Installed an Ice Box with an APEXi filter and stock intake arm this weekend. Easy install, but one potential problem - mating up the filter with the intake arm. The APEXi's a universal filter that comes with a metal adapter (very similar to the shower drain solutions some on this list have made for the old APEXi filter), but the adapters too short to reach the Ice Box (or the stock box). The 3" flex bellows that comes with the Ice Box stretches enough to fix around the APEXi adapter, is long enough to reach and actually makes a pretty good friction fit with stock intake arm (see this thread for a similar install https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=566193). But, I have my doubts about that friction fit, especially under high RPMs. The flex bellows is fairly soft rubber and only 1/8" thick. I don't know if the intake vacuum will ever exceed the filter flow and possibly pull unfiltered air in through the friction fit with the intake arm.

Is it worth the hassle to track down a short length of 3.25" pipe to stiffen the flex bellows/stock intake arm connection?

Or, should I leave it as is and revel in my DIY air bypass valve?

Other solutions are certainly welcomed, but "just replace that APEXi filter with a Comptech or K&N" doesn't really help.