aem ram intake

[Douggie]

Racer5,

Yeah, i've noticed that a while ago and I know exactly what you're talking about. I thought of drilling several holes thru the grill (the top portion of that grill doesn't have holes). Since the opening of that ducting is right behind it, this would give direct streams of air right to the opening.

Someone suggested that we could cut the rubber strip that is directly in front of the intake inlet (it's on the hood) and you should get air. The rubber strip should be cheaper to replace than the whole grill assembly shall it be required.

BUT, I didn't do any of the above mods because of 2 things:

1. The ducting sits right on top of the radiator, so cool air into the ducting will be heated up again... so don't know if it's worth doing it.

2. The ducting pipe is so narrow and winding, so even if you do get cool air in, the flow is severly restricted.

SO... here's what I did instead:

I removed the bulky plastic ducting that is on top of the radiator, leaving the factory airbox with the open hole. I went to Walmart and found some nice flexible hose. It was meant for sewers for RV, but hey, it's much better quality than those intake hoses sold in Autozone/Pepboys.

The best thing is that it's 1/3 the price of those intake hoses, and it can be stretched to 10' long! The diameter was perfect (i think it's like 3") and it fits the airbox really well. And I bought some big hose clamps from Pepboys and clamped the hose on (didn't really need them).

The most difficult part was to decide where to position the hose opening to get the coolest air AND has to allow the hose to fit through. I finally decided that the best location is at the bottom because hot air rises. I saw an air opening at the bottom of the car, which i guess it's used to cool the transmission. I positioned the hose right on top of that opening. It's now below the radiator fan, so even when the fan turns on, the hot air won't get sucked in.

I also added a K&N drop-in and now the throttle response is a bit smoother. Has a nice growl to the engine too!

So now i've got cooler air, less restricted flow.

Yep, I'm an engineer too

[ 02-24-2002: Message edited by: Douggie ]

 

[provencher_vt01]

Douggie,

You think you can maybe post some pictures are email them to me. Your method sounds interesting.

 

[greddy917]

I agree...the best intake setup is probably one that utilizes the stock air box...just look at the Tripoint Proteges...they are running the stock air box with aluminum intake piping that slowly tapers as it gets closer to the throttle body...very nice.

 

[kabx]

I am not an engineer but setup a flexible aluminum duct from the the bottom of the engine compartment to the stock air box. It used a right angle plumbing connector to connect to the ducting. The aluminum ducting is good because it can be formed around the vent at the bottom of the engine. Remember to use a small bolt and nut to secure it. It gets a bit windy at 100 km.

I kept it for about three weeks and then picked up an AEM short ram. I just did not like the mess in the engine bay. With the AEM the time to get from 4000 rpm to 6500 rpm in 1st and 2nd gear is much lower. I would guess that the Injen is the same.

 

[withoutme]

LoL Drilling a hole in the grill!

I think the main restriction in the Protege intake are the many many many many bends from the grill to the filter box. If drilling holes can do wonders then how does AEM and Injen make their money?!

According aerodynamics, cooler air are denser than warmer air. If a short ram and a cold air intake can draw the same vol. of air into the engine, then the cold air would have drawn more oxygen in.

 

[Douggie]

I'm not saying drilling holes can do wonders, but just an effort to have a slight improvement in cool air flowing into the stock intake with minimum costs (hehe, there's where the engineer part came in ). Anyway, you're right, the many bends and twists in the intake is the major restriction. So if you read my post carefully, you'll see that I didn't do that afterall.

Sure, if you have the money and believe that an AEM or INJEN intake alone can gain you 3-4 hp, then go ahead and buy them. But seems that no one has really dyno-ed their cars with just those intakes (or just that I've not seen them).

I've had past experience with aftermarket intakes in my previous Civic. While it looks and sounds nice, I didn't think it really gained any noticable power alone. The real noticable power came in when I upgraded my cat-back exhaust.

I guess this is pretty obvious because an engine takes in air for combustion thru the intake and then has to expell the exhaust gas thru the exhaust system. If any one part is a bottleneck, the air/gas will flow as fast/slow as the slowest part.

And lastly, you want to know how AEM and INJEN makes money? Just like any company! Sell their products at a marked-up price to cover manufacturing costs and other expenses like marketing, shipping, labor, rent etc.. It's that simple...

 

[Racer 5]

The ONLY way companies like Injen and AEM make money is off people who do not know any better. These companies advertise to give you "up to 8 hp increase". Notice Up to~~~ that means from 0hp to 8hp. I have never felt any significant gains by adding only an intake pipe, if we were talkin manifolds, or cams, or something REAL, then maybe you will see an increase. I myself will find it hard to buy an intake for $200 that makes my car lose some tourqe just so It sounds like that Riced Honda next to me.

According aerodynamics, cooler air are denser than warmer air. If a short ram and a cold air intake can draw the same vol. of air into the engine, then the cold air would have drawn more oxygen in.

According to aerodynamics??? I have studied aerodynamics. and never once came across this principle. I have come across it in THERMODYNAMICS class, however.
Before you go stating some kind of law of physics or aeorodynamics, thermodynamics, statics, moments, flux capacitors whatever you may make you feel like you posses some other-worldly knowledge ~~ Douggie and myself are very well versed in these areas, and we will know if you are talkin outta your ass.

 

[JMS'sMSP]

I have an AEM short ram intake for my MP3 and I love the way it sounds as well as the way you can hear the air being sucked in as you hit the gas!!!! It sounds so sweet, if I had to guess I would say I got at least 10 hp out of it. Which isn't bad for 200 bucks and 45 min of work, no extra holes needed or extra hardware it uses some stock hardware and comes with all the rest!!!

