Poor Mans CAI 00-02

[02V8Sport]

Though you guys would like me to share this.

Parts = approximately $55 most bought at Autozone

1- Spectre 3" Air Intake tube (come in different colors) $20
1- Spectre K&N look-alike cone filter $25 or use a K&N cone $40
1- Spectre MAF adapter (think its made for Hondas, sorry I said Honda $5
4- 1/4 x 3x4 Bolts $.50
4- 1/4 Nuts $.50
4- 1/4 x 1 1/4 fender washers $.50
3- 3" hose clamps $1
1- 3" PVC coupler $2

1. Completely remove stock air box and unbolt MAF sensor. Throw airbox out, j/k.
2. Modify MAF adapter bought above to slot the holes larger so the adapter can bolt up to the cars MAF adapter. Use the 1/4 nuts,bolts and washers to attach them together. (I used a hack saw and cut the holes to the outward corners on the MAF adapter so there is room to adjust to make it fit properly with the cars MAF sensor)
3. Attach the 3 inch hose bought above to MAF adapter with hose clamp.
4. Shove the remaining hose through the hole, underneath where the air box was, to the bottom of the car.
5. From the bottom of the car attach the Cone filter, First shove the 3" coupler into the cone filter and clamp it leaving 1/2 of it hanging out so you can clamp on the intake hose. (I took out the 3 screws underneath that hold the splash guard on to fit the filter into the space in front of the drivers tire but behind the bumper)
6. Put splash guard back on and voila! Finished.

So now with the hood popped open, all you see is a hose with a slight 90 degree bend going from the MAF sensor to the bottom of the car where the airbox used to be.

This probably sounds like jumble, but I will snap pics sometime next week of the finished product.

This is the easiest way of making a CAI without too much work and money involved.

 

[SurfjaxLS]

Sounds kinda like what I did.

 

[joshluvsla]

that sounds really cool i would like to see some pics when u post them

 

[mholhut]

Sounds just like what I did... only I used two rubber 90 degree elbows from Home Depot. Had the S&B filter and the MAF adapter already....

Posted these pics at LLSOC a few days ago:

 

[GrayGhost1]

Mike,

That looks pretty sweet. Got any problems with ingesting water?

 

[ohioLS]

I like that looks like it would work in heart beat good work gentlemen!

-Scott-

 

[02V8Sport]

VERY NICE!! I didnt see you post that, sorry. My CAI is identical but without the rubber elbows. Im gonna have to convert mine. Thanks for the pics!!

 

[Midas78]

Which way do you think would work better? Between the 3" piping and the 2 elbows.

 

[lsondubz]

How is the sound/flow...I have the KKM right now but that Looks like a better idea...would lower the intake temps a lil bit and might get some more noise not being under the hood...how is it?

 

[mdrobnak]

As a general rule, the less bends before the MAF the better...your car will take a good while to learn what it can, but the MAF transfer curve won't be right with the stock learning settings of the LS (if I recall correctly, I'll check later). I'd try and find a solution which didn't have a bend right in front of the MAF.

My $0.02

-Matt

 

[mholhut]

Mike,

That looks pretty sweet. Got any problems with ingesting water?

That's the only thing I'm worried about! Drove it in the rain the other day with no problems... just watching for puddles on the left side and no more fording flooded roadways

 

[mholhut]

Which way do you think would work better? Between the 3" piping and the 2 elbows.

In an ideal world, you'd want a straight piece of tube, or one with the least bends and connections. So the money lies somewhere between the two.

I think I got Ken's wheel's turning in his head.

 

[02V8Sport]

Which way do you think would work better? Between the 3" piping and the 2 elbows.

I like the elbows Mike used. The 3" tubing seems small, but its just large enough to fit through the hole under the airbox, unless you cut the hole larger to fit 4" tubing.

 

[mholhut]

How is the sound/flow...I have the KKM right now but that Looks like a better idea...would lower the intake temps a lil bit and might get some more noise not being under the hood...how is it?

