Cold Air Intake Recomendations

[slitherin' 03]

Ok guys, the eaton is at Stiegemeier as we speak getting ported along with the tb and plenum. I will have the 2.93 blower pulley on and will gently drive my car to the tuner after all is put back together.

I have the UPR cai and it has a 90 deg bend before the MAF with the filter located inside the fenderwell. I have heard conflicting reports about how this bend can interupt the flowpath of air thru the MAF housing. In any case, I have decided to go with a staight thru design. I like the JLT. Everybody has good things to say about it. Should I go with the CAI or the RAI? I know the CAI kit from JLT will take more time for installation and maintainence, but this does not bother me. Is this kit worth the extra money and are there any problems with relocating the MAF into the fenderwell? Are there any other recomendations on different brands? I think I have read about every CAI kit on the market but just wanted some opinions.

THANKS!

 

[Uncle Meat]

The JLT CAI only provides maybe a 1 or 2 HP gain over the JLT RAI. The JLT CAI being in fender makes the installation a pain in the butt and subsequent filter changes and inspections are also a pain. If I were you I'd go with the RAI. It's cheaper and easier all the way around. The added pain of the JLT CAI versus the RAI isn't worth the minimal gain.

U.M.

 

[RB88]

I have had my JLT CAI for 2.5 years, and have experienced no issues with the MAF in the fender. If the install/extra time to maintain does not bother you, I say go for the CAI. I think it provides a much cleaner factory type appearance. The fliter being kept away from underhood heat while stopped in traffic, or the staging lanes if you race has some merit. BTW I gained 26 RWHP...

 

[Dan_Soprano]

I am running a K&N FIPK right now. I have a JLT inlet tube waiting to go on, just been too damn lazy to install it. The K&N FIPK is worth the money IMO.

 

[slitherin' 03]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the input. I am gonna go with the JLT CAI.

 

[Uncle Meat]

I have had my JLT CAI for 2.5 years, and have experienced no issues with the MAF in the fender.

That's the great thing about the JLT CAI. It not only relocates the filter into the fender, but the MAF too. By mating the MAF to the filter in the fender this alleviates the problem the other "in-fender" units have with laminar airflow across the meter's sensor (UPR, Densechanrger, BBK, etc.)

It's still a pain in the ass to install, inspect, and service though!

U.M.

 

[GToddyT5]

What exactly makes it so difficult? Do you have to take the fender off or the splash guards off?

 

[Uncle Meat]

What exactly makes it so difficult? Do you have to take the fender off or the splash guards off?

Usually requires that the inner fender liner be pulled back to gain access to the inner area where the filter will be located. It's tight, cramped, and difficult to work in this small space especially when trying to cram a large air filter in there and get it clamped down to a MAF or inlet tube (unless you've got small girlie hands ). Plus once the system is installed the task of inspecting and cleaning the filter is made more difficult for the very same reasons.

U.M.

 

[slitherin' 03]

I have the upr product and it is a pain is the ass, but for some reason i just dont like the designs out there that suck the air from the engine bay. I think it would be worth the extra time and aggrivation. I will just take a valium before i intall it!

Hope to have my ported sc back by Tuesday. What plugs should I run with my new setup?

 

[GToddyT5]

Usually requires that the inner fender liner be pulled back to gain access to the inner area where the filter will be located. It's tight, cramped, and difficult to work in this small space especially when trying to cram a large air filter in there and get it clamped down to a MAF or inlet tube (unless you've got small girlie hands ). Plus once the system is installed the task of inspecting and cleaning the filter is made more difficult for the very same reasons.

U.M.

And what about changing the spark plugs? Are you able to remove the elbow alone or do you need to undo everything in the fenderwell also?

 

[RB88]

And what about changing the spark plugs? Are you able to remove the elbow alone or do you need to undo everything in the fenderwell also?

Yes, you just have to disconnect it at the TB to change plugs.

Slitherin: I run NGK TR6IX irridiums

 

[slitherin' 03]

what should i gap the plugs to? ported sc will be back on tues, got the jlt cai on, and pulled old plugs out. just gotta get the ngk's, gap them and reinstall. then go to the tuner. i am running the 2.93 upper pulley.

ty

 

[SVT98Snake]

The JLT CAI only provides maybe a 1 or 2 HP gain over the JLT RAI. The JLT CAI being in fender makes the installation a pain in the butt and subsequent filter changes and inspections are also a pain. If I were you I'd go with the RAI. It's cheaper and easier all the way around. The added pain of the JLT CAI versus the RAI isn't worth the minimal gain.

U.M.

+1, but I would add that the CAI looks cleaner and provides a better air charge....

The RAI will feed more engine air (hot) versus the cooler charge from the fender.

But, as a customer of JLT, the CAI is a P.I.A. to install.

 

[RB88]

what should i gap the plugs to? ported sc will be back on tues, got the jlt cai on, and pulled old plugs out. just gotta get the ngk's, gap them and reinstall. then go to the tuner. i am running the 2.93 upper pulley.

ty

Initally I gapped mine @ .032 , but I had a light part throttle miss. I gapped up to .038, and have no issues. BTW I have a 2.93 as well.