It could not hurt other than getting more dirt in the engine compartment. The fact that your K&N is not in a box the only benefit you are getting is a bigger airflow.

 

I use a air filter "pre-filter" cover on mine... Helps with big bugs getting in between the pleats and makes your air filter water resistant... Just a little added insurance..
Works great....

K&N web site has them listed for all there applications... There's also generic brands that'll fit.

 

Without a closed box to fully take advantage of it as has already been said it's just more engine compartment air flow, the biggest concern is a small bird nest, or something similar, so the D.I.P.S. screen is a good deterrent to that happening.

https://dipsprod.weebly.com/dips-screens.html

My wifes SXT is running the AFE Momentum GT with the additional headlight duct, and she also is running the D.I.P.S. screen to keep out the nasties.

The reason both my R/T and her SXT are running the closed box type CAI, is engine bay heat bleed over the top of the air dam, because none of them actually seal to the hood properly allowing hot engine air to get by the air dam and sucked into the intake.

The closed box type CAI stops that and isolates the filter and under those circumstances the front headlight air duct is very beneficial especially above 45mph when the front air pressure on the car starts to increase and the front inlet begins seeing increased airflow.

View media item 27432View media item 27444

 

+1 on the dips screen. I have that on my car, and I've seen dragonflies and butterflies stuck on that a few times. Those would've ended up stuck to my filter if I didn't have the dips

 

Same for me!

 

I use a air filter "pre-filter" cover on mine... Helps with big bugs getting in between the pleats and makes your air filter water resistant... Just a little added insurance..
Works great.... View attachment 155852
K&N web site has them listed for all there applications... There's also generic brands that'll fit.

How did you get it to fit, what other parts did you use to fit it to the stock tubing?

 

Slips right on and it's held on with an elastic band... Easy peazy...

 

What did you replace the big azz air box that is in that area?

 

Yes this is a pic of my set up... K&N intake tube but an Airaid dry filter with the pre-filter wrap...

 

where did you get that divider and padding

 

I had a Airaid CAI but the accordian intake tube always bothered me... So I freed up some funds got the K&N CAI and put the Airaid filter on the K&N intake tube and bam... A hybrid...

 

Oh that black divider and padding is part of the kit.. damn. I bet I can find it somewhere. It looks good and I bet it sounds heftier in the bay.

Good job, it looks good