Building my own cold air intake

[AdamK47]

Don't knock the guy. With headers, intake manifold, full 3" exhaust, tune, that CAI will help out. It's a great start and design. Especially since it's a DIY. Most here wouldn't even contemplate it.

BTW - Wash the car!

 

[SSSnail]

Don't get me wrong, I've done a lot of dumb things when I was younger (I still do them now, just not as much). But then, I realized that none of the things I did to the car was meaningful, or beneficial, so I stopped.

As most people pointed out already, most the intake area is covered up by the bumper, so that negate the "ram air effect". Secondly, I think unless you're going awfully fast, you're not going to generate more than 14.7PSI, which is the pressure going in the intake when you're standing still. Realizing that, short of FORCED INDUCTION, no gimmick is going to work.

 

[EightySix Four]

Don't get me wrong, I've done a lot of dumb things when I was younger (I still do them now, just not as much). But then, I realized that none of the things I did to the car was meaningful, or beneficial, so I stopped.

As most people pointed out already, most the intake area is covered up by the bumper, so that negate the "ram air effect". Secondly, I think unless you're going awfully fast, you're not going to generate more than 14.7PSI, which is the pressure going in the intake when you're standing still. Realizing that, short of FORCED INDUCTION, no gimmick is going to work.

The ram air effect is only a few percent at best, but a better intake will increase his HP. The new airbox he is setting up is exactly how the Corvette intake is designed and will provide gains to the affect of 5-10 rwhp depending on supporting mods. Maybe a little bit more or less depending on the tune.

 

[zerocool84]

I installed a Short Ram Intake in my car. Didn't really care about the Cold Air as it's turbo and has an intercooler to cool the air and didn't want to risk any chance of getting air sucked into the engine since when it rains in LA area, it practically gets flooded everywhere. I pretty much got it so I could hear the turbo and free up some space in the engine bay. Didn't really care about any performance gains.

 

[SSSnail]

The ram air effect is only a few percent at best, but a better intake will increase his HP. The new airbox he is setting up is exactly how the Corvette intake is designed and will provide gains to the affect of 5-10 rwhp depending on supporting mods. Maybe a little bit more or less depending on the tune.

These guys, http://www.cunningham-motorsports.com/, my friends for a while before I moved up north, can tell you all about the "Corvette intake"... lol.

Yes, they do have those intakes bolted on, but behind those intakes are usually some GIANT FREAKING SUPERCHARGERS, or TT.

 

[dug777]

The ram air effect is only a few percent at best, but a better intake will increase his HP. The new airbox he is setting up is exactly how the Corvette intake is designed and will provide gains to the affect of 5-10 rwhp depending on supporting mods. Maybe a little bit more or less depending on the tune.

I am sure you are correct, but how does this work?

If any 'ram air' effect is negligable, then where does a performance improvement come from? I presume the same filter and filter-diameter set-up stays in place, which I would have thought that would have been the bottleneck?

Perhaps my 'ram air intake' snorkel is giving me some crazy performance boost after all

http://www.safarisnorkel.com/snorkel/ss185hf/ss185hf.htm

At least I know that I don't have to worry about water getting in, even in the most torrential tropical downpour

 

[ponyo]

I view cold air intake the same as exhaust swap. Put a different one on there if you like particular sound. Just don't expect any noticeable hp gains.

 

[EightySix Four]

I view cold air intake the same as exhaust swap. Put a different one on there if you like particular sound. Just don't expect any noticeable hp gains.

Seriously? Changes in a factory restrictive exhaust do make power (more for full systems, a lot less for catbacks). Would you like me to show you the difference in logged MAF flow from a PCM?

Stock parts are designed to meet the initial performance goals, not to create maximum performance.

These guys, http://www.cunningham-motorsports.com/, my friends for a while before I moved up north, can tell you all about the "Corvette intake"... lol.

Yes, they do have those intakes bolted on, but behind those intakes are usually some GIANT FREAKING SUPERCHARGERS, or TT.

http://www.lgmotorsports.com/catalog/index.php and those guys will tell you different. The stock box is restrictive but the intake design itself is not. In fact, there's a few mods that's as simple as cutting a few holes in the intake box which give a few HP on the dyno.

 

[AMCRambler]

Well you gotta start somewhere right? When I dynoed the car the dude at the shop told me the first thing I should do was the intake. Easiest upgrade for some decent gains and he proved it to me with the car on the dyno just by disconnecting the intake. After researching it, the word is the Svede intake is the best. My choice was pay $400 and wait 6 months for them to make me one or try it myself and save some scratch.

Anyways, I spent today working on it. Sanded down the bondo, built the jig to hold the form, covered the form in tape and put down the first layer of fiberglass. The glass needs to setup overnight and then tomorrow I can sand it and do another layer. The first layer is a fine weave fabric to make a smooth interior. The second layer is a thick weave heavy fabric to build up thickness and strengthen and the third layer will be the fine stuff again.

