Cai

[djeyecon]

probably the next mod to go on the VU. any suggestions as to brand, price estimates etc?.

i was looking at a SS inductions big mouth CAI for just under 500, not really sure how much variety there is out there.

thanks.

[accentstencil]

Lots available on ebay.

[nicko]

hey mate, many people will tell you not to waste your money on a cai. You can make your own and its not very hard, its even fun :P I have cut away at the air intake mouth in my VT. It hasnt done much but it is better than stock as more air can get in there. I will try to dig up a how to for you, but try having a search yourself as you will no doubt find a thread about something else interesting:

got a photo of the way i have modded mine:

[chargedvx6]

YT pipe

http://store.chipcontrol.com.au/

or you can DIY with some 90mm pvc and zip ties

[galahs]

Just cut your stock mouth open bigger.

I modded my VT's air box so it had 3 openings and I noticed no difference in performance.

[wrx884]

Can some1 explain how cuttin the cai mouth would make ne difference? nicko u say u did it 2 suck more air in? now if the car wanted more air in wouldnt it just suck harder rather than wanting more in? 2 me is seems it doesnt need more air it just needs 2 b placed in a spot 2 suck colder air and thats all and thats where the home made pipes come into play?

[Tony.]

I don't think making the stock intake would have any difference. The rest fo the piping is still the same and so it the joint into the airbox.

[nicko]

Can some1 explain how cuttin the cai mouth would make ne difference? nicko u say u did it 2 suck more air in? now if the car wanted more air in wouldnt it just suck harder rather than wanting more in? 2 me is seems it doesnt need more air it just needs 2 b placed in a spot 2 suck colder air and thats all and thats where the home made pipes come into play?

if there is a bigger opening then more air can get in. If your trying to suck air in through a straw at a certain point no matter how hard you suck you wont get anymore air in. You a bigger straw and you will get more air. When my car was dynoed it made 120rwkw and without the box it made 123.9 so when it is able to get the air easier it made more power. To be honest i dont think it mad a difference but it certainly didnt hurt it and the mod took of a one minute. no harm done

[wrx884]

still even with ur dyno figures it doesnt show nething coz we all know they rnt always correct on each run.... i understand wat ur sayin with the straws but these CAI rnt straws and if u actually put ur hand where the mouth is and rev ur car it doesnt exactly suck ur hand in there i just think gettin cold air is ur better option 2 gain power and i dont think giving it more air will change the airs temp? mayb im wrong thats just how i see it thats all

[nicko]

nah i totally understand what you mean. For some reason i just cant be assed cutting my airbox apart and trying to hold things together for only a few kw, specially on a bloody ecotec

[Tony.]

just change the filter to a decent one and you'd be sweet.

if you had "spare" cash lying around for an SS Inductions kit or something similar go for it but its probably not worth the $$$

[galahs]

Cutting the mouth open a little more removes one more bend which is there to reduce induction noise and in turn slows down the air entering the airbox.

Having a slightly bigger opening also creates a ram effect that allows more momentum of air to be sucked down the same sized tube. That's why a flanged intake have the best flow and why race cars have trumpet intakes (The flanged end of the trumpet improves airflow)

[matt08]

A CAI is worth doing. Fairly cheep mod, which you can do even cheaper if you make it up your self. I didn't notice a major power gain ( I've been told it makes approx 5kW the fly) when i put one on my car, but the whine coming from the blower increased a huge amount. For the money spent, the mod was well worth it - a bit more power, and a bigger grin when i stomp on the loud pedal

[Hot-Rod]

Isn't the idea of a stock ECOTEC inlet to reduce **** getting into your system. If you open up the mouth by box cutting it, wouldn't more water and **** get into the air box possibly getting through the filter and damaging your engine?

That's why the design has that hill at the start.

[matt08]

Not really, the inlet to the air box is at the bottom, and the outlet at the top, with the filter in between. Even if a small amount of water or **** did get it, it would sit in the bottom of the air box. I have had my CIA on for over a year and had a opend up stock inlet for over 2 years, and never had a problem. I clean my air filter every 6 months, and aside from a couple of bugs and a bit of dust (both of which are to be expected whether or not u have a modified inlet) it is fine. Speaking of filters, a K&N filter is a cheap and worthy upgrade to your intake - better airflow & reusable.

[wrx884]

Actually if ur gonna go filters id recommend the lukey high performance filters over K&N's they breathe better and they dont leave oily crap in ur TB and r much much cheaper and u can clean them with just a rinse in water.

[djeyecon]

Do you mean putting the K&N filter in place of the ****ty filter in between the air box and the intake manifold? Would the K&N filter restrict even more airflow?
I've been looking at the SS inductions kits but not really willing to buy something like that on a first year apprentice wage especially since I gotta pay off the car haha. I guess I could maybe make something similar to the SS big mouth. Would that be my best option?

[wrx884]

Do you mean putting the K&N filter in place of the ****ty filter in between the air box and the intake manifold? Would the K&N filter restrict even more airflow?
I've been looking at the SS inductions kits but not really willing to buy something like that on a first year apprentice wage especially since I gotta pay off the car haha. I guess I could maybe make something similar to the SS big mouth. Would that be my best option?

ur best option is the standard CAI aswell as having the DIY home CAI pipes

[djeyecon]

So just cut the mouth bigger? Should I put an aftermarket filter in also or no?

[nicko]

put a lukey filter in

cut the mouth open if you want to

cut another hole in the bottom airbox and using some PCV (for example) make another air inlet by directing this PVC to an area where cold air will be.

[djeyecon]

Ah. Simple enough.
Cheers for all the input fellas, really appreciated.

[galahs]

Water wont get in unless the airbox entries are totally submerged in water.

Water may enter the airbox, but their is a small drain hole in the air box for the water to escape.

As long as you have an into your airbox that's above water level, air will enter through that opening even if another is submerged. lIt acts like putting a hole half way down a drinking straw. It makes in nearly impossible to suck the water up through it.

[s_ikari2015]

If you're putting an Over the Radiator cold air intake kit into an Ecotech I would say don't even bother. The ONLY over the radiator CAI that would be worth the effort is a RAM-Air for an LS1.

The most gains you can hope from installing a CAI is to place it so it is open to COLD air only. OTR is useless for cold air.

Easiest thing to do is install a high flow air filter, any brand is better then stock paper.

[holdenvx38]

Hey Mate,
You might wanna have a look at the the Type S CAI. Heard alot of good things about it. Seems a much better idea than alot of the others
V6 Performance Australia - V6 Power Parts
Im gonna probaly order one next month. A little pricy but you get everything you need and will be done properly with no fuss. Get a kn panel with it i rekon and you should be set.