Final Showdown - 2.0L Intake Setups

[Moonman8]

Since everyone keeps asking and there really isn't a definitive answer to be found buried in thousands of posts on the subject, here is everyone's chance to quantify which setup is best for our cars.

I personally have had an Injen CAI, then modded it into an Injen SRI, then back to stock with the grille section removed for more air into the snorkel.

Post up your setups and comments on each setup and don't forget to vote in the poll to help everyone who is on the fence in regards to what setup to go with.

 

[ProtoType5]

Taking price out of the equation the K&N is the best quality, fitament, and product out there.....Plus you get a bracket to move your fluid resevoir, you get great instructions, and it alreay comes with the K&N filter...Anyway..It's the best.....hands down...

 

[Shane5425]

ebay one fits just fine, only the filter is crapy.. get a k and n for it, and it works just like a aem or injen one

 

[Cellerator]

I got an Injen CAI and it's nice but I don't think I really felt anything, even after I reset my ecu. But it definitely made driving feel more interesting even if I didn't notice the power. There's an interesting sound of the intake in the cockpit and if you step on the gas, it makes sorta a chirping sound but it's normal. It's a nice look in my engine compartment along with my OBX header.

 

[mountjonas]

had an ebay cai with he k&n filter and the injen cai. i could not tell any difference between the two in terms of performance. they both sounded exactly the same and the mpg was the same.

as far as build quality, the ebay cai was not as good, but far from bad. the main difference was that the injen had nice enforced silicone couplers, while the ebay looked like regular rubber.

 

[goldstar]

I'm running OEM with the grill mod, MAF sensor screen removed and all drain holes in intake snorkel, helmholtz resonator and air box sealed to maximize ram air effect due to forward velocity of the vehicle. I have tested this system against an AEM SRI on my car and found it noticeably better in terms of low-speed torque and acceleration and mid-range performance-important to me since my car is basically a daily driver. The AEM did have somewhat better high RPM performance but I don't spend enough time in the upper RPM ranges to justify it.

 

[buttthrax]

Stock. Except I took off the part that goes over the radiator.

Edit: can someone explain the "grill mod" for a n00b?

 

[Moonman8]

Stock. Except I took off the part that goes over the radiator.

Edit: can someone explain the "grill mod" for a n00b?

This is my version of the grille mod. It increases the amount of air that reaches the snorkel. Instead of just taking the air from between the grill and hood, it takes it from the entire grille opening. That liquid inside the opening is just water, I had just washed it.

 

[Moonman8]

Now I have a question about what a couple of you have said. What good would removing the snorkel do to an otherwise stock intake system? Just taking off the big ugly piece of plastic on top of the radiator and leaving a hole in the front of the air filter box? I understand that removing that piece makes the grille mod pretty pointless but would there be any effect? I only ask because I freakin hate that huge obnoxious piece of plastic covering half my engine compartment.

 

[Kansei]

Now I have a question about what a couple of you have said. What good would removing the snorkel do to an otherwise stock intake system? Just taking off the big ugly piece of plastic on top of the radiator and leaving a hole in the front of the air filter box? I understand that removing that piece makes the grille mod pretty pointless but would there be any effect? I only ask because I freakin hate that huge obnoxious piece of plastic covering half my engine compartment.

It would definitely take in warmer air if you did that. Maybe people do it because it makes it noisier (cooler)?

I don't even remember what it looked like with the stock intake, I only had my stock intake for about a week.

The grille mod seems pretty cool, but I for one use the grille as a tool tray (it's awesome for it until you forget and leave screws there).

 

[Moonman8]

It would definitely take in warmer air if you did that. Maybe people do it because it makes it noisier (cooler)?

I don't even remember what it looked like with the stock intake, I only had my stock intake for about a week.

The grille mod seems pretty cool, but I for one use the grille as a tool tray (it's awesome for it until you forget and leave screws there).

