CAI...help please

flgators37 · Post by **flgators37** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:22 pm

i have a 2004 sxt, want to buy a cai. I've read lots of posts and i hate to beat a dead horse with all the cai talk, but i'm really lost here. Is the K&N typhoon any good? If not, what is? Any and all thoughts are welcome. Also, please share any good sites i could browse or buy a cai from. Thanks.

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:36 pm

your not gonna see any gains from a cai....i think most pull 1hp on the dyno....replaces the bellows tube with a hard tube...either exhuast pipe or pvc....and then get a k and n filter and put it in your box....less than 50 bucks and you'll get the same power

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:57 pm

There are a few reasons we buy/make CAI's into our neons. The biggest gain is in SOUND. A small power gain may also be found, depending on brand and other mods. I have the K&N and love it. It sounds great, looks great, install was straight up and fast, has a CARB e.o. number for emissions legality, and IMO added some power (seat of the pants dyno only, i dont have numbers yet). Others argue the AEM is better, but most of those people havent had the K&N, cuz its quite a bit newer. Good luck

Post by **Canada** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:04 pm

The K&N adds 6.8hp@3800rpm in a WOT third gear pull

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:06 pm

all of the current cai are ok. AEM, K&N, Iceman (if they make one for us), ebay. if you want flashy get one of the name brands. if you want not as flashy and save some cash then get an ebay one. many people have the ebay one and are very happy with it.

if you are in it for the sound then go for a cai, but for performance i believe that putting a hard piece in for the bellows, a K&N air filter and then removing the resonator will be just the same. you could also take the lid off of the air box to achieve the sound. i ran 16.11 with only a K&N air filter in the stock box. every thing else was stock. from what i have seen and heard that is about the fastest "stock" second gen around. i wish i could find the time slip so i could post exact incremental numbers. i also ran a 16.12 with the lid off the air box. so the lid off only adds sound.

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:09 pm

^ you must be a damn good shifter bro, my best (and first time at the strip) was 16.9, and that was with only my CAI back in the day. Ive learned to shift much better since tho, but dang thats fast!

back on topic tho, does anyone know if a homemade bellows tube is illegal for CA emissions.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:09 pm

EclecticBlue wrote:The K&N adds 6.8hp@3800rpm in a WOT third gear pull

while K&N might say that i dont believe it for one second.

orangeblastsxt wrote:^ you must be a damn good shifter bro, my best (and first time at the strip) was 16.9, and that was with only my CAI back in the day. Ive learned to shift much better since tho, but dang thats fast!

dont like to toot my own horn but im am rather quick with the shifting.

orangeblastsxt wrote:back on topic tho, does anyone know if a homemade bellows tube is illegal for CA emissions.

i dont see the problem but it is CA, its not hard at all to change it when you have to go in for an emissions check.

what exactly does a CA emissions check entail. i think over here it is just plugging into the OBD-II port and making sure there arent any codes. and probably take a look to see if the kitty is actually there.

Post by **Canada** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:15 pm

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:19 pm

guess i didnt read it right.

too bad its down low and by the time you get up top its only about 2hp. and in a race situation how often to you really drop down to 3800 rpm?

Post by **Canada** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:20 pm

Yeah No Kidding, But from what I have seen, that is the most HP at any rpm's from all the current manufacturers...anyone hear any different?

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:30 pm

you got it right parter, KN tested the shit out of the typhoon, and to put the icing on the cake, it COMES with a KN filter (undisputed king of filters).

Racer- in CA they I belive they do a full visual, and of course the exhaust tests and whatnot. not sure what else, but i know for a fact that ANY NON-stock part that does not have a CARB# is illegal, but i dunno if theyd catch the tube, especially if i painted it flat black or somethin.

ps. would i benefit at all from having a custom PVC bellows tube or am i wastin my breath and time thinkin about makin one?

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:42 pm

orangeblastsxt wrote:KN filter (undisputed king of filters).

kind of

orangeblastsxt wrote:ps. would i benefit at all from having a custom PVC bellows tube or am i wastin my breath and time thinkin about makin one?

it might help a little. that seems to be the general consensus here. its cheap enough to try if you find a place that sells it in 6" or 12" pieces. be sure to get it super clean or you might get little pieces of PVC in the engine.

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:24 pm

oh you know it. OB=clean! ima try it out why not! what diameter would be the perfect fit?

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:37 pm

http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=6938&highlight=

and here is my new global response for threads like this

:

scneonchic501 wrote:
neonpla wrote:
scneonchic501 wrote:HA...

I have the AEM on mine, used to have the ebay, but Im much happier w/ the AEM personally.

why is that?
well to keep from starting another 'why the ebay owns other intakes' ....long story short, I had the ebay intake for about a year and a half. the metal piping was very thin, the couplers cracked after a year and i had to duck tape it in place until I could afford the AEM a couple months later. the hole for the sensor was huge, we had to use electircal tape to hold it in the pipe. on top of that, after a year of it getting so hot (the piping) the electrical tape was completely melted all over the intake. the filter sucked, just in general the way it was made was not very well at all IMO. The clamps wouldnt stay clamped and the intake litterally kept falling apart. every day Id have to pop the hood and tighten all the clamps up, only to do it again later that day or the next day at the latest. No straight bellows tube replacement either.

the AEM, on the other hand was a world of difference. Bolted right up. very well made couplers and clamps, the piping is a little thicker, the sensor fits right in that little hole for it perfectly and doesnt fall out. and best of all I dont have to worry about if its falling apart under my hood. sure it cost me like $200 (actually got it on ebay) but its a real AEM and it was well worth the money. I wish I wouldve spent it in the first place rather than going the cheaper route and getting a ebay special.

