Cold Air Intake

I plan on putting a Cold Air Intake in my car to keep my engine cooler and to increase ther performance. No I am not "ricing" my car out, just want it to run better.

Also I plan on putting these wheel covers on my car from JC Whitney:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10101/s-10101/p-100000279343/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000279343/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000279343

cai ok :grinyes:

caps no :headshake :nono: :eek7:

cai ok :grinyes:

caps no :headshake :nono: :eek7:

Ok so I won't get the caps then.. I've looked on various Performance Parts sites and the only 2 Cold Air Intakes that will fit in my '01 Grand Am SE are a Iceman and Weapon R. Which one is better?

The Iceman costs $195.16 can be found here:
http://www.speedyperformanceparts.com/performance/basket.php?makeid=22&year=2001&modelid=244&partid=15&brandid=25

The Weapon R costs $114.54 and can be found here:
http://www.speedyperformanceparts.com/performance/basket.php?makeid=22&year=2001&modelid=244&partid=15&brandid=55

Still looking for opinions on the Iceman and Weapon R Cold Air Intake systems.

Deffinately no on the wheel covers. They're cheap, will probably fall off at some point, and add rotational mass.

As far as the intake, a much cheaper route would be to either A) make one by hand or B) buy one off Ebay.
But if you must buy one from a supplier site, I would buy from www.doctorspeed.com

The ones on doctorspeed.com won't fit as I only have a 2.4L engine in my 2001 Grand Am. I'll look on Ebay tomorrow.

How do you make one by hand Ridenour?

There's many different routes. You could buy some PVC, and find an appropiate cone-filter. You could find steel or aluminum tubing and make one. If you ask me, the best route would be to make a short-ram setup like I have. Short-rams are a lot better to make then a wheel-well located CAI. If you want a short ram, all you need to do is find a straight section of the right sized tubing, and a proper fitting cone filter.

now that'll work just like an intake would? what type of tubing would you reccomend? and do you mean a cone filter similar to this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-04-PONTIAC-GRAND-AM-95-02-SUNFIRE-AIR-INTAKE-FILTER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33659QQitemZ7995 036598QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotohosting

You'll be looking at essentially the same benefits as a CAI. There's a huge debate between the two. If you want, I can go into why a properly setup / tweaked shortram with the proper accesories is as good as a CAI, but to keep it simple, yes. As far as the tubing, aluminum or stainless steel will work. Yes, that filter will work as well. However that is for a 3 inch diameter intake. I'm not sure of what you're engine size's intake is. You should measure the coupling along the intake to get an idea. You need tubing and an intake of that diameter. If you want to order the tubing offline, this site has pretty much anything intake-related:

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/vertexnow/

Thanks a lot man, I plan on making this on friday, I'll post a pic when im done if i can. Thanks again

no problem - good luck.

Ridenour, what the...is that thing next to the pic of your car?

Actually one last question, that sensor that is plugged into that tube running to the air filter, what do i do with that when i install the new intake? and do i need to put anything under the filter to protect it from water? if you have AIM, you can add me if these questions will be easier to enter, KinButAe43...thanks a lot man

Ridenour, what the...is that thing next to the pic of your car?

:rofl: People have often wondered that - I'm really honestly not quite sure. I think someone called it a "Zafaris" or something once. LoL. They said they "weren't sure if it made them smile or scared the hell out of them". LoL

Townie, to answer your question, it depends what sensor you're referring to. If you're talking about the MAF (the silver part that is in the intake) then that needs to stay there. Same with the IAT sensor (up closer to throttle body). They both need to remain in the intake. It's up to you how you work around them. To make it easier, I would reccomend just getting some coupling and attaching the intake after the MAF, that way you won't have to mess around with them. As far as the water thing, if it's a short-ram intake, you totally don't need to worry about water. Essentially no water is going to get up into the engine bay, and what's there deffinately will not affect the filter. Even true fender-well-located CAI's usually don't have water problems. Only under extreme conditions is this ever an issue.

