Cold Air Intake
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Weslaco TX
Water ingestions
Dave, I am totally with you on your very detailed and accurate post. Particularly with the part I quoted you on.
IMHO and like you said, for a stock or mostly stock engine there is very little advantage between the aftermarket intakes. Just opening up the air box delivers the same results as most aftermarket intakes that aren't a true CAI. That said, a true CAI opens one up for water ingestions issues (something to think about if you are a DD) Again, nice post
IMHO and like you said, for a stock or mostly stock engine there is very little advantage between the aftermarket intakes. Just opening up the air box delivers the same results as most aftermarket intakes that aren't a true CAI. That said, a true CAI opens one up for water ingestions issues (something to think about if you are a DD) Again, nice post
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
I'm an owner of a c6, but I added the veraram CAI to my 99 C5 Vette. During a rainstorm, it ingested water and luckily for me, it just blew the starter. I also noticed that during winter, the engine had a tendancy to misfire. Never again will I purchase a vararam for those two reasons.
IMHO, unless you have a H/C swap or a Supercharger or LT headers and/or you are building a track only car or don't plan to EVER drive in the rain (weekend cruiser) not a good idea to go with a CAI.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad via L.A. CA
The Hurricane CAI is the absolute BEST by far.
The Vararam is garbage, and you will see MANY more people who denounce it because it doesnt fit well and lets crap into your engine. You couldnt PAY me to put a Vararam on my baby.
The design of the Hurricane is why I bought it-it truly does suck in a ton of underneath air, and I felt the difference after I put it on. And I picked my brand new one up pretty cheap for $400.00 with the Carbon Fiber cover.
The Vararam is garbage, and you will see MANY more people who denounce it because it doesnt fit well and lets crap into your engine. You couldnt PAY me to put a Vararam on my baby.
The design of the Hurricane is why I bought it-it truly does suck in a ton of underneath air, and I felt the difference after I put it on. And I picked my brand new one up pretty cheap for $400.00 with the Carbon Fiber cover.
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
The Hurricane CAI is the absolute BEST by far.
The Vararam is garbage, and you will see MANY more people who denounce it because it doesnt fit well and lets crap into your engine. You couldnt PAY me to put a Vararam on my baby.
The design of the Hurricane is why I bought it-it truly does suck in a ton of underneath air, and I felt the difference after I put it on. And I picked my brand new one up pretty cheap for $400.00 with the Carbon Fiber cover.
The Vararam is garbage, and you will see MANY more people who denounce it because it doesnt fit well and lets crap into your engine. You couldnt PAY me to put a Vararam on my baby.
The design of the Hurricane is why I bought it-it truly does suck in a ton of underneath air, and I felt the difference after I put it on. And I picked my brand new one up pretty cheap for $400.00 with the Carbon Fiber cover.
The small HP bump you get is something you won't really feel. The rush you "feel" is just increased intake noise that would make you think you are getting more HP than you really are.
I think of a CAI as a supplement to a modification that requires the engine have more air (H/C, S/C, etc.) I challenge anyone with just a CAI to prove (dyno sheets please) that they gained anything more than a few HP (and then only in the higher RPM range) over just putting on an air box lid with a larger opening. A stock engine gets all the air it needs with the stock air box. Additionally, if you change the intake, you also HAVE to change the exhaust. Otherwise you are just wasting time and money for a minimal gain.
Last edited by Chemdawg99; Jul 22, 2008 at 07:56 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad via L.A. CA
Then dont.
I dont remember saying I made any significant HP gains-only that I felt a difference. Actually, I somewhat subscribe to your theory because my entire family has been knee deep in multitudes of insane cherry muscle cars (my father and mother had an assortment of 25 of the baddest 60's musclecars ever-including a '68 GT500, '69 Road Runner 440 six pack, '67 Charger with a 426 Hemi, 1969 Camaro SS 396, and quite a few 'vettes mixed in that lot on thier 2 acre parcell of land)
I, like my brothers, grew up helping my father work on these engines and learning A TON along the way. One of my brothers even completed his degree and decided to work at a Ford/Jaguar dealership as a tech up until recently, when he recieved an offer he couldnt refuse from a fortune 500 company.
