Redtop BEAMS - Air Intake & MAF

Hey all!
 
I've had my 96 MR2 with a 98 Redtop BEAMS (donated from a Celica) for a while now, it works well and things are mostly good.
I've noticed huge huge lack in torque when below 4k rpm (likely when VVT-i is still dormant), like I am talking real struggle, it's very noticeable. I am not sure why this might be, but come to think of it, I was reading this: http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=91467 ("Common issues - MAF Sensor" section)
And I couldn't help but notice the article mentions that the MAF sensor is super finicky in the Redtop, and any intake but the stock reduces power greatly...
 
I've got an aftermarket pod filter installed, and that's how it was when I purchased the car a few months ago.
 
Can anyone say for sure that going from/to a stock or aftermarket intake made a difference, and if so, was it noticeable? The article I linked says the MAF is thrown off by most intakes, and alters the fuel/air ratio so that it is not optimal/right, therefore of course decreasing power greatly!
 
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Hope I can find some useful information, maybe I can get some lost power out of this?
 
-Andrew

The factory BEAMS intake setup was optimised and tuned by Yamaha, and does an excellent job at low-mid RPM for an NA engine with such high flow characteristics.
Aftermarket intakes (on a SW20 BEAMS setup) are indeed generally worse than OEM, as they haven't had the R&D poured in with flow dynamics, etc.
Unfortunately, OEM SW20 BEAMS intakes are super rare too...!

Thanks for the prompt overnight responses guys!
 
Well, I've contacted this local importer that's literally right next to my house haha, they're called Moster Import, and I'm trying to see if I can lay my hands on a red top beams intake lid. Apparently you can strap that onto a normal airbox and you have yourself a redtop OEM intake.
 
Any other suggestions or ideas?
 
Thanks :D

Have heard so much about this intake thing on the beams engine... would love to see someone do a dyno run with a pod and then chuck on the real mccoy to see the difference. 

antmcbane
Have heard so much about this intake thing on the beams engine... would love to see someone do a dyno run with a pod and then chuck on the real mccoy to see the difference. 

I'm pretty sure that such information can be found on the BEAMS forum @ mr2.com.

antmcbane
Have heard so much about this intake thing on the beams engine... would love to see someone do a dyno run with a pod and then chuck on the real mccoy to see the difference. 

This link is interesting....
http://www.mr2.com/forums/threads/102774-Factory-airbox-vs-Straight-pipe-with-a-bellmouth-(no-filter
 

mister2 and rikkir.
Both of you, thanks for the help and guidance!
 
It's really interesting to know this stuff, I wish I only knew earlier (when I bought the car or before).
Knowledge, information and parts for the Redtop BEAMS engines are so scarce, really... I wish they were more available online etc.
There are only a handful of places you can find this information from (here being one of them).
 
Anyhow, I've contacted Import Monster already, they've asked me if it was for MR2 or Celicas as they might be different, so I just said MR2. Waiting to hear back from them...
 
I've also contacted Gorilla Industries and we'll see how far that goes too.
 
Thanks again lads, I'll let you know if anything happens :)