I have absolutely no interest in just sound. Even though our engines sound pretty damn mean with an aftermarket intake, function is important especially since the quality intakes are a few hundred dollars.

I might try and remove just the snorkel and see if anything good/bad/nothing happens.

I use the grille as a tool tray too but the mod only removes the passenger side half so I still have a tooltray, just half as big.

 

[six_dolla_bill]

i didn't pick any on that poll. i got the WR Secret Weapon-R. they have a very unique design where they run a secondary intake tubing in the center of the intake. this is meant to cause a vaccum effect to bring more air in at a greater speed. whether it actually works that way.....who knows? but it i'm pretty happy

 

[Moonman8]

i didn't pick any on that poll. i got the WR Secret Weapon-R. they have a very unique design where they run a secondary intake tubing in the center of the intake. this is meant to cause a vaccum effect to bring more air in at a greater speed. whether it actually works that way.....who knows? but it i'm pretty happy

where did you pick it up? price?

i've heard of Weapon-R from their engine dampers and air filters but I didn't know they made a full intake system for our cars. Give up some info!

 

[goldstar]

Now I have a question about what a couple of you have said. What good would removing the snorkel do to an otherwise stock intake system? Just taking off the big ugly piece of plastic on top of the radiator and leaving a hole in the front of the air filter box? I understand that removing that piece makes the grille mod pretty pointless but would there be any effect? I only ask because I freakin hate that huge obnoxious piece of plastic covering half my engine compartment.

If you do the grill mod and leave the snorkel in place, you'll get the advantage of ingesting ambient temperature intake air. If you remove the snorkel, you'll then be ingesting hot, underhood air. This will reduce your HP output. Considering only the relationship of intake air temperature to HP, the power varies essentially as the square root of the change in ABSOLUTE temperature.

You may hate that obnoxious piece of plastic as you call it but it does serve an important function.

 

[FunkyBuddha]

I got an AEM intake. Works fine.

 

[Crazee D]

Wow, I really noticed a diff when i put on the CAI.
I got mine from ol' Chris @ SPD Racing (what eva happened 2 him?)
I noticed the sound first, it was intoxicating to hear. I could really hear the throttle plate opening and hear a big throaty growl.
I could even see dust leap up off the ground below when I gunned it!
My first ever mod and I was hooked...
I removed the MAF grill and really enjoyed taking lots of plastic out of the engine bay.
I also got the Corksport intake duct yet to install. And along with that a bypass to purchase and install.

 

[Kansei]

i didn't pick any on that poll. i got the WR Secret Weapon-R. they have a very unique design where they run a secondary intake tubing in the center of the intake. this is meant to cause a vaccum effect to bring more air in at a greater speed. whether it actually works that way.....who knows? but it i'm pretty happy

pics? I didn't know that Weapon R made an intake for our cars either.

 

[RaiderMS3]

I was given an AEM last week with an APC filter on it. I thought about swapping it out, but i like my ebay one with the K&N better.

 

[Lord_Zath]

Mine is a prototype blue kevlar SRI based off an eBay SRI that Riles was developing. It's far better than stock - especially in the upper RPM's which helps with passing.

I've run with only filter box and hole before, and while I didn't notice a drop off in power, there was no gain in power. I don't think there's much of a point in doing it. Some people have taken dryer hose and hooked it up to the hole, routing it to the bottom of the engine bay. Basically a poor man's CAI.

After seeing pics of the grille mod, I think I'm going to give it a try on both sides of the grille. Since my intake filter is on the right side of the grille, I think I may see a bonus by cutting that side. But while I'm at it, why not cut the other side to maximize cooling under the hood? Thoughts?

 

[snap]

i have the injen CAI and took the grill out. i actully noticed a slight increase when i took the grill out. before the CAI i had a short ram on and lost some power bout to run a breather to the grill. has anyone put the intake man. on yet hope to put that on soon and see the diff