intake comparison

i'm looking at intakes for my 2002 ecotec.

the only ones that i've found are these:

http://www.streettrendsinc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ECO99&Store_Code=JBODY

http://store.racinglab.com/ch20ca2wieco.html

http://www.turbotechracing.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=490&idproduct=753

http://www.turbotechracing.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=490&idproduct=1272


the weapon R one looks cool, and is cheaper (this is the cheapest place i've found it), but which would be better overall? i'm also planning on getting a turbo kit soon, so one that doesn't interfere with the space needed so much would also be good...

also, how practical is it to have an air intake (as far as general maintenance)? im looking for an intake that will require no removing or anything for a wide range of weather conditions (as i live in arizona but regularly go snowboarding).

also, how often generally do you people clean your intakes?

If you are seriously looking at boosting, you shouldnt waste your money on an air intake.....

im sorry if im a dumbass, but why do you say that?

the only thing i can think of is because there would be an intercooler that does the same job?

what what what??

An air filter filters the air before the turbo, then the charged air goes through the intercooler......air filters and IC's don't have anything to do w/ each other.....

If you boost, you'll have a different intake location so the pipe you just spent $100's on will be a waste. There are a lot of people that don't even run filters on turbo cars.....i have some friends that run like that. So if you're serious about boosting, keep doin research and don't waste your money on an air intake......

If you have any questions, post them on here and i'll check or feel free to PM me at any time....

If your going to boost later (9-12 months) get the CAI. It will help with gas mileage and power for the time being.

You can do as Chevy4life1985 said and get it now because you're not going to boost for a while, or you can save your money for boost.....either way will work. If it is going to be a long time before you do boost, get the CAI and have some fun in the meantime!

aaahhhh i see now, that makes much more sense. thanks much for the clarification.

what about about maintaining the air intake? is it generally easy?

get a K&N type filter....all you have to do is wash them w/ a garden hose and re-oil them every once in a while.

how hard is it on a scale from 1(easiest) to 10(hardest) to make your own intake?

i've done it before....i would say that if you can cut tubing fairly accurately and have a little bit of know-how, you can do it w/o any trouble......3of10

what about this intake?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-05-CAVALIER-SUNFIRE-AIR-INTAKE-2-2L-ECOTEC_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38634QQitemZ8014 231381QQrdZ1

it has a "washable" filter, but it doesn't say K&N for brand name. worth the $50?

Intakes from ebay suck...they rarely mount correctly and are more trouble than they are worth. Don't shop ebay for an intake unless you are getting a named brand one and KNOW it really is a named brand intake. Some people will include named brands to try and draw peoples attention and possibly money.

name brand air intakes are overrated....you can save yourself some money if you buy on Ebay w/ the understanding that you're going to have to make it fit....

name brand air intakes are overrated....you can save yourself some money if you buy on Ebay w/ the understanding that you're going to have to make it fit....

yeah, i bought 2 of those air intakes on ebay, for $40 a piece (with shipping) and from those 2, i made a true cold air intake, and i have an extra filter (even though the filters arent really worth a shit), all for $80, with a little labor involved, i saved myself at least $100,

:1: thats what you should do.....i made a CAI on the last couple of my cars because they were only going to be temporary, but they really turned out fairly nice.

i don't trust myself enough to be able to "make" something fit my car if it's not already designed to do so. i'd probably end up duct taping it or something and it would fall off within a day.

also, if i get a turbo, the air intake would mount to a different place then right? how would i calculate for a future intake location/size/etc?

for a turbo you don't even really need an "air intake." All most people do is 1. put a filter on the intake side of the turbo or 2. Put a piece of mesh over the intake just to keep big things out of the turbo but they don't actually have a filter.....