 

[Douggie]

I have an AEM short ram intake for my MP3 and I love the way it sounds as well as the way you can hear the air being sucked in as you hit the gas!!!! It sounds so sweet, if I had to guess I would say I got at least 10 hp out of it. Which isn't bad for 200 bucks and 45 min of work, no extra holes needed or extra hardware it uses some stock hardware and comes with all the rest!!!

10 hp? Hmm... I would say that's a very VERY over optimistic guess there

Yeah, I know it sounds nice with that high pitched air sucking sound, but you've gotta separate "psychological hp" with real hp. More sound doesn't mean more hp.

Remember, just like breathing, taking in air is only 1/2 of the process. If you don't breathe out, you can't take in much more air.

And Racer5, I wouldn't say that I'm really well versed in this area, but this is just based on past experience, little of physics and just plain common sense. But thanks for the good comment anyways!

 

[Racer 5]

Douggie, I thought you said you were in engineering? Maybe that was someone else? Anyway, you seem to have common sense that some other people are lacking on this board.

 

[chitownmp3]

I was reading on the racing beat websight they dont like the short ram system. heres the link check it out!
www.racingbeat.com
look under protege parts.Its a pretty informative lil blurb!
my 2 cents

 

[Douggie]

Douggie, I thought you said you were in engineering? Maybe that was someone else? Anyway, you seem to have common sense that some other people are lacking on this board.

hehe, yeah, i'm in electrical engineering, and we're talking about car stuff here, so that's why i say that I'm not really that well versed in this area. But for sure, I've gotten my fair share of physics, thermodynamics, chemistry and other junk

But that of course doesn't make what I say automatically true. I always believe when you're trying to make your point, you need to back it up with science, logic and common sense. Experience is equally as important as well.

 

[Racer 5]

it was just the cold air/aerodynamics statement, it made me laugh.
not to say that because of my background, I am always right, but 9 times outta ten ....

 

[withoutme]

The ONLY way companies like Injen and AEM make money is off people who do not know any better. These companies advertise to give you "up to 8 hp increase". Notice Up to~~~ that means from 0hp to 8hp. I have never felt any significant gains by adding only an intake pipe, if we were talkin manifolds, or cams, or something REAL, then maybe you will see an increase. I myself will find it hard to buy an intake for $200 that makes my car lose some tourqe just so It sounds like that Riced Honda next to me.




According to aerodynamics??? I have studied aerodynamics. and never once came across this principle. I have come across it in THERMODYNAMICS class, however.
Before you go stating some kind of law of physics or aeorodynamics, thermodynamics, statics, moments, flux capacitors whatever you may make you feel like you posses some other-worldly knowledge ~~ Douggie and myself are very well versed in these areas, and we will know if you are talkin outta your ass.

LoL You must have never studied aerodyamics (or slept throught the lecture), in aerodynamics, you learn that colder air is more dense and therefore provide more resistance. But I don't reject that you also learn about colder air being more dense in THERMODYNAMICS. (Look who's talking out their ass!):mad:

 

[gonzoATX]

???

what about the weapon r intake with ram air kit?? is this a good bang for the buck compared to aem and injen???

 

[Racer 5]

LoL You must have never studied aerodyamics (or slept throught the lecture), in aerodynamics, you learn that colder air is more dense and therefore provide more resistance. But I don't reject that you also learn about colder air being more dense in THERMODYNAMICS. (Look who's talking out their ass!)

If you were trying to bash me, you just made yourself look like an idiot. Like I said, I will know when you are talking out of your ass. When did this discussion, or my reply EVER have anything to say about temperature and its relation to RESISTANCE??? NEVER!!! I was saying that temperature and its effect on volume is a principle of thermodynamics. So, yea, you are right, look who is talking out of there ass. I never once mentioned any qualities of resistance. Wasn't ever a part of the discussion, plus you said you didn't refute that the priciple was taught in THERMO. So what is it exactly that you are trying to say?? Now do yourself a favor, go up to you engineering department at work and ask them to give you a little insight.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Before you go stating some kind of law of physics or aeorodynamics, thermodynamics, statics, moments, flux capacitors whatever you may make you feel like you posses some other-worldly knowledge ~~

Hey Racer....FLUX CAPACITORS? isn't that what they used in the "Back to the Future" Delorian to travel through time? LOL LOL j/k....had to throw that in there.... maybe someone is going to come up with a Mr. Fusion to put on now too....so we can just throw in stuff out of the garbage can and pass up all those gas stations too!

the simple fact that Racer and Douggie have already brough up is the fact that your engine is a PUMP of sorts....what goes in, has has to come out.....if you really want to make more power....you need to think about the COMPLETE system...from where the air goes in...to where the exhaust goes out....if you REALLY want to get the most bang for your buck....do ALL the homework....make a complete system.....not just one part here and one part there. Sure it costs more that way....from the standpoint of laying all the cash out at one time....but if you don't match all the parts together....you may end up either hurting your actual performance from mismatched parts that truely don't work together....or end up having to spend MORE money to get the right combination. Just some food for thought. MY 2 cents

 

[Racer 5]

Yea, the flux capacitors were from Back to the future, just used it for dramatic effect. I was waiting for someone to ask what company made them, and how much HP it added. That would have been the ultimate in making a point.

 

[Sir Nuke]

well do you have a line on the "Mr. Fussion"? of course it would have to be a sportier model than the first one...that big white flip top thing sticking out of the rear deck would look like Sh*t. Maybe a CHROME model?

of course with that we will also need the flip up wheel mechanism and the anti-gravity generator.... lol

 

[freekwonder]

ok lets get back on subject here or this one is getting locked. its turning into a b**** out contest. and getting off subject of the aem intake.

me personally im going to get an IJEN cold air intake. and HOPE a get a few horses for it. like i said HOPE ill get some power from it.