It scares the hell outta me. haha, so waht your saying is i should attach my peice of tubing in the middle of the tubing already there? Im a little confused.... lol

No - to make the simplest short-ram intake, simply remove your stock one from the MAF on (from the silver thing all the way to the entire airbox) take it all off. And attach your metal tubing to the MAF where your stock intake use to hook up. Better yet....

http://img280.imageshack.us/img280/8129/how2makeintake3dm.png

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :) - Couldn't resist

Fear my L337 Paintbrush skills! Raghhhh!! :grinyes:

hahha thank you for the drawing, it helps a lot believe it or not, thanks a lot dude for all your help, i appreciate it

Let me help you out. The Iceman intake and Weapon R are both not cold air intakes, they are warm air intakes since they draw in warm air in from under the engine bay. A cold air intake would be placed outside of the car to draw in cold outside air.

Now for the Iceman intake, i had that intake and loved it, if i had to pick between the two (weapon r and iceman) i would go with the iceman intake. NOW if i wanted a better intake i would buy the one from AEM for the 2.4L cavalier (it will fit just fine since they have the same motors) or a cheap of brand version of the intake like this one on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-02-Chevy-Cavalier-2-4-Cold-Air-Intake-96-97-98-99-00_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38634QQitemZ79962319 11QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW There is only ONE company that makes a TRUE CAI and they are www.induction-dynamics.com (these go for about 300 bucks) Another not, the links you posted for the two intakes, the prices on those are high, you can find those intakes or any other ones that will fit your car for about 150. Hope that helps, if you need more help just ask.

Alright so i made my own intake and it actually came out alright. It sounds better and i can barely feel a little bit of difference when i get on it. But it was worth the $30. thanks ridenour and im sure you'll be helping me a bunch more times. lol

No problem. If you want to help keep things even cooler, I would recommend putting some sticky dryer-hose heat shield on your intake pipe, and even build a cold-air-shield box like I have - You can build a sheet metal wall between the battery and the black electrical EMU box to help isolate the filter end from heat soak.

Damn you got me confused again...lol you have any pictures of your cold air box? something that i can work off of. dude im gonna like send you a money order or something for labor. haha

LoL don't worry about it man. I don't have a camera here - sorry. But I managed to draw up yet another kidnagarten-level intake rendition :) :)

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6936/intake7zs.jpg

Let me know if things are still unclear

Lee

haha thanks again man. your pretty nasty with those drawings, they help a lot. so where would i pick up some of that heat wrap? like a hardgoods store or a home depot?

:rofl: no problem man. Yeh, you could pick it up at any big hardware place. The stuff I got is pretty nice - it's like a double sided adhesive, with the heat wrap stuck on one side - in a roll. So I actually stuck it to my pipe. There's different types out there; but in the end you want some kind of heat shield wrapped around your pipe - it will help prevent heat soak during city driving. Some types you might have to slip over the pipe, ect. But as long as you end up with the desired final product, they're all good.

Ridenour,

I have posted a few times and you gave me some help with a warm air intake for my GA. I have the 2.2 Ecotec and the throttle body is in the front left of the engine. I went to home depot and bought some PVC pipe (i believe it was you that said that was a good material to use because of the heat resistances) and some plumbing couplers. I put it on saturday and i love it. Having the 2.2 I4 makes the engine sound whiny near the top of the RPM band but now it has a nice throaty sound. Nothing like a Trans Am or anything but a hell of a lot better than the sound of, say, a Civic. One problem though is i only got the 2" pipe. Didnt think the 3" would fit but now that i have it in i can see it will so i will upgrade eventually. Not exactly the prettiest thing but im not trying to win any beauty contest. might use some ceramic spray paint to heat shield it more. and i bought this aluminum flashing used for stairs that ill make a heat shield box out of. Ill try and get some pictures and upload them.

Just thought id let you know. Thanks again for all the help.

Cool man I wanna know how it came out, yea ridenour is a lot of help, like our very own mechanic...haha

Yeah its great to know that there are people out there who enjoy helping out others. I know i appreciate it, i know a little about cars but nothing like these geniuses ive come across in here. Thanks again everyone and like i said ill try and get a picture soon.

LoL don't worry about it man. I don't have a camera here - sorry. But I managed to draw up yet another kidnagarten-level intake rendition :) :)

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6936/intake7zs.jpg

Let me know if things are still unclear

Lee



YOU ARE A GOD AMONG INSECTS

LOL :) no problem guys. There's lots of good guys around here on AF that are always ready to help out. That's what we're all here for.

