Has anyone done any air intake mods on a 2nd Gen (I think it's 2nd Gen anyway) Prelude SI? I bought a K&N filter to replace the stock one. While putting it in I noticed the filter connects to the tube that supplies the manifold directly. The air gets to the air box via a bunch of plastic tubing coming from behind the headlight to the airbox which surrounds the filter.

I was wondering if I could just 86 all the plastic tubing and the air box and just have the air filter exposed, it's all nice and chrome even, in the open area in the right rear of the engine bay. If I can do this, anyone have any ideas of how to get cooler air to that area that won't allow water to get in there? I live in the harsh Minnesota winters, so it's important to not get water into the filter or have any freezing going on.

Thanks in advance.......