Foudn a new intake Options

[bojangles_8686]

There is a guy on ebay selling those air intakes that look like intercoolers.... kindof expensive if you ask me... Front Mount Intake

[kuya1284]

That POS definitely isn't worth the price that they're asking. I'm not going to clown on the looks, but more on the functionality of the CAI.

1. They claim it provides "8-20 hp gains depending on mods". This guarantee that they're making (like many other companies) is misleading. If you use this with a stock 7A or 5S, you'll only see about 0.5 to 1 HP increase (AT BEST). The mods that they're referring to are serious mods (i.e. making your car force inducted).

2. Look at all those bends. How do you suppose that the air will sustain the cold temperature with the distance it will need to travel?

3. The big intake may be able to suck in a lot of air, but only so much can travel through the piping while still maintaining the cold air.

4. CAI's are more hype than anything, especially when compared to short ram. Althought they may give a *slight* increase in the lower power band, and CAI is only useful if you're racing and if you just want to tell people that you have a "C-A-I". In addition, there is a *slight* power loss in the upper power band.

Now why am I saying all this? Well, because since a short ram and cai perform equally as well on our low-end motors, I think the rediculous INTERFOOLER that was posted is simply a WASTE of money.

First off, let's consider the traditional argument of a Short Ram getting heat soaked. Yes, it can get heat soaked, but

a. That's why there are heat shields.
b. Since with a short ram there is less distance to travel, the amount of heat soak is negligible.
c. Who's to say that the piping of a CAI won't get hot as well, thus heating the *supposedly* cooler air.

Now there's the argument (in favor of the CAI) where cooler air contains more oxygen. BUZZZ. We can all agree that air is colder during the Winter season. But keep in mind that there is an increase in carbon monoxide during the winter months, because fuel burns *less* efficiently and the air is *more* stagnant in cold temperatures. Thus, when air is more stagnant, it doesn't get mixed up, causing pollution to hang around.

With that said, how exactly is it that a CAI helps improve performance? Yes, colder air may contain more oxygen because it's more dense. However, in our environment, there are additional gases that get mixed into the air. If you live in a city with a low amount of (gas-powered-vehicle) traffic, then I can see how a CAI *might* help a *little*. However, IMHO, CAI's are just hype.

Notice I didn't discuss anything about hydrolock. Why? Because you would have to live in an area that gets flooded (i.e. you intake becoming submerged in water) in order for this to be an issue. Since this generally isn't an issue for most people, this isn't a factor in the equation and there was no need to address this weak argument that you've probably been reading in other boards. In other words, it's irrelavent.

But overall, in the grand scheme of things, with our 7A and 5S motors, which is better? Performance-wise, they're *practically* the same.

Which is more economically efficient (in other words, which will give you more bang for the buck)? I would have to say the short ram. It won't give you more bang, but it will definitely save you lots of money. But if you're the type that is into all the hype, who likes to be proud of having a C-A-I, and who doesn't mind spending more money for that *little* extra gain, then by all means, go with the C-A-I.