YOU ARE A GOD AMONG INSECTS

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: - that is awesome! It's totally going in my sig. By the way, I finally got a REAL camera and so I took some pics of my setup (might take a while to load, sorry)- here they are:

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1641/a2qk.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1481/b2rt.jpg

Rock on brother. Thats fantastic. Do you think i should go with the aluminum heat wrap or ceramic coating? I used PVC pipe and it turned out pretty good. I tried to take out the air box but i couldnt get the bottom part out so i left it in with the filter resting inside/on top of it. Let me know what you think.

Bobby

Rock on brother. Thats fantastic. Do you think i should go with the aluminum heat wrap or ceramic coating? I used PVC pipe and it turned out pretty good. I tried to take out the air box but i couldnt get the bottom part out so i left it in with the filter resting inside/on top of it. Let me know what you think.

I tried to draw it on here but of course it didnt work and i cant upload for some reason.

Bobby

Thanks man. If you have a PVC pipe, I would go with aluminum heat wrap. It will be cheaper (I think) and you'll have extra so whenever you tweak / change your intake you'll be able to put on fresh wrap to fit it. It sounds like your airbox will be fine. As long as you don't think it's obstructing airflow significantly to any area of the filter, I don't think it will hurt being there.

Side note: In my pictures, some things you can't see that help add to better air flow are 1) rubber tubing from the front fascia and the wheel well that come up behind the battery below the filter 2) custom hood shims / removed weather strip for "open door" effect 3) open / meshed driver-side SC/T hood vent provides tons of air blowing right at filter at speed.

If you have a PVC pipe, I would go with aluminum heat wrap. It will be cheaper (I think) and you'll have extra so whenever you tweak / change your intake you'll be able to put on fresh wrap to fit it.

Side note: In my pictures, some things you can't see that help add to better air flow are...3) open / meshed driver-side SC/T hood vent provides tons of air blowing right at filter at speed.

All i have is the puny GA base. No power windows, no cruise, the absolute base model. It is the only one that has the 5 speed though. And i intend on upgrading to a SC/T hood eventually...when the cash flow is steady. As far as the air box goes i dont believe it is restricting flow any because as i said its sitting on top of it more than actually inside it.

Do you have any idea how much you paid for your wrap? I know the ceramic spray paint goes for about 5 dollars a can at walmart. So if i can get something that will provide more coverage compared to the paint ill probably go that route. I drew a picture of it and snapped a pic with my webcam so i could upload. Keep in mind im not an artist. Ill end up taking the intake off and taking a picture of that up here in my room since my USB cord wont quite reach to the garage.

HOW EXACTLY DO YOU ADD A PHOTO?

Honestly I don't know how much my wrap cost. I got a roll for free from my friend. He has an incrediblly built / fast mustang, and he had used a roll on his CAI, and said it really helped out with heatsoak, and so he said I could borrow it; but when I told him I was going to give it back he told me to just keep it cause he didn't need it back. So I really have no idea how much the wrap cost. I'm thinking the wrap would do a lot better job then the paint - if it does cost more, it would be worth it.

Too add a photo, go to http://www.imageshack.us/ - upload your photo, copy the "direct link" URL of the image, and then put it in [IMG] tags in your message.

Ok...like i said im not artist and this is a rendition of what i used to have.
Be nice to me because i have low self esteem.

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/139/oldintake4gi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2299/newintake0gu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Allright...found some of that wrap at Home Depot. looks alot like duct tape. Didnt do the whole thing yet but heres some pictures.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3070/1725083ba.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2267/tbconnection0vz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3064/filter6zs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I plan on putting a heat shield at the neck of the filter and shrouding it to give it more shielding from the heat.

I understand your setup from your drawings. But your picture link didn't work.

Yea gooman thats exactly how i have it set up. Do you have the 2.4 liter 5 speed grand am? cause if so i have that same model, with the 5 speed in it.

Allright...found some of that wrap at Home Depot. looks alot like duct tape. Didnt do the whole thing yet but heres some pictures.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3070/1725083ba.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2267/tbconnection0vz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3064/filter6zs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I plan on putting a heat shield at the neck of the filter and shrouding it to give it more shielding from the heat.


how much has this cost you, filter included.

