry, it doesn't fit with right-hand drive.

Note that if you use this with a cowl washer bottle, like what we sell, the parts will physically fit, but the washer bottle will sit very close to the mouth of the intake. Check out the dyno chart - on our car installing the cowl washer bottle meant the car picked up about 3 hp instead of 5 - so still beneficial over the stock intake, but not as beneficial as the Randall with no obstructions. 

Photos shown are sample product. Final production items may vary slightly from what is shown.

Instructions

Shipping

Ships free in the US.
Details

There are no shipping restrictions on this item.

What does it fit?

Fits: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Emissions

Not legal in California.

Warranty

1 year

SKU

05-27020

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
93%
(13)
7%
(1)
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E
Edwin M.
NB Randall Cowl Intake install

Very well made. Install easy. Some noise at full throttle, but ok with that. Could feel power increase at higher rpms.

d
dave e.
Canadian Cost.

For you Canucks. It was $262.66 plus $51.26 fed x duties.
Going to install in the spring.

D
David G.

Get a bi-metal hole saw with many little teeth instead of a carbide tipped hole saw. I have a torquey drill and the carbide saw damned near broke my wrist when the teeth dug into the sheet metal! An oscillating multi-tool with a metal blade worked very well for cutting the rest of the opening.

Not only do cars with ABS need to have the washer line relocated, but Canadian market cars as well (the washer bottle is on the driver's side). The only other difference from instructions was I needed to trim 1/2' from the straight silicon hose to make it fit, no way was it going on otherwise.

The end result is pretty good! I'm not a 'sound guy' when it comes to cars so I don't consider the new louder intake roar an improvement, just different, and something I'll to get used to.

Hoping to feel a bit more pep, but mostly I did this because I like having Miata projects to keep me occupied ;-)

End result

B
Bala N.
Cruise reposition is a PITA

I still give it 5 stars partly because once in, it works beautifully and partly because FM tech support was great at answering all my questions. Now to the ugly part - who puts cruise control in a 5 speed manual two seater anyway?? I never use the thing but was reluctant to just yank everything out, so I decided to move it as recommended. I don't know how similar these actuators are but mine didn't fit into the new space without taking all the brackets off, installing the bracket by itself and then mounting the actuator to the bracket. Had to route the cable under the brake master to get it to reach and had to get a short length of vacuum hose and join connector to splice to the existing hose since it wouldn't reach. And finally the power connector isn't long enough to reach the new plug location. None of this is FM's issue, just how this actuator was set up from the factory. I'm just going to remove it and enjoy all that extra space.

Meanwhile the Randall is terrific - I can hear a subtly growlier tone from the engine and a definite power boost - I'm very happy with how it performs.

https://youtu.be/-9wyHL-IuY0

Thanks, Bala! We're not quite sure what the deal was with the cruise control wiring and vacuum hose routing that caused issues here, as we haven't experienced these issues with any of the NB1 or NB2 Miatas we've tested. However, if anyone else also experiences these issues, please get in touch with us as we'd be happy to help get it sorted out.

N
Noah E.
Perfect

Just what I was looking for, great sound and little more HP for my baby girl!