It seems it's either from factory or people just move it to the other side. On my turbo 951, it is positioned as below, but I've noted most I've seen are the other way....

 

The others are air filters attached to MAF's. Above is nothing more than a very hot air snorkle, attached via a cheap adapter, to the stock AFM.

 

People running it the other way (behind the headlight) are using MAF setups and have gotten rid of the AFM. That is not a very good spot for a exposed filter, you are picking up all of the hot air passing off the radiator and intercooler.

 

Thats the stock AFM with a cold air filter. Mine is the same way as yours. The ones you see that angle twords the driver's headlight are 99% a Mass Air Flow system.

Ps. If I drive in the city or at slow speeds for more then 10 minutes, I can see my engine temp start to come up fast. It's not an issue when you are at cruising speeds.

I wish the previous owner would of just left the damn thing stock.

 

Yes, this is what I was getting at... I want mine facing the other way so I'm not sucking up all the hot air from the intercooler/radiator...

 

You would need to convert to a MAF setup.

 

Is there another option to having it face the other way without spending $600+ for a MAF system?

 

I wouldn't worry about it. Just wait untill you can splurge on a MAF.

Although, I remember seeing a AFM plummed to the driver's side outside fender.

 

Your temp problem is something different. My 86 had a filter this way, and there were zero cooling problems.

I have the complete stock air box, on the 87 and I have cooling problems with it, at the moment.


The flaw to having the air intake, in the "hot"position is that it robs the car of power. Hot air is less dense than cold air.

 

It's a pain the *** to keep removing the stock air box vs. a filter. I think I will have to improvise somehow.

 

not off the shelf. Buy a stock air box and snorkle and revert back to the original set up. That should run about 75 to 150 bucks.