then i would suggest the cheap CAI from ebay.
i bought the kit from the seller "streetdomination"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-9...ewItemQQcategoryZ38634QQitemZ8024704149QQrdZ1
The total cost was just a little over 40$ shipped to my door.
i got it as a christmas gift, just got it today, also put it on.
I was suprised by this little cheap ass kit.
Just the cheap price makes you think that it will be junk. But really its not that bad, granted you have to make some modifications for a good fit, but i felt the money was well spent.
The modification is where to tube meets the TB.
With the pipe out of the box, you can hold it up and its a good fit. But when you try and put the rubber piece to seal it up, the pipe would hit the strut tower and the rubber wont flex far enough without slipping off the throttle body.
First we tried cutting the pipe, we took about 3/4" off the end that meets the TB, gave a lil more cleanance but still the rubber would slip off.
Then we cut the rubber piece. The piece is 3" long, we took off 1"
We went back and it fit pretty good. Could almost take off a little more pipe but i left her alone.
The kit includes a metal clamp to hold it together, this cant be used or it will mess up the stuff. I just used some hose clamps to hold it nicely.
Farther down we get to the MAF, on the CAI it moves the MAF foward about3-4", the stock metal bracket will not work here, will hit the body of the car. The kit includes a new bracket, But the stock bracket has rubber pieces that take up space. The new piece is just metal, so the bolts were too long. I just didnt use the bracket at all. Works fine, as its all a tight fit anyway.
Getting the 90degree pipe in the plate and the maf is pretty hard. I removed the MAF again and put them together outside the car. Then put it in as one.
People always complained about getting the filter up in the fender, saying it was hard.
PSSSH, not even close, was way easy. Dont even have to take the wheel well cover off. There is a stright shot to it from the front, just had to stick the filter on. Angle to screw on the clamp towards me, and tighen it up.
Now lots move on to looks. Out of the box, the tubes look well polished, a tad rough and really a mirror finish, but hell its 40$.
I took some Mother Alum polish to the pipe and make it shine like crazy. looked much better.
The filter looks low quality, the cover on the smaller end is glued on, and came off easily. I didnt want to risk it falling off so i went to glue it back, didnt have any glue so i used some RTV silicone
( dont ask, but it holds it nicely.)
Also this filter can easily be upgraded to a quality K&N filter later on.
I was suprised by the looks of the CAI, people always said they looked good, and i always thought "hmm yeah."
They look better in person, going from the dirty black ripple rubber POS tube to a nice fat, shiny smoothe tube, really looks great under the hood. Really helped out my dirty motor, its the first thing you notice.
View attachment 493770
before, plain and boring
View attachment 493773
View attachment 493775
after, much much better.
Now onto performance. No real notice SOTP gains, maybe a SMALL SMALL SMALL one, real small. Not even worth mentioning. While i am sure it picked up maybe a couple HP, from the smoother tube and supposedly colder air from the fender, i couldnt feel a thing.
But the motor seemed to breathe much much easier and more freely.
The exhaust sounds meaner, a tad louder and a little deeper and throatier.
Also makes a noitceable "whooosh" when the throttle is suddenly pressed.
so my conclusion is.
If you have been thinking about a CAI but know its not going to do that much, and dont want to shell out over 100$ for such a minimal gain. Try the cheapy ebay kits. While i am sure a BBK or mac would fit right up with no cutting or anything. I felt much better saving over 100$ and doing a little cutting and work myself. I went into this install expect next to no gains, and was actually suprised and quite happy with what i got with the exhaust tone and looks.
Got the cool looks and sound of the CAI but didnt waste any money.
i bought the kit from the seller "streetdomination"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-9...ewItemQQcategoryZ38634QQitemZ8024704149QQrdZ1
The total cost was just a little over 40$ shipped to my door.
i got it as a christmas gift, just got it today, also put it on.
I was suprised by this little cheap ass kit.
Just the cheap price makes you think that it will be junk. But really its not that bad, granted you have to make some modifications for a good fit, but i felt the money was well spent.
The modification is where to tube meets the TB.
With the pipe out of the box, you can hold it up and its a good fit. But when you try and put the rubber piece to seal it up, the pipe would hit the strut tower and the rubber wont flex far enough without slipping off the throttle body.
First we tried cutting the pipe, we took about 3/4" off the end that meets the TB, gave a lil more cleanance but still the rubber would slip off.
Then we cut the rubber piece. The piece is 3" long, we took off 1"
We went back and it fit pretty good. Could almost take off a little more pipe but i left her alone.
The kit includes a metal clamp to hold it together, this cant be used or it will mess up the stuff. I just used some hose clamps to hold it nicely.
Farther down we get to the MAF, on the CAI it moves the MAF foward about3-4", the stock metal bracket will not work here, will hit the body of the car. The kit includes a new bracket, But the stock bracket has rubber pieces that take up space. The new piece is just metal, so the bolts were too long. I just didnt use the bracket at all. Works fine, as its all a tight fit anyway.
Getting the 90degree pipe in the plate and the maf is pretty hard. I removed the MAF again and put them together outside the car. Then put it in as one.
People always complained about getting the filter up in the fender, saying it was hard.
PSSSH, not even close, was way easy. Dont even have to take the wheel well cover off. There is a stright shot to it from the front, just had to stick the filter on. Angle to screw on the clamp towards me, and tighen it up.
Now lots move on to looks. Out of the box, the tubes look well polished, a tad rough and really a mirror finish, but hell its 40$.
I took some Mother Alum polish to the pipe and make it shine like crazy. looked much better.
The filter looks low quality, the cover on the smaller end is glued on, and came off easily. I didnt want to risk it falling off so i went to glue it back, didnt have any glue so i used some RTV silicone
( dont ask, but it holds it nicely.)Also this filter can easily be upgraded to a quality K&N filter later on.
I was suprised by the looks of the CAI, people always said they looked good, and i always thought "hmm yeah."
They look better in person, going from the dirty black ripple rubber POS tube to a nice fat, shiny smoothe tube, really looks great under the hood. Really helped out my dirty motor, its the first thing you notice.
View attachment 493770
before, plain and boring
View attachment 493773
View attachment 493775
after, much much better.
Now onto performance. No real notice SOTP gains, maybe a SMALL SMALL SMALL one, real small. Not even worth mentioning. While i am sure it picked up maybe a couple HP, from the smoother tube and supposedly colder air from the fender, i couldnt feel a thing.
But the motor seemed to breathe much much easier and more freely.
The exhaust sounds meaner, a tad louder and a little deeper and throatier.
Also makes a noitceable "whooosh" when the throttle is suddenly pressed.
so my conclusion is.
If you have been thinking about a CAI but know its not going to do that much, and dont want to shell out over 100$ for such a minimal gain. Try the cheapy ebay kits. While i am sure a BBK or mac would fit right up with no cutting or anything. I felt much better saving over 100$ and doing a little cutting and work myself. I went into this install expect next to no gains, and was actually suprised and quite happy with what i got with the exhaust tone and looks.
Got the cool looks and sound of the CAI but didnt waste any money.
