What I'm thinking is:
- disconnect the original intake "snorkel" (that goes dangerously low) from air filter box
- buy a new, flexible air tube and connect it to air filter box
- route this new tube to the left, leaving it's end close to the grille, to the left side of the radiator, close to upper corner, so that it can get fresh air coming from the front through the grille (there's a little opening on that side, munkymanmatt spotted this very well, all credit goes to him for this) and this is high enough to be protected from standing water and shallow waves
- I'm thinking of leaving the end of the tube not directly touching the grille and not directed straight to front, though, so that it would have additional protection against water coming in, for example from heavy rain. I think it could be pointed sideways or downwards (what would be best?). I take this idea precisely from my wife's Toyota, where the air intake is a tube that's left open ended close to radiator grille on the right engine side, inside the engine compartment, and is turned sideways by 90 degrees. This can only be for protective purposes, they could have pointed it straight towards the grille, there's enough room.
I am aware of the fact the the air at this higher position (very close to radiator) will be much warmer than from the original intake piping of the 406. But I also know that this is not a naturally aspirated engine, where it would matter a lot to have the coldest air possible. I understand that here the air travels to the turbo, where it gets really hot due to compression, then goes through the intercooler to be cooled down and only then into the engine, so the little difference between ambient temperature and engine compartment temperature mixed with some fresh air from the front, isn't going to make any difference, I think, right?
This way of thinking appears to be confirmed by the way the japanese engineers solved this in my wife's Toyota (which makes it much less vulnerable to water), it also has an intercooler, btw, and the intake is also quite close to the radiator.
Still, it would be great to have some feedback or food for thought of you people on here!
