short or long tubes for cai
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 7
St Jude Donor '14
short or long tubes for cai
Hi Guys I have been researching a cai for my stock 99 C5.Originally liked the vararam set up but seems problematic. I have read info about "short and long tube" set ups and am confused as to why everyone wouldn't just use a long tube set up i.e.: actually drawing in COLD air versus a short tube which pulls in the hot air around engine as well.Does the longer tube sacrifice gas mileage for h.p. Does a short tube high flow system w/ large air filter really add any h.p or does it just "sound better" when stomped on.(placebo).What would be the best choice for just cruising around,not drag racing the car,but definitely driving as it was built to be driven.+ would I need to change the mafs to accommodate more air intake?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 960
Likes: 1
From: Trussville AL
The Vararam and Callaway in my opinion are the best CAI out there. They are two different methods to get cold air but both work well. My Vararam I'm sure gave some HP but it did make the throttle response more crisp. After a tune from ECS my A4 really woke up with the Vararam and Corsa exhaust. The stock maf is fine for a CAI. Without a different cam, heads supercharger etc a stock motor is only going to suck so much air.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
In my opinion and based on my experience, most so-called CAI systems are over rated. You don't get much of a performance gain at all and in some cases, you end up losing torque.
Varraram has proven itself to work on the track but it has horrible fit and made with the cheapest materials possible. Every one I have seen installed, had a leak somewhere. Most of the time, the owner never even realized it until I pointed it out. I'm not saying to not get one, but be ready to do some fabricating to get it to fit and seal properly.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
"Short ram"-type intakes are almost always not true CAIs, so you are correct in thinking that way. The OEM intake filter assembly is positioned far forward to get the filter away from the engine. Cybermind is correct in that opening up the fog light panels, along with replacing or modifying your filter box will definitely pump up the HP. Adding a heat exchanger hood will also help, as well as a better flowing cat-back.
Most data loggers that plug into your OBDII port will display intake air temperature. You can get a baseline and then go from there to see how mods keep those temps down.
Most data loggers that plug into your OBDII port will display intake air temperature. You can get a baseline and then go from there to see how mods keep those temps down.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 5
From: Loveland CO
Both a Cold air intake (I like Callaway Honker) and a Open filter (Like a Blackwing) will perform simmilar. If my Z06 didnt have a intake allready on it (Breathless Performance Vortex Rammer) i would go for either a Callaway Honker or Haltech. I also replaced the stock Air bridge going over the Radiator, read that the stock one collapses a little under HEAVY accel and chokes the intake down.
Idealy Cold air intake with a Isolated filter from the engine bay is best, but once the car is moving the hot air is drawn away from the filter so you would see most gains if the car goes from a stop (like a Drag Strip). even then the differences are minimal, becuase both will eliminate some restriction from the stock air box.
Idealy Cold air intake with a Isolated filter from the engine bay is best, but once the car is moving the hot air is drawn away from the filter so you would see most gains if the car goes from a stop (like a Drag Strip). even then the differences are minimal, becuase both will eliminate some restriction from the stock air box.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
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St Jude Donor '14
dave 68,red monte and all others that responded to my cai question,thanks for your input I am looking at a new product made by lgm that has a bigger bellows and large air filter. However seems to have a short tube,suppose I can always play around and add a longer tube to get the filter down by the radiator as well as adding some holes in my stock fog light panels.p.s system is more than 1/2 price of callaway,and blackwing set up.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
In my opinion and based on my experience, most so-called CAI systems are over rated. You don't get much of a performance gain at all and in some cases, you end up losing torque.
Going to have to respectfully disagree. The cooler the air, the more dense it is and the more power it makes, Car makers have always know this (shaker hoods) as well as drag car builders (how many DON'T have hood scoops)
Anyone that has driven a Vette with a vararam on a 40* morning, will know of which I speak
Any time you can bring outside air directly to your carb or TB, you are going to see some performance increase.
Lose torque??? How is that possible??
Going to have to respectfully disagree. The cooler the air, the more dense it is and the more power it makes, Car makers have always know this (shaker hoods) as well as drag car builders (how many DON'T have hood scoops)
Anyone that has driven a Vette with a vararam on a 40* morning, will know of which I speak
Any time you can bring outside air directly to your carb or TB, you are going to see some performance increase.
Lose torque??? How is that possible??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 7
St Jude Donor '14
blow torch .I concur,I am going to try and stuff my set up as close to the opening as the stock placement under the hood as possible.Will probably have to make custom tube..be surprised what you can find in the plumbing section of home depot.lol
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
dave 68,red monte and all others that responded to my cai question,thanks for your input I am looking at a new product made by lgm that has a bigger bellows and large air filter. However seems to have a short tube,suppose I can always play around and add a longer tube to get the filter down by the radiator as well as adding some holes in my stock fog light panels.p.s system is more than 1/2 price of callaway,and blackwing set up.
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/Rad...op%20inst..pdf
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
In my opinion and based on my experience, most so-called CAI systems are over rated. You don't get much of a performance gain at all and in some cases, you end up losing torque.
Going to have to respectfully disagree. The cooler the air, the more dense it is and the more power it makes, Car makers have always know this (shaker hoods) as well as drag car builders (how many DON'T have hood scoops)
Anyone that has driven a Vette with a vararam on a 40* morning, will know of which I speak
Any time you can bring outside air directly to your carb or TB, you are going to see some performance increase.
Lose torque??? How is that possible??
Going to have to respectfully disagree. The cooler the air, the more dense it is and the more power it makes, Car makers have always know this (shaker hoods) as well as drag car builders (how many DON'T have hood scoops)
Anyone that has driven a Vette with a vararam on a 40* morning, will know of which I speak
Any time you can bring outside air directly to your carb or TB, you are going to see some performance increase.
Lose torque??? How is that possible??
I agree with you regarding true Cold Air Intakes that take the air from outside the engine compartment. That is why I mention the Varraram.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 7
St Jude Donor '14
dave68
and others thanks for input.dave thanks for uploading video about cold air box very interesting couple questions,saw this was done in 2004,how did the plastic letter holder hold up under engine heat? and if you could look at this cai and give me an opinion on weather its worth 185$.ITS AT LGMOTORSPORTS.COM PART # 32118195530.ON FLEA BAY .THANKS
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 666
Likes: 2
From: western springs illinois
...or you can do what I did and make your own cold air scoop setup. See:
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/Rad...op%20inst..pdf
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/Rad...op%20inst..pdf
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
What is the problem with the stock intake that is buggin' you. Any solution starts with identifying the problem.
I think for a lot of people , the only intake problem they have is that it is stock, and not "special".
What is the problem with the stock intake that is buggin' you. Any solution starts with identifying the problem.
I think for a lot of people , the only intake problem they have is that it is stock, and not "special".
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 7
St Jude Donor '14
Strand rider,this is a rather old thread I started.Ultimately after some issues,w/aftermarket set up,I went back to stock set up, :just left well enough alone. Sometimes" the enemy of good is better".
Last edited by wlean99; Jan 14, 2014 at 06:18 PM. Reason: spellcheck