Need help + opinion

[steev-o]

Guys,

I have a CAI ready for my car, but im not sure how to do it yet. basically i gave these three options


- putting it in like its build, and having the filter low to the ground behind the foglight
- not use half the piping, and just have a SRI
- try to fit the piping behind my battery so its still cold air, but not close to the ground.


I dont know what to do, the roads here are fairly clean, but we have a lot of rain, and i dont want to ruin my engine, but i really really want the CAI sound in my car....


please advice what my best bet would be.

Thanks!

Steev-o

I have the ebay set CAI, so not really expensive filter.

car is the 02, so now MAF

[kylemorg]

Unless you drive through water deeper than the height of the filter, don't worry about putting it in the wheel well. That's where you'll get the coolest (non-engine compartment) air.

If you're worried about rain, mount it behind the headlight. I slid my battery over and mounted the filter behind the headlight at first (then went to short ram when I installed the supercharger because of alignment issues). You have to take care to make sure the battery is firmly tied down once you move it, though.

[steev-o]

Unless you drive through water deeper than the height of the filter, don't worry about putting it in the wheel well. That's where you'll get the coolest (non-engine compartment) air.

If you're worried about rain, mount it behind the headlight. I slid my battery over and mounted the filter behind the headlight at first (then went to short ram when I installed the supercharger because of alignment issues). You have to take care to make sure the battery is firmly tied down once you move it, though.

i think mounting it behind the light is the best option. This way i keep more dust out as well and i dont have to worrie about dirt from the road hitting the filter too much either. i rather have a lil hotter air then crap in my engine.:D

hope the pipes fit, since i bought a cai and not a MLI (medium length intake) :tongue:

[xdforme22]

Yeah, I just did that last weekend with my 2.75" CAI. Since the winter/spring are so nasty here, I wanted the filter in an easy place to access.

[kylemorg]

You can always cut the aluminum tubes to be shorter if you need to. Usually you can use the pieces they give you, possibly rotated a different way at the rubber joints to get the filter where you want to put it.

If you need more connectors, the black rubber PVC-drain-pipe connectors they sell at most home improvement stores work fine if you get the right size (and some extra clamps). The black rubber connectors also make it look more "OEM" than the red or blue silicone ones they usually supply with the CAI kits.

[KeWLKaT]

You have to take care to make sure the battery is firmly tied down once you move it, though.

...or do what I did and put the battery in the back :)

[xdforme22]

Oh, and either way you go you'll get some great sound. I've got a bomz 2.75" and it sounds great (especially with the windows down :D).

[Pete03GLS]

ugh... thats what a filter is for, to keep the bad stuff out... as soon as i get a day off, im putting the final piece of my tubing in, and it will be a true in fender cai.

this is wat i have now
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/ricochetx16/car%20stuff/CAI.jpg

[KeWLKaT]

why do you have a million +1 couplers (from which 1 looks like it's just covering a hole? lol)?

[Pete03GLS]

i have 3 couplers, the blue one is covering an air sensor hole, or something like that, it was the best i cud come up with short notice.

[BColeman]

My car was lowered on sprint springs, with the air filter located still about 1 foot off the ground. Rule of thumb, if you drive through water that comes up over your bumper to your headlight, your fuxored.

I drove with my CAI in the fender since August of last year, through rain, snow, sleet, up hill both ways so to speak. No problems.

You'll find that the fine misting/spray of the water coming up from the road to be very beneficial to performance for you car. However, it's completely nuts to attempt to speed/race in the rain. I've done it, there's a difference, but it's not recommended.


For maintenance on the filter, it's really easy. You remove the headlight, undo the clamp, pull the air filter up through the space left behind by the headlight. I cut my fender lining and I can just shoot a hose at the filter through the fender to clean it off, but I have an AEM dry flow filter, so it can take it.

[agdaniels]

Search my friend. there are many people here who have no problems with cai in the fender, there are a few who have had big problems with it. Personally, where I am, the road has many dips that aggregate water during heavy rain. Until i get a dry flow and not the ****ty paper ebay filter, mines next to the battery.

[sadasar]

I just have a short ram in mine. at the time i didn't feel like cutting the hole in my fender wall being new to tuning. but now i wish i had some what the sound is amazing. i live in Florida and wasn't scared and it rains every day during summer and its flat so we have standing water alot so you shouldn't have many problems with a cai

[agdaniels]

I just have a short ram in mine. at the time i didn't feel like cutting the hole in my fender wall being new to tuning. but now i wish i had some what the sound is amazing. i live in Florida and wasn't scared and it rains every day during summer and its flat so we have standing water alot so you shouldn't have many problems with a cai

You know this from experience?

I just have a short ram in mine.

Oh ok, he should definitely feel reassured.

[sadasar]

You know this from experience?



Oh ok, he should definitely feel reassured.

we if we get technical i actually posted something of at least on topic value but i will elaborate i guess. I am using a short ram in my every day car but have used CAI for other cars i have driven and it worked fine with all of the sun shine states rainy weather.

[Silentwolf]

I'm in Florida too with a CAI. No issues. Hell went thru a snowstorm! With snow packing into the airdam (remember my airdam is open around the fog lights allowing direct air access to the intake)
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k177/ryesherm2/DSCF0156.jpg
I do have a hydro-shield (AKA heat-shield for SRI users)

[BobMs_wht2k2]

almost 6 years now on Cosmo Racing CAI. Sits below the headlight in the fenderwell. WE get everythiong from spring deluges to 2 feet of snow. 80k miles of it and no signs of wear.

Go with the true CAI and don't compromise. If you're stupid enough to drive at WOT through 12" of water, you DESERVE to hydrolock your engine. I also would suggest sterlization to keep the gene pool clean.

[steev-o]

hey guys,

i said the hell with it , and put it in like it should be. WIth all the piping and ****. And its sounds ****ing amaaaazing. Specially when going like 30, and then flooring it. LOVE IT !

here are some pics.

i did have to cute a lil edge of the hole where the pipe goes downward to make it go trough. And im not 100% happy with how the pipes connected. I bougth an ebay kit.. but next timr im buying a better one for sure.

pics:

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9824/dsc001171ld6.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1057/dsc00119bt3.jpg

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8651/dsc00126cr1.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1336/dsc00129rn0.jpg

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2536/dsc00130ud3.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3368/dsc001211xj9.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6825/dsc00123dc7.jpg

[Silentwolf]

You will want to cushion that hole with some rubber weather stripping or such.