Aftermarket Air Intake

icE_x · #1 02-27-2005, 08:14 AM

I've been looking to get started with modification, and an intake seems to be the first step to I/H/E. Better throttle response for a smaller amount of money. Was looking to buy one in the next couple of weeks.

First Question: Short-Ram or Cold-Air? Which is easier to install and is the lower temp from the cold-air really worth it?

Second Question: Which manufacturer? Is eBay fine? They have em for cheapo on ebay. Was wondering if there's any noticeable difference between that and another site, or do you get what you pay for? I heard the filter is what makes the difference.

Sikocivic · #2 02-27-2005, 08:28 AM

Get the cold air. For every 11 degrees you lower the intake temp, you gain 1% in HP. On a 100 HP motor, that would only be 1 HP for every 11 degrees, but at least its something. A short ram will just make more noise. Alot of people like the Js Racing one. They have knock-offs of it on Ebay. I would just get one of them.

Shaguar47 · #3 02-27-2005, 08:37 AM

The knock offs are pretty much the same thing that a AEM is. Only difference would be the construction of the filter. I personally am thinking of doing a home depot one but it just depends on the funds.

icE_x · #4 02-27-2005, 08:44 AM

^ that's what i was thinking also. So get a cold-air knock-off from ebay and then upgrade the filter later, doesn't sound too bad.

1PhatCX · #5 02-27-2005, 08:47 AM

its pretty much all the same size tube, some have different bends, it doesnt really matter, its mainly the placement and the filter that makes the difference

89hatcher · #6 02-27-2005, 02:50 PM

i would say it all depends on the weather where you live....if you live where its rains a lot i would get a short ram intake...because if a cold air intake sucks up water when it rains it can do a lot of harm to your motor...like bend your rods and cause hydrolock....because of where i live (hawaii) it always rains a lot and i seen a lot of cars that have a cold air intake in there cars and it bent there rods....for example a a shop that i wet to showed me a a bent rod of a brand new nissan 350z and the rod looked like it was at a 45 degree bend...but its up to you an intakes an intake the only difference is the filter...

civickiller · #7 02-27-2005, 04:38 PM

brand name mounts better, generic is good if you know how to weld on some kind of bracket to support the intake. like on my cheap ebay intake the filter scratched up my paint pretty good. but an aem doesnt do that

hey 89hatcher which island u live on ?

89hatcher · #8 02-27-2005, 04:58 PM

i live on Oahu and i live on a mountain so it rains a lot where i live....

kingpinn · #9 02-27-2005, 07:20 PM

i have a ebay cai and im glad i got the cold air but i do wish i would have got a aem or enjen but thats just my take

turtlecrxsi · #10 02-28-2005, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icE_x

I've been looking to get started with modification, and an intake seems to be the first step to I/H/E. Better throttle response for a smaller amount of money. Was looking to buy one in the next couple of weeks.

First Question: Short-Ram or Cold-Air? Which is easier to install and is the lower temp from the cold-air really worth it?

Second Question: Which manufacturer? Is eBay fine? They have em for cheapo on ebay. Was wondering if there's any noticeable difference between that and another site, or do you get what you pay for? I heard the filter is what makes the difference.

You should keep your car clean and stock looking. Just cut out the resonator part of bottom of the intake with a dremel and drop in a K&N filter and call it a day. Honestly, you're better off... and here's why. The battery will move even with the stock bracket thingies when you remove the original air-box. A cold air intake can suck if it's an ebay one, because there is in fact a difference in the shape of the bottom pipe. A cheap one will just face straight down so your filter is vertical, but a good one will have two bends so it bends down and forward toward your front bumper allowing the filter to sit horizontally. I cut a hole in my front bumper so I have air shooting straight in to the intake. I also have an AEM water by-pass thing (which are cheaply made plastic pieces of shit with foam around them) that seems to work. Anyway, it's your call, dude...

SiZ · #11 02-28-2005, 04:16 PM

If water is a problem where you live, get the AEM by-pass valve.

89si · #12 02-28-2005, 05:56 PM

what gains do you get from a ram intake? just better flow and the obvious sound? i have a tenzo intake with a K&N filter, it sure lets people know i have something, but do i really?

SiZ · #13 02-28-2005, 08:16 PM

Barley. Probably about the equivalent of a K&N drop-in or something close..

icE_x · #14 03-01-2005, 07:01 AM

gains are pretty minimal on a stock motor - but if you have forced induction i think you would need a better flowing air intake system

Kven · #15 03-01-2005, 07:30 AM

the short ram has better flow but since its sucking in hot air it wont make as much hp as a cold-air. i never seen it in person but ive read and heard of people's cold air still sucking in water with the bypass valve. the highest gain ive seen from a intake is a short ram pipe with a air stack and passenger headlight off(pretty much a "cold-air short ram").

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