There are others that will arugue that they are just as good, but im giving you my honest opinion based on my experience. Its worth the extra money you spend to have peace of mind.

The iceman is nice too, I hear, but now its going to be hard to find since its discontinued now.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:40 pm

orangeblastsxt wrote:oh you know it. OB=clean! ima try it out why not! what diameter would be the perfect fit?

take off your bellows tube and measure the id of the opening. i believe that would be about the size you want. then just get rubber connectors withe the same id.

CrashTeam · Post by **CrashTeam** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:00 pm

EclecticBlue wrote:

and who made this dyno plot?

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:04 pm

yea to me that's not accurate at all

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:13 pm

bet it was made by K&N

cant believe half of the dyno charts made by companys

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:16 pm

i still think paying 200+ for something you can achieve for less than 50 and get the same power increase is pointless...but that's just me...

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:13 pm

Its the principal. some people just prefer name brands and dont buy with 100% performance in mind. I know that i try to apply style to the build. Looks good, sounds good, AND performs. Also, the CARB# is obviously a winner in my case, and the K&N filter like i said above just cant be beat. a KN filter alone is like 50 bucks aint it?

Post by **racer12306** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:03 am

out of curiosity why cant a K&N be beat? just want to hear your opinion on it.

OB · Post by OB » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:11 am

the filters are just top notch quality, and its not just my opinion, its pretty much the standard. the only people who argue about their quality is people who cant afford them or dont have one. Mine is still in perfect condition, not even a slight bit of dirt got into it in 13000 miles. Theyre reusable and will last forever. Im not sayin other filters are bad but IMO KN is just the only way to go. im sure AEMs new dryfilters are cool too, i wouldnt mind tryin one out.

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:18 am

Hey Diablo0 I think that you should lock any thread that pertains to CAI's unless it is maybe a how to or something.....To many people with to many opinions opposite of each other and alot of ignorant statements that go along with these threads

Just my 2cents......if you wanna know about cai's look it up in the quick search

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:56 am

Diablo0 is on vacation..and I dont have authority over this section. PM or tell EvilCreations or DannyBoy about it..they can lock it or whatnot

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:31 am

scneonchic501 wrote:Diablo0 is on vacation..and I dont have authority over this section. PM or tell EvilCreations or DannyBoy about it..they can lock it or whatnot

someone shares my pain

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:42 am

CAI thread # 589734295069237

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:26 pm

Wisher2 wrote:
scneonchic501 wrote:Diablo0 is on vacation..and I dont have authority over this section. PM or tell EvilCreations or DannyBoy about it..they can lock it or whatnot
someone shares my pain

yes I do...gauranteed there is a thread a few topics down from the newest stuff about something to do w/ a CAI

Post by **racer12306** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:45 pm

orangeblastsxt wrote:the filters are just top notch quality, and its not just my opinion, its pretty much the standard. the only people who argue about their quality is people who cant afford them or dont have one. Mine is still in perfect condition, not even a slight bit of dirt got into it in 13000 miles. Theyre reusable and will last forever. Im not sayin other filters are bad but IMO KN is just the only way to go. im sure AEMs new dryfilters are cool too, i wouldnt mind tryin one out.

did you know that K&N's are known to pass more dirt through the filter than regular paper filters?

and yes i know i do have one but im not that concerned with it because i am on the highway a lot, not very dusty.

Wisher2 wrote:Hey Diablo0 I think that you should lock any thread that pertains to CAI's unless it is maybe a how to or something.....To many people with to many opinions opposite of each other and alot of ignorant statements that go along with these threads

Just my 2cents......if you wanna know about cai's look it up in the quick search

i agree that the original poster should have searched first. but i havent seen anything too bad in this. me and ob did get a little off topic but im sure it will come back together. atleast we are still talking about the air intake tract.

lilolneon · Post by **lilolneon** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:04 pm

well, i drive an 03 and ive put in an AEM cai, and from the seat of the pants, ive noticed some gain. Maybe its my racin stripes givin me some extra power?

j/k

phenomeneon21 · Post by **phenomeneon21** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:30 pm

racer12306 wrote:did you know that K&N's are known to pass more dirt through the filter than regular paper filters?

I'm just curious as to whether you actually have any substantial proof to this...my paper filter that came stock on the car and has been in it for who knows how long was letting so much dirt into the throttle body and bellows tube, that when i removed the bellows tube, there was grains of dirt sitting in the rivets of the bellows tube, however when i recently switched to a used K&N filter that my friend let me have and never cleaned, it had enough dirt to make a small garden attached to it (obviously an over exaggeration, haha)...i simply cleaned it, re-oiled it and instantly got a noticable gain from it, the car picks up a lot quicker down low and doesnt bog as much...if the K&N passes more dirt than any other filter, which one might you suggest, an amsoil filter

?