Cold air intake systems?

I've got a new (200 miles) on my 03 Tahoe Z71, Opions please on adding an aftermarket cold air intake system and what would that do to any warranty issues.

I had a Ford X PSD w/ a Banks system on it heard nothing but grief from Ford.

Your thought and sugestions:confused:

Do it. Adding a CAI will NOT void your warranty.. In fact adding anything at all to your car will not necessarily void your warranty. The only time Chevy can legally void your warranty is when a part breaks as a direct result of a modification you've performed (i.e. like blowing your engine from running nitrous under a lean condition)...

OK, so CAI systems will be a benifit and NOT mess up my warrenty. So, which one is da best? I've seen many. Some people think the actual tube should not be metal due to heat tranfer. Others think just the opposite. :rolleyes: So the ? is which one?

I'd recommend any of the following:

- K&N FIPK
- AEM Brute Force
- GMS Cold Air
- Volant

They're all pretty decent systems. I'm pretty sure only the AEM is metal, which does transfer heat better than plastic, but if you've got a cold air that won't matter too much since you'll be sucking in cool air to replace any heated air.. There's probably only a 1-2 hp variance between all of the above systems..

I just installed the AEM Brute Force Cold Air intake on my 2004 Z71 Tahoe. Install took less than an hour with simple hand tools. AS usual, seems to be the best "First" mod. I also have the Corsa cat-back performance exhaust in transit for instllation next week by myself. This is all the easy stuff. I do need to figure out what type of PCM reprogramming I need.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/bikerduude/AEM%20Intake.jpg

http://home.cfl.rr.com/bikerduude/Tahoe%20and%20Vette.jpg

I have a 02 LT with K&N system installed, I choose the K&N because it offered the best heat sheild. With the “help” of 3-year-old boy, it took about an hour.
There is a noticeable performance gain with this mod, especially in the throttle response. As for economy, under normal driving conditions around town is the same, but there is gain when I’m towing my 3000lb ATV trailer, I was down to about 12~13 MPG, with the intake system I’m at 15 better.

What about a 96 Vortec Engine? Ive been looking but most of the CAIs that I have seen look cheap. Anyone got a picture or anything so I can see one installed? What about MPG because with oversized tires, Im trying to get an extra fuel economy I can get.

What about a 96 Vortec Engine? Ive been looking but most of the CAIs that I have seen look cheap. Anyone got a picture or anything so I can see one installed? What about MPG because with oversized tires, Im trying to get an extra fuel economy I can get.



Lookat my pic above or visit AEM at www.aempower.com. They have your application listed. You can find it A LOT cheaper locally like I did I am sure. MSRP is $337. I paid 250 at alocal speed shop.. Pays to shop around. This thing looks SOLID with very nice welds and laser cut metal airbox. You'll dig it.

Sean

Yo Duuuuuude. Saw your AEM and ordered one same day. Does it provide that 'throaty' sound when you step on the gas. I put a K&N FIPK on my Jeep and it seems to really pick up the rpm's much faster. Thanks for the pix.
Thomas

Yo Duuuuuude. Saw your AEM and ordered one same day. Does it provide that 'throaty' sound when you step on the gas. I put a K&N FIPK on my Jeep and it seems to really pick up the rpm's much faster. Thanks for the pix.
Thomas


Yeah, you can really hear it. My Corsa exshaust is on its way to Orlando but I am stuck in Vegas all week. AWWWW. Anyway the exhaust will back up the intake sound. Check out www.corsaperformance.com and listen up!!!

My 2000 Corvette has cold air, headers, Corsa exhaust and some LS1 edit tuning. Oh yeah, and a 383 Stroker......So that will always be my race car, but the truck has to at least try!!!

Well talking about CAI I got the Volant system and it seems to work great!! Good pick up and sound a little spendy but worth the money. And most of all it looks good too. :grinno:

So how much of a difference is there between the systems that provide a new intake tube all the way to the throttle body vs the smaller (& much cheaper) kits that merely provide a new CAI box and cone filter and keep the factory intake tube? The smaller kits are available on eBay for as little as $40.