I built mine for $35 with the filter included

how much has this cost you, filter included.

It cost me a little under $50 because the piping couplers were like 6 bucks apiece. Just bought a 5 foot piece of PVC pipe and the necessary couplers and obviously a filter.

And i only have a 2.2 Ecotec...thats the only 4 cylinder they make for the 2004 Grand am. Also the only model with the 5 speed Getrag tranny.

you could have bought an intake off ebay for about 40 dollars shipped to your door, and it wouldnt look like tollet paper rolls stuck together. But hey, to each his own i guess.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8004209353

The total for that intake would be $45.87 (and their are cheaper ones)

Cause I have a 2001 GA with the 2.4liter and a 5 speed transmission

Cause I have a 2001 GA with the 2.4liter and a 5 speed transmission

What does that have to do with anything? You do know that any WAI for a cavalier will work on your motor. I have a 97 GA with the 2.4 and a 5 speed and i have a cavalier intake on my car.

Your CAI looks great. Not a bad price, but Is anyone thnking the PVC might melt under the hood? It gets pretty damn hot in there, esspecially close to the motor.

Absolutely nothing, I was telling gooman what model of grand am i had, nothing to do with the intakes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8004209353

The total for that intake would be $45.87 (and their are cheaper ones)


Maybe, for future reference, you should come in and read through the whole thread before posting. That is true that that intake is cheaper than mine. But if you wouldve read the whole thing you would know that i have the 2.2 ECOTEC. There is one on Ebay but the seller didnt have a picture of it installed and it was 68 dollars. So before you come in here and try to act all tough next time maybe youll remember to read the whole thread and get your facts straight.

Your CAI looks great. Not a bad price, but Is anyone thnking the PVC might melt under the hood? It gets pretty damn hot in there, esspecially close to the motor.


The PVC has a very high heat tolerance. It can withstand heat up to like 400 degrees and i dont think it gets that hot. Its like a 1/4 of an inch thick too. So i should be ok...hopefully :biggrin:


Is that a pic of your GA xero? That is so good looking.

The PVC has a very high heat tolerance. It can withstand heat up to like 400 degrees and i dont think it gets that hot. Its like a 1/4 of an inch thick too. So i should be ok...hopefully :biggrin:


Is that a pic of your GA xero? That is so good looking.

I think Not on the 400 deg. Heat your kitchen oven up to 400 and put a peice of the PVC in there. In 5-10 mins, it will be soft enough to pock a stick through. It only takes 500 deg in the pvc factory to mold the tubes on a plastic injection mold'r. But it doesnt get that hot in the engine bay, but i bet it gets over 250 degs and that could warp and sag onto the exhaust manafold.

Yes Goomam18 that is my mello yello. My CAI cost way to fuckin much, so dont even ask. LOL!

I think Not on the 400 deg. Heat your kitchen oven up to 400 and put a peice of the PVC in there. In 5-10 mins, it will be soft enough to pock a stick through. It only takes 500 deg in the pvc factory to mold the tubes on a plastic injection mold'r. But it doesnt get that hot in the engine bay, but i bet it gets over 250 degs and that could warp and sag onto the exhaust manafold.

Yes Goomam18 that is my mello yello. My CAI cost way to fuckin much, so dont even ask. LOL!

That is one beatiful car.

As far as the 400 goes...total guess. I do think it will be ok though because the night i put it on i went for a loooong drive. About 3 hours and i checked it all when i came back, tightened all the clamps and made sure it was still in the right spots and i didnt see anything wrong. Like i said the 400 was a guess but i do know that PVC can withstand pretty intense temperatures.

Do you think theres any way i can get a temp. sensor to put in the pipe and get a gauge of some sort to put inside my car to have an intake temperature? If so do you have any ideas where i could find something like that?

Maybe, for future reference, you should come in and read through the whole thread before posting. That is true that that intake is cheaper than mine. But if you wouldve read the whole thing you would know that i have the 2.2 ECOTEC. There is one on Ebay but the seller didnt have a picture of it installed and it was 68 dollars. So before you come in here and try to act all tough next time maybe youll remember to read the whole thread and get your facts straight.

