Cold Air Intake

Hey guys, I'm sure it's been adressed about 100 times b4, but I've been searching google all day for Cold Air Intake systems and what not for the past 10 min. and there's a bunch of em' for my 96' base 3000GT, and I've gotta go to bed to get up in time for school (damn 1st period) so I don't have a lot of time to search the forums here, but at any rate I'm wondering what the best Cold Air Intake System for my car would be, I know K&N sells one but there's other brands too... Alrite thanks for the help!

I've said it once, and I'm sure I'll say it again a billion more times, all CAI are about the same. As far as powerwise, they are almost all identical. As far as filtration, generally K&N is considered one of the best. If you are tight on money, get one on ebay or something, a no-name brand...if you feel the need to pay $200, then buy a K&N. My theory is when you buy a K&N, you are paying $200 for a sticker...you're buying the companies name, but its the same intake as any other.

ive also heard that in 3000's cold air systems really dont give that much of a power increase...so little infact that buying one is pretty much worthless...maybe it was only for vr-4's, or maybe its completely wrong...wut do you guys think?

I could tell a noticable power increase on my stealth with a CAI .. better throttle response for the most part

Well the idea of an actual COLD AIR INTAKE (and no, not just a filter, but an actual cai) is to get the intake further away from the heat of the engine bay, and down near the wheel well or bumper to get access to colder air. For every 10degrees cooler the air is, it has more oxygen, and produces 1 more hp. This does in fact help NA cars, such as the SLs and bases. However the vr4 has intercoolers and turbos forcing much more air into the engine and regulating the temperature increases, already producing more hp. So a CAI would be pretty pointless on a vr4.

Now a plain open-element filter(the K&N FIPK for example) helps, because it is open and brings in more air than the very restrictive stock air box.

So CAI would be pointless on a vr4, but help on an NA. But any open-element filter, cai is an improvement over the stock airboxs. And whether you are talking about a CAI, or any other kind of intake, my previous opinion still applys to all of them. Save money and go cheap.

is it also true that with CAI, and there filters, there not as protective against particles as a stock air filter would be, and hense letting particles into your engine, and them grinding and hurting parts of you engine?

NO, they wont hurt your engine, I've had open element intakes on everycar I've ever owned(2, but still...) they don't hurt your car, if anything they are a great mod, as they improve engine breathability, improve gas mileage, and add a few hp. If you have a vr4, this is probably the first mod you want to get.