I'm looking to improve gas mileage on my 2001 5.3L. I'll also be towing a 3500-lb Jeep behind it to Colorado this summer, so more power might be nice. I don't plan on racing this thing; I just want better fuel economy and sufficient power on the few occasions when I really need it. I'm more concerned with cruising speeds (less than 2500 rpm).

the best system you can buy is made by TrueFlow they have superior filtration and flow weather the filter is dirty or clean. Here is a pic installed on an 04 chevrolet truck

http://www.autostyleinc.com/images/trueflowchevy.JPG

you can see it uses the stock box yet still flows more air than any gauze based filter ( ie k&n, airaide etc.) It adds a throaty sound and still a different you can feel. Check out their site

the web site for trueflow is www.trueflow.com

btw something to keep in mind about "cold air" intakes look at the pictures above mine its not sucking air from the fender like your stock box does but from the HOT engine compartment. The air it takes from the fender comes from the front and the ground area of the vehicle where as the normal filters which simply suck in hot air from your motor.

something to keep in mind about "cold air" intakes look at the pictures above mine its not sucking air from the fender like your stock box does but from the HOT engine compartment. The air it takes from the fender comes from the front and the ground area of the vehicle where as the normal filters which simply suck in hot air from your motor.

The photo above differs from most CAI's I've seen. Most have a metal heat shield around the filter that protects it from the engine compartment's air. This shield has a rubber seal along the top to make a tight seal against the hood. The advantage I can see from looking at it is that, without the factory box, there are more air paths from the outside to the filter area. The factory box seems like it's sucking air through a straw with those tiny passages through the fender.

How much of a difference those increased paths make, I'm not sure. Maybe I'd be just as well off buying a high-flow stock-replacement filter.

I notice that you appear to have an aftermarket tube between your air box and your throttle body. How much difference is made by this tube vs the filter itself?

Any other opinions?

The photo above differs from most CAI's I've seen. Most have a metal heat shield around the filter that protects it from the engine compartment's air. This shield has a rubber seal along the top to make a tight seal against the hood. The advantage I can see from looking at it is that, without the factory box, there are more air paths from the outside to the filter area. The factory box seems like it's sucking air through a straw with those tiny passages through the fender.

How much of a difference those increased paths make, I'm not sure. Maybe I'd be just as well off buying a high-flow stock-replacement filter.

I notice that you appear to have an aftermarket tube between your air box and your throttle body. How much difference is made by this tube vs the filter itself?

Any other opinions?

Well the thing you need to keep in mind is the main air flow problems with stock filters is the paper filter its self. The stock box can flow all the air the motor needs. If you take off the box the hole going into the fender is just as big as the hole on your motors intake tube. Although some people are skeptical about using the stock box the performance gains are still higher with a trueflow system than with the open ended WITH the barrier that ends up leaving marks in your hood. I had a customer with one of those filters with the heat shield and he switched back to his stock box and that trueflow system and liked it better.

The tube that comes with that system does help alot its made of steel. There are proven differences vs just a trueflow drop in filter and with the new pipe since the pipe removes all of the factory intake restricters.

Go to their site and check out their video just on the filter elements.

heres a link http://www.trueflow.com/filtertest/high.htm

As far as warranty goes, make sure you have everything buttoned up tight. You will void your warranty if dealer can find where there is a hole in your intake. If you have a hole, that means you could be sucking dirt directly into your engine and we all know what happens then.

As far as performance goes, I currently have just the K&N air filter with slightly modified exhaust. I picked up maybe 1 MPG in city driving and 1-2 MPG on highway driving between 70-75 MPH.

For better gas mileage, be sure to regularly check your tire pressure. Play around a bit to find the right fit for ride & MPG.

I just installed the AEM Brute Force Cold Air intake on my 2004 Z71 Tahoe. Install took less than an hour with simple hand tools. AS usual, seems to be the best "First" mod. I also have the Corsa cat-back performance exhaust in transit for instllation next week by myself. This is all the easy stuff. I do need to figure out what type of PCM reprogramming I need.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/bikerduude/AEM%20Intake.jpg

http://home.cfl.rr.com/bikerduude/Tahoe%20and%20Vette.jpg

With just a intake, and catback change, the PCM should be able to make the appropriate adjustments without needing to tune or change the fuel table or a/f ratio.

Try a 3000+ stall converter if you really want to wake her up :D