cold air intake

i was thinking of purschasing a doctor speed cold air intake stage 3 for my 1999 grand am gt. i just had a couple of questions...
1)does anyone know a website that has the dino for a stage 3?
2)what difference does it make in porformance and fuel economy?
3)my car has the stock ram air on it with the tube going into the airbox and i was wondering if that really does anything and does it have to be removed to install a cold air intake?
4)do i have to cut anything on the inside of the car to get the pipe and filter down into the fender?
thanks alot

First of all, I'll reccomend that if you're going to go with doctor speed, you should get the Cold air box over the stage III. I can go into details if you want; but I'll address your questions about the stage III:

1) I've never seen a dyno for a stock car with just a stage 3 on it. Honestly, if you have a nonmodded 3.4, you're looking at a gain of about 5 hp at the crank.

2)It will add about 5 hp. It will shift your power curve up slightly; the long pipe length will result in a slight loss of the line from the lag, but will gain top end. As far as fuel economy, about 1 mpg in the city gain and 2 mpg gain on the freeway

3) No - any CAI or shortram / cold air box would be better then that. The "ram air" is a complete advertising ploy. The air goes through 2 90 degree turns. In order for it to truly "ram" air beyong the normal rate of induction, you would have to be traveling at least 90 mph. And as far as removal, you can remove it all, or you can leave some components. It's up to you.

4) no, you don't have to cut anything.

I was just kind of sticking soley to your questions. If you want me to explain anything more indepth, or address the other intake, let me know.

what does the cold air box do? does anything have to be removed besides the stock one? and what kind of power?
thanks

The cold air box functions as a shortram / warm air intake, except without the warm air. You essentially get the gains of a cold air intake, without the lag of the long pipe length, more power off the line, and it will be slightly louder then a CAI due to it's location. Really for the price, you're getting the same gains as a CAI, but without the lag, the filter's easier to change, and the intake is easier to install / maintain. I have essentially the same setup in my car (see picture) and have ran a CAI as well, and like my cold air box better.

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

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

Given, mine isn't a true "doctorspeed" cold air box, but I have essentially the same thing. I would highly reccomend it. And no, nothing else needs to be removed except the stock intake. Powerwise, you'll be looking at a little bit more off the line, and really a pretty even gain throughout the RPM curve. You should get about 5 more hp at the crank. I estimate with my setup that I'm getting slightly more, as I have (not visible in picture) an open / meshed vent in my S/CT hood right infront of the intake allowing it full exposure to the outside air, as well as custom hood shims / removed weatherstripping to allow better air flow under the hood, as well as piping from the wheel well and front fascia to bring up more cool air from under the car. My heat wrap also helps out alot with preventing heat soak.

ok thanks
one last question....if i where to buy a cheaper none name brand one, is it the same thing or would i be better off buying the doctor speed one?
thanks agian

I have been looking at cai lately, can someone give me an opinion on these. From what I can tell an intake is an intake, its just a 3 inch diameter pipe with a filter on the end of it correct?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/K-N-99-04-Grand-AM-SE-GT-ALERO-3-4L-V6-Cold-Air-Intake_W0QQitemZ140065379044QQihZ004QQcategoryZ386 34QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-00-01-02-04-GRAND-AM-Alero-V6-COLD-AIR-INTAKE-K-N-F_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38634QQihZ013QQitemZ2 30065019580

Sorry chris8105,
but we dont bring up threads older then 3 months :nono:
This one's a year :eek:

Post your question in a new thread/post and we'll get you taken care of.

This is closed!