Cold Air Induction

[cknebusch]

Looking for any performance stats and "testimonials" on any/all CAI's that you all have installed. Unsure what system is the best, and researching...so any input is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Greg Stevens]

There is one big problem with CAIs....they don't represent themselves well on a dyno unless there is a full windtunnel to simulate the car moving at speed.

That said, I have the carbon fiber MG Racing intake and it's really hard to say if there are any real gains. I would like to think so, but I can't substantiate that with hard, cold numbers.

I don't know anyone else who has an MG Racing intake, but it's sharp looking and the car sounds great with it. Power gains? Hmmm...hard to say. I know lots of folks with the CF Mugen intake and love it. The design is very elegant and the workmanship is first rate. And I think Mugen has some dyno plots to back up their numbers, since they have access to a full wind tunnel to test all their aero parts.

There are others such as the AEM and Injen who, IMO, made some rather outrageous power, and therefore lacking credibility, gains. I don't think there is that much power left in the engine, especially if Mugen couldn't find it.

But AEM/Injen are most likely marginal gains, like all of the others. The stock box, IMO, is too quiet and I was happy with the very aggressive/mean sound that the MG Racing one provides.

Going with an aftermarket CAI will benefit you in one main way - your car will 'sound' faster! ;)

HTH!

[Urmil]

One thing that I found helps, according to my butt-meter...is to take the stock airbox and cut out the "baffle". Then drop in a larger-than-stock K&N filter. I also cut out a portion of the wind deflector that sits above the radiator. A flat and sturdy piece of lexan can be fashioned onto an edge of the deflector to act as an air guide.

I will post pics as soon as I can.

Urmil

[cknebusch]

yeah, Urmil, plz do, I look forward to seeing that.

[desmo4]

I have been running the Mugen airbox for 25000 miles and hp gains are small for sure. The biggest boost came from Mugen headers, but I don't know if it's the combination of the airbox and the headers or the headers alone. One thing for sure, I would stay away from any CAI which has it's intake close to the ground. I inadvertantly killed a GM junk pile in a puddle because the OEM air intake was inches from the road and it tore the con rods off the pistons when it tried to compress water.

Jonathan