My point being, I KNOW engines and cars, and usually laugh at the folks who proclaim to have a massive increase in HP/TQ with the simple addition of a CAI......but putting one in your car is NOT a waste of time and money like you proclaim it to be.
Most people overvalue CAI, and some, like you, undervalue it.
The honest truth is that it's basically somewhere in the middle. It isnt a major HP add on, but it isnt a waste either, brother.
I dont remember saying I made any significant HP gains-only that I felt a difference. Actually, I somewhat subscribe to your theory because my entire family has been knee deep in multitudes of insane cherry muscle cars (my father and mother had an assortment of 25 of the baddest 60's musclecars ever-including a '68 GT500, '69 Road Runner 440 six pack, '67 Charger with a 426 Hemi, 1969 Camaro SS 396, and quite a few 'vettes mixed in that lot on thier 2 acre parcell of land)
I, like my brothers, grew up helping my father work on these engines and learning A TON along the way. One of my brothers even completed his degree and decided to work at a Ford/Jaguar dealership as a tech up until recently, when he recieved an offer he couldnt refuse from a fortune 500 company.
My point being, I KNOW engines and cars, and usually laugh at the folks who proclaim to have a massive increase in HP/TQ with the simple addition of a CAI......but putting one in your car is NOT a waste of time and money like you proclaim it to be.
Most people overvalue CAI, and some, like you, undervalue it.
The honest truth is that it's basically somewhere in the middle. It isnt a major HP add on, but it isnt a waste either, brother.
Last edited by LAVetteLover; Jul 22, 2008 at 06:37 PM.
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Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
Then dont.
I dont remember saying I made any significant HP gains-only that I felt a difference. Actually, I somewhat subscribe to your theory because my entire family has been knee deep in multitudes of insane cherry muscle cars (my father and mother had an assortment of 25 of the baddest 60's musclecars ever-including a '68 GT500, '69 Road Runner 440 six pack, '67 Charger with a 426 Hemi, 1969 Camaro SS 396, and quite a few 'vettes mixed in that lot on thier 2 acre parcell of land)
I, like my brothers, grew up helping my father work on these engines and learning A TON along the way. One of my brothers even completed his degree and decided to work at a Ford/Jaguar dealership as a tech up until recently, when he recieved an offer he couldnt refuse from a fortune 500 company.
My point being, I KNOW engines and cars, and usually laugh at the folks who proclaim to have a massive increase in HP/TQ with the simple addition of a CAI......but putting one in your car is NOT a waste of time and money like you proclaim it to be.
Most people overvalue CAI, and some, like you, undervalue it.
The honest truth is that it's basically somewhere in the middle. It isnt a major HP add on, but it isnt a waste either, brother.
I dont remember saying I made any significant HP gains-only that I felt a difference. Actually, I somewhat subscribe to your theory because my entire family has been knee deep in multitudes of insane cherry muscle cars (my father and mother had an assortment of 25 of the baddest 60's musclecars ever-including a '68 GT500, '69 Road Runner 440 six pack, '67 Charger with a 426 Hemi, 1969 Camaro SS 396, and quite a few 'vettes mixed in that lot on thier 2 acre parcell of land)
I, like my brothers, grew up helping my father work on these engines and learning A TON along the way. One of my brothers even completed his degree and decided to work at a Ford/Jaguar dealership as a tech up until recently, when he recieved an offer he couldnt refuse from a fortune 500 company.
My point being, I KNOW engines and cars, and usually laugh at the folks who proclaim to have a massive increase in HP/TQ with the simple addition of a CAI......but putting one in your car is NOT a waste of time and money like you proclaim it to be.
Most people overvalue CAI, and some, like you, undervalue it.
The honest truth is that it's basically somewhere in the middle. It isnt a major HP add on, but it isnt a waste either, brother.