I took a few pics but it's late so I'll upload them tomorrow. It went pretty smoothly. The one thing I forgot to do was to add the dye to the resin as I'm planning on tinting it blue like my car. It's not going to be an exact match but I figured blue would look better than black.

And yes Adam, I know the car is grungy. I washed it last Sunday but the friggin' roads in NY are a mess this time of year. 2 days and it looks like that again.

 

[SSSnail]

Seriously? Changes in a factory restrictive exhaust do make power (more for full systems, a lot less for catbacks). Would you like me to show you the difference in logged MAF flow from a PCM?

Stock parts are designed to meet the initial performance goals, not to create maximum performance.



http://www.lgmotorsports.com/catalog/index.php and those guys will tell you different. The stock box is restrictive but the intake design itself is not. In fact, there's a few mods that's as simple as cutting a few holes in the intake box which give a few HP on the dyno.

That's because they SELL accessories. I'll take what I know + the shop that only does performance modification over a retailer any day.

 

[alkemyst]

1) the OP is posting on something 2 years old now. It's also been proven.

2) ram air REGARDLESS of what you fucking benchracers think has somehow proven to result in real world benefit some of the time. A lot of the time the delivery is piss-poor and thus even hurts power. It's akin to the 'backpressure' debate.

If water is a worry you can buy an inline device that will shut it down. Could cause major issues on a high boost motor though.

Those laughing about a 10HP gain from just a CAI are just showing their lack of knowledge in real world too. On many cars you will never see it, sure...but on many it's not unheard of. Same thing with exhaust. Especially on cars designed mostly for 'quiet', you can pick up a lot of HP from add ons that scratch that.

As the emo generation is in their driving years ATG is becoming crap.

 

[alkemyst]

That's because they SELL accessories. I'll take what I know + the shop that only does performance modification over a retailer any day.

how about posting up some of your badassery? Walk your talk here. It's getting lame to see you in every thread calling shens.

 

[SSSnail]

how about posting up some of your badassery? Walk your talk here. It's getting lame to see you in every thread calling shens.

WTF does what I say have anything to do with anything I claimed? And, what have I claimed that needs proving? Or, are you just pissed that I crapped on your "theories"? You're pissing up the wrong tree buddy.

Ram air works? Yeah, on a SR-71, sure.

How about you post your links on any NA cars that gains 10HP on an air intake change. I'll wait... Since it's "proven", shouldn't take you that long, right?

I've been rolling around with the import scene since I was in my teens, and most of the crap that people sell and buy, are just that, craps. If you want to believe otherwise, your prerogatives.

 

[EightySix Four]

WTF does what I say have anything to do with anything I claimed? And, what have I claimed that needs proving? Or, are you just pissed that I crapped on your "theories"? You're pissing up the wrong tree buddy.

Ram air works? Yeah, on a SR-71, sure.

How about you post your links on any NA cars that gains 10HP on an air intake change. I'll wait... Since it's "proven", shouldn't take you that long, right?

I've been rolling around with the import scene since I was in my teens, and most of the crap that people sell and buy, are just that, craps. If you want to believe otherwise, your prerogatives.

http://g35driver.com/forums/tuner-dyno/203301-stillen-intake-dyno-test.html
7rwhp 10rwlb.ft

http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_0612_c6_corvette_intake/dyno_test_results.html
2rwhp 12rwlb.ft

http://forums.corral.net/forums/s-1...11-gt-jlt-cai-dyno-results-vs-k-n-filter.html
15.82rwhp 8.8rwlb.ft

Oh look, it works on motorcycles too, and S2k's, mmmm... Audi. The Audi received 12awhp and 10awlb.ft, and even the tiny little S2k motor put up an extra 11.6rwhp.

You will make more power from a new intake, period. While they do not produce huge gains, they're invaluable when combined with the other major bolt-ons and a proper tune to create a complete package which outflows the stock parts. Just because JDM motors built for gas mileage in little toasters don't receive huge gains from an intake, doesn't mean other cars don't, so you go play with your little toys and let the big boys talk mkay?

And FYI, before you go running your mouth again, I actually tune cars... Where I actually, you know, see the MAF numbers right in front of my face. Have you ever even seen a dyno run?

 

[alkemyst]

http://g35driver.com/forums/tuner-dyno/203301-stillen-intake-dyno-test.html
7rwhp 10rwlb.ft

http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_0612_c6_corvette_intake/dyno_test_results.html
2rwhp 12rwlb.ft

http://forums.corral.net/forums/s-1...11-gt-jlt-cai-dyno-results-vs-k-n-filter.html
15.82rwhp 8.8rwlb.ft

Oh look, it works on motorcycles too.


You will make more power from a new intake, period. While they do not produce huge gains, they're invaluable when combined with the other major bolt-ons and a proper tune to create a complete package which outflows the stock parts. Just because JDM motors built for gas mileage in little toasters don't receive huge gains from an intake, doesn't mean other cars don't, so you go play with your little toys and let the big boys talk mkay?