I was just trying to point something out for other people, everyone seems to think that home depot intakes are great, when they are not. You should have bought the intake, b/c you would have been better off buying one then doing what you did. I just found a handfull of intakes for your car for $55 (granted they are cheap peices of crap) you should really look into the AEM intake, probably THE best intake out there for your motor. HP cost money....

Thanks for the compliment. I too kinda guess'd at the melting point, I know most plastics are molded at around 500 deg. Polyvinyl chloride (pvc) might be around 600, but at 200 gives off toxic fumes. If you want to read about toxicity read this link. http://plc.cwru.edu/tutorial/enhanced/files/polymers/therm/therm.htm

A temp sending unit, should be able to get on with a gauge at most auto parts stores for around $40. But by the time you buy that you would hav defeated your purpose in saving money on the PVC CAI. Just my two cents worth.
Another way is to get a peace of sheet metal and sheild the heat from the CAI, that should keep the temps down on the pvc.

xero is that a hunter green color on your car? cause whatever it is, it looks good

A temp sending unit, should be able to get on with a gauge at most auto parts stores for around $40. But by the time you buy that you would hav defeated your purpose in saving money on the PVC CAI. Just my two cents worth.
Another way is to get a peace of sheet metal and sheild the heat from the CAI, that should keep the temps down on the pvc.

I get what your saying about saving money...i wasnt plannin on doing it now but sometime down the road. I bought some aluminum sheeting from Lowes that ill use to make a heat shield. I wouldve done that before but i was tired and i wanted sleep so eventually ill get to that to block a little more of the heat.

I was just trying to point something out for other people, everyone seems to think that home depot intakes are great, when they are not. You should have bought the intake, b/c you would have been better off buying one then doing what you did. I just found a handfull of intakes for your car for $55 (granted they are cheap peices of crap) you should really look into the AEM intake, probably THE best intake out there for your motor. HP cost money....

So youre saying that being creative and making something that does the EXACT SAME THING as something you can buy is the wrong way to do it?

Just because someone makes something that is custom fit for your vehicle does not make it bad to be creative and active to do it on your own...especially when both finished products will do the same thing.

townie15 that is black, the hardest of all colors to keep clean. Hunter greeen is a nice color, though, I preffer black.

With out creativity we would hav nothing. I've even custom'd a few things in my day to save time and money. Any more I try to fabricate all that I possibley can.

Gooman18 , I think 97grandamld9 was just saying it would hav been cheaper, and maybe better, to buy a CAI than to make your own. Thats what Americas about, having the choise to do it your self , without paying "the man". Theres alot of gratification in DIY projects, good for self esteem or some shit like that. As a matter of fact, heres a custom mod I posted a while back. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=456692

Literally pealed the skin off a couple of my fingers when cutting out the pontiac logo with an exacto knife. LOL! Enjoy!

townie15 that is black, the hardest of all colors to keep clean. Hunter greeen is a nice color, though, I preffer black.

With out creativity we would hav nothing. I've even custom'd a few things in my day to save time and money. Any more I try to fabricate all that I possibley can.

Gooman18 , I think 97grandamld9 was just saying it would hav been cheaper, and maybe better, to buy a CAI than to make your own. Thats what Americas about, having the choise to do it your self , without paying "the man". Theres alot of gratification in DIY projects, good for self esteem or some shit like that. As a matter of fact, heres a custom mod I posted a while back. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=456692

Literally pealed the skin off a couple of my fingers when cutting out the pontiac logo with an exacto knife. LOL! Enjoy!


That looks great. I wanna do something like that in the back on the bumper above the license plate where it says PONTIAC. I wanna illuminate it somehow but wasnt sure of how to do it. Any suggestions?

the one on the back would be tricky. the one I done was the front cover, where the front plates go. You could start by drilling small holes through the letters and maybe a drumel tool with a good bit and alot of patients . Working with it while on the car would be uncomfortable none the less. You can buy leds at most auto stores and get it wired to the parking lights so it will only come on at night when your head lights come on.

I fine tuned the letters after cutting them out with a small file. My instructions should on the link where I posted, it would basicly be the same except filling it with a hot glue standing on your head would not be a smart idea. But I'm not saying its not doable, just things to think aboot before any cuttings done.