The sound is alot more quiet at WOT now that the filter is in front of and under the car. All I hear is the exhaust note now, from inside the car. I have my own version of the KKM... bought a MAF adapter and an S&B powerstack filter for $55 and fitted it originally to the end of the stock intake. I left the MAF adapter on the MAF. Ran one 90 through the hole in the bay and made a two couplers out of PVC pipe. Clamped the first 90 between the MAF adapter and the coupler sticking out of the hole in the engine bay. Fitted the S&B filter with another coupler and clamped it to the lower side of the second 90. Not alot of room under bay in front of the left tire, but certainly enough for a cone filter.

 

[GrayGhost1]

In an ideal world, you'd want a straight piece of tube, or one with the least bends and connections. So the money lies somewhere between the two.

I think I got Ken's wheel's turning in his head.

Well, the wheel's in my head have been turning for quite some time trying to make a cheaper alternative intake. Molded plastic is the way to go with these since it doesn't retain heat as bad as steel or aluminum. Of course, my first priority at the moment is the mesh grille project. I'm hoping once I find a low volume molding company they'll be able to do the grilles and a low cost intake alternative. I'd love to be able offer a complete intake system with the KKM for less than $300.

 

[02V8Sport]

How is the sound/flow...I have the KKM right now but that Looks like a better idea...would lower the intake temps a lil bit and might get some more noise not being under the hood...how is it?

Basically all you have to do is get the tubing or elbows to put your KKM filter under the car instead of under the hood. The air intake temps are very low compared to under the hood. I verified it using my SCT flasher hook up to my laptop. Intake temps were close to outside temperature, where under the hood they were reaching 120 degrees. The noise isnt noticable. I can just hear a vacuum of air pulling from the outside now at idle which is pretty cool.

 

[mholhut]

As a general rule, the less bends before the MAF the better...your car will take a good while to learn what it can, but the MAF transfer curve won't be right with the stock learning settings of the LS (if I recall correctly, I'll check later). I'd try and find a solution which didn't have a bend right in front of the MAF.

My $0.02

-Matt

110% true. I was going to relocate my MAF to the area under the bay, but there's just not enough room to move it there. Plus, I'd like to keep it dry. Another option would be to run a straight pipe across to the left fender and mount a smaller filter in there. That would give you a high-pressure cold air source and a straight shot in front of the MAF. Actually, I just looked, there is no way to fit a filter in that area of the fender.

All I can say is that throttle response has improved very much. On a warm day, I can roast the tires on the car, where before the car was a slug.

 

[mholhut]

Basically all you have to do is get the tubing or elbows to put your KKM filter under the car instead of under the hood. The air intake temps are very low compared to under the hood. I verified it using my SCT flasher hook up to my laptop. Intake temps were close to outside temperature, where under the hood they were reaching 120 degrees. The noise isnt noticable. I can just hear a vacuum of air pulling from the outside now at idle which is pretty cool.

Right, if you have a KKM intake, just buy two rubber 90's and two couplers that will fit in them, and have at it. My guess for cost would be under $40.

 

[JaredLS]

Power Cai

that CAI looks awesome. It's amazing how many diffrent ways people are doing their CAI.
I myslef had a "Inductor 4 In. In-line Duct Fan" which i got at Home Depot for $20...which moved air into my KKM filter which was basically inside a 6in piece of duct. Basically it gave me cold air at idle And it was a definite improvement on just the CAI. Only problem was I was worried how stable the fan would be at high speeds (it was fine up to 80 didn't try it higher then that)...

Plus more importantly and the reason I got rid of it was because providing a power source was a pain b/c i had to route the cable to the inside of my car and there i had to have an AC/DC power inverter that i connected it to.

anyways that's just one more idea. I'm sure someone here will put it all together and make a perfect CAI

 

[mholhut]

Mmmmmm the electric supercharger route... aka the bilge blower. You can get these for cheap money and they are 12V/DC:

Good for ventillation, but not for compression