PPPwn'd

 

[simonizor]

I am sure you are correct, but how does this work?

If any 'ram air' effect is negligable, then where does a performance improvement come from? I presume the same filter and filter-diameter set-up stays in place, which I would have thought that would have been the bottleneck?

Perhaps my 'ram air intake' snorkel is giving me some crazy performance boost after all

http://www.safarisnorkel.com/snorkel/ss185hf/ss185hf.htm

At least I know that I don't have to worry about water getting in, even in the most torrential tropical downpour

You really have one of these things on your car? Wow :awe:

 

[EightySix Four]

I am sure you are correct, but how does this work?

If any 'ram air' effect is negligable, then where does a performance improvement come from? I presume the same filter and filter-diameter set-up stays in place, which I would have thought that would have been the bottleneck?

Perhaps my 'ram air intake' snorkel is giving me some crazy performance boost after all

http://www.safarisnorkel.com/snorkel/ss185hf/ss185hf.htm

At least I know that I don't have to worry about water getting in, even in the most torrential tropical downpour

Your snorkel is very long and the air having to drastically change directions means it's highly unlikely that it gave you a performance boost, unless the OEM intake absolutely sucks that is. "Ram air" effects do the most when there is a big open mouth feeding air into a short and direct tube to the motor that has as straight a shot as possible.

 

[alkemyst]

dug777 that's mostly for trucks that go into mud.

Also much of the 'ram air' affect is not really the rammed air, but the cooler air charge coming in.

People seem to get fixated on there is no real pressure difference and forget the temperature one.

 

[EightySix Four]

dug777 that's mostly for trucks that go into mud.

Also much of the 'ram air' affect is not really the rammed air, but the cooler air charge coming in.

People seem to get fixated on there is no real pressure difference and forget the temperature one.

The motorcycle article is highly interesting, they actually check the pressure differential between the standard air intake and the ram air and found a pretty big difference, especially at speed (obviously).

 

[alkemyst]

The motorcycle article is highly interesting, they actually check the pressure differential between the standard air intake and the ram air and found a pretty big difference, especially at speed (obviously).

There is no doubt that ram air does pay off at speed.

 

[dug777]

I was being silly I have to admit

As far as I am aware, the benefits of my snorkel extend to allowing me to ford ridiculously deep water crossings with relative condfidence, and a cleaner air intake as it's up high and out of any wheel generated dust so must less dust in hella dusty conditions (especially with a cyclonic dustbowl thingy fitted instead of the 'ram' intake), although I suppose any little bit of extra pressure and 'cooler' air probably don't do any harm

 

[AMCRambler]

Here's the pics from yesterday. Didn't get a shot of the first layer of fiberglass on the mold yet as my hands were a little sticky. I'll snap one today.

Sanded bondo on the mold. Didn't make it perfect since I was going to be laying down tape over it anyway.

Fiberglass ingredients

Jig with mold mounted

 

[IcePickFreak]

WTF does what I say have anything to do with anything I claimed? And, what have I claimed that needs proving? Or, are you just pissed that I crapped on your "theories"? You're pissing up the wrong tree buddy.

You're trying to sound like you're an expert in intake design, let's see some pics of your work.. oh right you don't have anything to prove. Yet you still insist on some guy in the GT-R thread post pics of his cars, and he's not even the OP of that thread.

Vararam is well known for making intakes much like the OP is constructing, and there is plenty of real-world evidence to back up their claims. If you look you can quite easily find results posted by customers, you know, so they aren't trying to cheat you out of your dollar.

HINT: Dyno numbers aren't the end-all answer, ET's and trap speeds are.


OP, nice work looking forward to see how it turns out.

 

[AMCRambler]

You guys gotta stop worryin' about the snail. His nick sais it all. SLOW. He's entitled to his opinion and I doubt we'll convince him otherwise.

Oh I forgot to post about the filter. I'm not going K&N. Had bad experience with those gunking up my TB in the past. I'll be using a Motorcraft filter that's used on Ford Contours. I was trying to find one that was commonly available for a car that had high production numbers and was long and thin to maximize the use of the opening between the hood and grill and minimize how much of the rad would be blocked.

The one that Svede used in his design is thinner but it's for a specific type of Triumph that was only made for two model years. As such finding a non K&N version of that filter was difficult and I was worried about how easy a replacement would be when it came time to put in a new one. The Contour filter is 15.5" long and 5.8" tall and has about the same surface area.

 

[exdeath]

A good intake on the 03/04 Cobra is worth 30-40 RWHP in combination with a 14 psi pulley and ported blower or blower upgrade. Blower inlet restrictions are bad.

I'd be skeptical of anything claiming 5 HP gain or less, that's too close to the repeatability error of a dyno.

Also doesn't the stock GTO intake pipe have a tight 90 deg bend in it? A 90 degree bend is equal to something like 10 feet of straight pipe in terms of air flow resistance.