Danny, I've had a few different intake/ram air systems on my car. The one that was the coolest, (in terms of degrees) as verified by a remote temp sensor was as follows.
I used the stock air box attached to the throttle body. It is well designed, non restrictive, and plastic, making it both light weight and more insulated than a metal tube, hung across a hot engine.
I mounted the MAF directley to the inner fender at the opening for the stock air filter/air box.
To connect the TB airbox to the MAF mounted on the inner fender, you can use a rubber 3" ID hose from these guys.
https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/Pages/P...n_Ducting.html
With the MAF (farther from the engine heat) now open to the inner fender, you can install a cone type filter in the inner fender and the engine gets cooler air. You do not have to cut any holes in the inner fender as they are not sealed. I had that system for a year or so and was happy with it. Tom.