I've got an ecotech and i was thinking about getting an AEM cold air intake. Good? Bad? whats your opinion or are they all the same?

http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=2&i=215434&t=215434

Quote:

Intakes I’ve had quite a few, which are normally called WAI;s and CAI’s (warm air and cold air) but the real names for them are long ram intake aka CAI and short ram intake WAI.

Short rams are usually more abundant, and from proof they run pretty much similar to long rams. A bit more quicker throttle response can be seen due to a shorter path and less bends to travel through.

Long rams are a bit more rare and are usually mounted down in the fender. Also another note, there are people always referring to “true CAI’s”…don’t know where the term came from, but the only difference between a TRUE CAI and a CAI conversion from a WAI, if the fact that parts came with the alleged “TRUE CAI” all in one package. The filters are all mounted in the same exact area, and the pipes travel the same path. Sometimes they charge you more for the name TRUE CAI depending on where you go. J

Now, The reason I am leaving them to long or short rather than Warm or Cold, is that from measuring with a temp sender and gauge. There was a difference between the two of 4 degrees. Also another bit of note, it wa ian lacey or matt teske, one of the two dynoed a WAI at 9 hp, aem just dynoed one of their CAI’s at 8.6 hp. So does that mean WAI;s are better? No. they have just as many downsides as a CAI. Some people think the heat is extremely bad under the car, which is a myth, cause when the car is in motion air circulates under the hood. So basically you get the same air temp as a CAI.

With a CAI, the filter is mounted low, and in the summer time or sunny days we all know heat absorbs into the ground, and then…heat rises. The lower you have the filter, its still gonna take in warmer air. And also, COLD AIR, is normally what you read. However, use a bit of logic. The air is cold in the winter time, but in the summer, its hot outside. The air your intake takes in is only relative to the air temp outside. Sure dynos say this and that, but you also have to realize, they are in usually controlled environments, and also what a car gains on one car, can differ with the same part on another car. Meaning, I can dyno an intake on my car and gain 8 hp, take it off and give it to you and you may gain 10hp. Hell dynoeing a car outside and inside can make a differnce. The cooler it is the better the car runs.

There are plenty of companies to buy from. A lot of people swear by this and that, and that’s personal choice. Doesn’t exactly mean something is better, and there DEFINITELY isn’t a BEST. If any one claims that theirs is the best simply ask have you tried all the other intakes available? 9 times out of 10, prob not. I stopped after the rksport CAI, mantapart CAI, rsm WAI, mantapart WAI, and about 5 other self made intakes… there really wasn’t much difference in temp nor performance. Yea I wasted money, but I wanted to see what was all the hype. Back then intakes were around 200$ now they bump into the 300$ range. Some can justify it, I can’t. it’s a metal pipe with a filter on the end. Keep in mind every company out there has made a public printed claim that there intake is the best, or gives the most gains

AEM makes this claim: Outperform every comparable intake system on the market
http://aempower.com/product_intake.asp

other companys have made their claims, and while I will publicly say I don’t doubt ANY of them, one persons intake will always produce better results than another. On different cars results will vary. Don’t fall into the ordeal where company X said 10HP, but company Z make 7HP. It is quite and DEF possible, that Z may actually produce more on your car than X does.

For those that will want to make their own, save money and get pretty much the same performance. These sites will help.

http://www.airflowonline.com
http://www.ny-jbodies.org/forum/library/2200/intake.htm
http://members.aol.com/htown2200/intake.html

most of these are for a 2200 2.2 which can be done on a 95-97 2.2 as well, but if you have a 2.4, or 2.3 or ecotec, its really the same process, you just need to substitute different parts. Use the imagination. It’s a really easy job to do.

For those that will want to buy and intake, there are a few JBO locals and companies to check out.

Don’t get mad Chris, putting your registry/name out there.
http://www.j-body.org/members/agentomega/ he has produced some for the 2200. email him for other cars. They are of decent quality and a reasonably low price. Same as ToBoyz intakes.

And a few companies:

http://www.rsmracing.com
http://www.mantapart.com
http://induction-dynamics.com/
http://rksport.com/
http://carcustoms.net/store/
http://highrevmotorsports.com/catalog/default.php
http://www.howellautomotive.com
http://www.cavalierconnection.com
and even
http://www.ebay.com

those are some sites to get you started. If at worse, check google or WebCrawler, you will find more side shops that have them.

search next time, it was the sticky at the top of the performance forum




n00b

There is no best.

electrical tape

cone

and pringo's can

Ecotec, learn it and love it.

there is no best. they are all just a piece of pipe with a filter at one end



Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!

i think the best kind of intake is the one that comess off of an intercooler which connects to the turbo . pretty expensive though . but yeah thats the best in my books.

What about the infamous intake pipe off a super charger, thats prob the best.

Stock


________________________________________________________
You're no good to the group if you never make it there.

intake??? who needs an intake just take it off and run it open throttle quickest way to get air their and unplug the IAC that way it shifts like ou have a b&M shiftplus lol


in a more serious note i have the weapon R intake got it for 150shipped from LMperformance but i'm a bit iffy on it cuase of the clearence with the hood not so sure how its going to fit with an invader hood.

i dont have the AEM cold air, but i got their short ram or warm air intake and i've got no complants... i picked it up from a local guy for just over $100, whereas most shops wanted closer or over $200...

there is no best tho, the ebay intakes are the same as AEM, Weapon R, Injen... no difference really... only ebay intakes are much cheaper...


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ayo 8 Iz Enuff

somtimes the fitment is questionable with the ebay intakes....just what iv heard anyways...

Spotabee Racing (The Fake Z24) wrote:
Sorry that you aren't fond of me... I guess you seem to be a loner in that crowd bud.

...i beg to differ

Brad M wrote:I've got an ecotech and i was thinking about getting an AEM cold air intake. Good? Bad? whats your opinion or are they all the same?

Eh, Get a Bomz Intake from ebay 35$ shipped.. or mine was...

I agree that it's just a pipe with a filter on the end. You can spend the money and have that polished look under your hood.....or you could buy some black 4in dia. pvc, an elbow, and a k&n cone filter. Probably get the same performance but just not look as good doing it.

me personally, i would stick with brand names, AEM, Injen, Weapon R. i have the injen intake and it came with a dynograph sheet, showing the horsepower gains. those companies research and design their intakes to ge the most horsepower possible. the ebay companies just give you a pipe that fits and a filter. of course like others said, every intake performs different of different cars.

Keep in mind that CAI's make their best gains at the mid-range RPMs, and short rams get better throttle response, but since they're in the engine bay they tend to lose some performance because of the heat. Any short ram you get should also be accessorised with a cold-air box on the filter, and some heat wrap for the tubing. Long-Rams should have a cover for the filter, which will keep out water and dirt and such from the ground. There aren't many differences apart from that. I have had VERY good results from the Weapon-R Dragon intake. I hear that the Secret Weapon is extremely awesome too.

All the same thing... all you should be worried about is which filter to use. I'm using a K+N cone filter for a 7.9 turbo diesel on the drag car and a paper element APC cone filter on my daily driver. Most of the foam filters don't filter as good as paper. A cold air box is not necessary, nor is heat wrap. Under hood temperatures at speed are barely different than outside temperatures simply because of air circulation. The tube doesn't really get hot either, nowhere near enough to affect performance. If you go cold air, it is a good idea to put a bypass on the TB elbow so you don't pick up water
Ebay intakes are perfectly fine, again.. all the same stuff.



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