I added the "war" remark because I KNOW that some would read what I said and be "offended" by it. Some people don't like to hear that you have to spend big coin to gain horsepower. My main point was that a CAI alone is not going to gain you much on a stock car. A CAI is good start, nothing more
Last edited by Chemdawg99; Jul 22, 2008 at 07:57 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad via L.A. CA
Like I said-I pretty much subscribe to your theory and outlook on it, although I would never call it a "waste".
Like you, i've had my fair share of laughs over the years from people who swear thier CAI on thier stock car just netted them "20-30 hp"
Cheers brother
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
You didnt offend me at all.....I said "Then dont" because I know for a fact that there will be a firestorm of some sort from other posters.
Like I said-I pretty much subscribe to your theory and outlook on it, although I would never call it a "waste".
Like you, i've had my fair share of laughs over the years from people who swear thier CAI on thier stock car just netted them "20-30 hp"
Cheers brother
Like I said-I pretty much subscribe to your theory and outlook on it, although I would never call it a "waste".
Like you, i've had my fair share of laughs over the years from people who swear thier CAI on thier stock car just netted them "20-30 hp"
Cheers brother
Adding CAI is only a waste if you are doing it and not adding a cooresponding exhaust mod (headers, catback). Otherwise, it is not a waste. I hope I clarified my position
Last edited by Chemdawg99; Jul 22, 2008 at 09:32 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
Absolutely the best "Bang for the Buck" true cold air induction. "FLIP TIE".
Two years running, torrential rains, sandy conditions, dirt cheap, looks stock, no issues.
Two years running, torrential rains, sandy conditions, dirt cheap, looks stock, no issues.
Last edited by dndrsn; Jul 22, 2008 at 08:56 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Dave, I am totally with you on your very detailed and accurate post. Particularly with the part I quoted you on.
IMHO and like you said, for a stock or mostly stock engine there is very little advantage between the aftermarket intakes. Just opening up the air box delivers the same results as most aftermarket intakes that aren't a true CAI. That said, a true CAI opens one up for water ingestions issues (something to think about if you are a DD) Again, nice post
IMHO and like you said, for a stock or mostly stock engine there is very little advantage between the aftermarket intakes. Just opening up the air box delivers the same results as most aftermarket intakes that aren't a true CAI. That said, a true CAI opens one up for water ingestions issues (something to think about if you are a DD) Again, nice post
Anyone with CAI who regularly plows through a 6-inch stream of water during heavy rain may be asking for trouble, but I did drive through a heavy downpour (while avoiding puddles and streams) and the worst that happened is that my Halltech Stinger Warhead filter got a bit damp. This occured after I installed my CAI mod. Fortunately, here in San Diego, there is no rain to be had from April until November and even during the Winter months, downpours are very rare. But hey, that's why we have second vehicles - for just such emergencies
!
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
Thanks, Chem,
Anyone with CAI who regularly plows through a 6-inch stream of water during heavy rain may be asking for trouble, but I did drive through a heavy downpour (while avoiding puddles and streams) and the worst that happened is that my Halltech Stinger Warhead filter got a bit damp. This occured after I installed my CAI mod. Fortunately, here in San Diego, there is no rain to be had from April until November and even during the Winter months, downpours are very rare. But hey, that's why we have second vehicles - for just such emergencies !
Anyone with CAI who regularly plows through a 6-inch stream of water during heavy rain may be asking for trouble, but I did drive through a heavy downpour (while avoiding puddles and streams) and the worst that happened is that my Halltech Stinger Warhead filter got a bit damp. This occured after I installed my CAI mod. Fortunately, here in San Diego, there is no rain to be had from April until November and even during the Winter months, downpours are very rare. But hey, that's why we have second vehicles - for just such emergencies
! Like I have been saying, a CAI is good start to other mods that will require extra air. The HP bump is 7-15 HP (at best, liberal estimate)depending on the application used. I have never read any post from you that perpetuated a myth
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 1,850
From: NJ
2025 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Anyone know where I can buy a Blackwing for a reasonable price? (Less than $300)...
