Custom Intake and advice...

[unwrittenLaw]

I met this guy a couple weeks ago who works with a race shop locally and has a lot of knowledge. He has connections to different shops and he was the only guy I could find that would correctly install my Blitz Turbo Timer. I told him I might come to him for future upgrades, mods...He thinks he could build me a good custom air intake with a heat shield, large K&N filter, pipes that would be better than a CAI or short ram. He said he could do everything, parts and labor for $350. He said custom intakes from companies could cost as much as double that. Is this a good deal and a good idea? I'm still debating because it seems he did charge me a lot to do the Blitz install..it took like 5 hrs and he charged me $140..That turbo timer takes awhile to install, and he did do a good job. Anyway, he's been emailing me with ideas for future upgrades and stuff, he's cool and knows what he's doing, but is he overcharging a newbie who can't find anyone else to go to for upgrades?

Thanks for any suggestions..

 

[promp3]

that price is a little steep for a custom intake which hasent been through r&d and might not work as well as a brand name intake that costs alot less so imo i would say $100-150 or nothing(thats if it is very well made and isnt just some scrap tubing with a filter stuck on the end. good luck

 

[unwrittenLaw]

He said he could make the tubing and heatshield at one of his friends shops and use a bigger K&N filter. How much should labor cost for a project like this?

 

[unwrittenLaw]

brand name intake that costs alot less so imo i would say $100-150 or nothing(thats if it is very well made and isnt just some scrap tubing with a filter stuck on the end. good luck

What brands of intake do you recommend, and which is better for our cars...cai, or short ram?

thanks

 

[Minus]

injen
cai
and yes 350 is wayyy too much for an intake. you can get an injen one for about 230 (for an mp3 not sure for MSP). then i have read that the APEX'I air filter not only gained more power than the HKS Blitz and K&N but also filtered the air better. do a search on google for blitz filter test or something like that. I myself was going to get the blitz filter but after seeing the results of the test, im going to get an apex'i filter before i install my injen intake

 

[Vicocola]

wow $140 just to install the blitz TT ummm... so is your lock/unlock remote working fine while the turbo is cooling down...?

 

[chdesign]

Yeah 140 to install a timer is high and if it took him 5 hours he is an idiot. I put one in my protege on my first turbo kit in 30 minutes and that included the time it took me to test-light the wires and install it corectly and it worked the first try....he is tryin to rip you. Bring your car to me I'll make you all metal intake and intercooler piping for like 30 bucks above cost of material.

 

[unwrittenLaw]

Another shop was going to charge me 100 bucks for the Blitz TT install and I don't think they would've done it correctly. There's not really any good shops where I am, so I don't have a lot of options.

The guy who installed mind did a pretty good job, but it took longer because he had to resolder the wires and stuff...maybe it didnt take 5 hrs, but it took awhile...(My remote key works when I turn the Blitz off, but when its on I have to lock the doors with my key..i think this is how it works with all the Blitz units, untill someone figures out a way around it..)

But I dunno if I should go back to him for future upgrades and mods..he's pretty convincing about his work and knowledge. But since I have no one else to go to for to work on my car, its hard to make a comparison...

 

[chdesign]

Like I said if there is a MSP in Asheville NC send them my way and I can do a hardpipe kit in no time.

 

[03SpeedLSD]

DAMN! Don't go back to that shop. What you paid for installation is more than the damn timer cost. I am havin a muffler shop bend me a pipe to go into the bumper for an intake. Cuz the fan blows hot air on the filter; no more than $70. You need to start trying things on your own. Like the other fella said, it only took about 30 mins to install the timer, and install it right the first time...Later,

P.S. You feel GREAT after doing something on your own, with these wonderful cars!!!

 

[unwrittenLaw]

I do try and do some stuff on my own..but I don't have the tools or the knowledge yet to do that Blitz install..i'm still trying to learn. I just thought the guy was gonna help me out because I told him I was a newbie...and I was going to pay him, but I didnt expect it to be 140 bucks...

 

[03SpeedLSD]

That's kool that you try things. Have more confidence in yourself, or you'll fail everytime. The timer is very simple. The only tools you needed were:screw driver,(to take off underside of steering column) a knife to cut a rubber line,(to fit the T fitting for gauge) and easy connect connectors. That's really all there is to it. It cost me $1.99 for parts and 30 mins labor. Check the boards more often to see how other people do things and go from there. Never hurts to ask questions. Trust me, I will be the first one to bug the hell out of someone if I don't know, or don't understand...Later,

 

[soundbombing]

sup

(((unwrittenLaw)))
What was the shop's name?

In your profile it says you live in Santa Maria/San Diego,
I don't know about S.Maria but I know a couple places in SD to go.

 

[unwrittenLaw]

this guy doesn't have his own shop, but uses his friends shops to do work...

i'm in santa maria most of the time right now, but i go down to san diego once in awhile, thats where i'm from...

 

[unwrittenLaw]

That's kool that you try things. Have more confidence in yourself, or you'll fail everytime. The timer is very simple. The only tools you needed were:screw driver,(to take off underside of steering column) a knife to cut a rubber line,(to fit the T fitting for gauge) and easy connect connectors. That's really all there is to it. It cost me $1.99 for parts and 30 mins labor. Check the boards more often to see how other people do things and go from there. Never hurts to ask questions. Trust me, I will be the first one to bug the hell out of someone if I don't know, or don't understand...Later,

I thought you had to solder the wires together(and i didnt feel like i wanted to mess around w/ soldering since i've never done it before)...how do these quick connect things work?

 

[unwrittenLaw]

Anyone know of a tutorial or a guide on how to install a short ram intake? I was thinking of ordering an sri kit and trying to install it myself rather than paying an arm and a leg for someone else to do it..