OK, I am sure this subject has been beat into the ground around here, but I could not find anything in the archives! So I will ask it in hopes that it has not been a flamed topic. If you want to flame mail me please feel free to do so at bill@microsoft.com
I would like to have some opinions on an intake system. There are quite a few out there and I have found them priced from $79 to hundreds of dollars and I would like ot know what the difference is. I mean come on, it is some pipe and an air filter right? So tell me in your opinions on what you feel is the best intake and the best intake for the money. I am running a 97 Eclipse GS Non-Turbo. This will be my first mod. (The car is only 2 weeks old to me! Pros and cons here folks. I want to know good, bad or whatever.
#995, "RE: Intake Opinions For A New Owner" In response to Reply # 0
Yeah it's only a pipe with an Airfilter and in that case you can do this PVC mod http://www.2gnt.com/files/pvcintake.htm but I am also a firm believer that you get what you pay for. And I'd like to think a few of these companies have tuned and developed this to the point I am doing more then a paying for a tube and filter.
#996, "RE: Intake Opinions For A New Owner" In response to Reply # 1
Welcome to 2GNT Hurricane_GS ! 99_GS is totaly correct. You can do the mod or get a complete intake system. This was the first mod that I decided on and it was a good one. I ordered the Injen short ram intake from RRE. I dont know what it cost because it was a while ago but...worth the money. Not only did I get a nice looking chrome pipe with a red K&N filter (million mile warrenty on filter!) but a nice low grumble and more HP which is the ultimate goal. Along with the Injen intake I can purchase a cold air extension to make it curve down to the front so it is directly inside of the drivers side opening in the front. I would say either Injen (biased) or I also would look into AEM cold air intake...make sure and spend the extra money on the water-bypass if you live in an area where it rains more than 10 days a year or someting like that. The bypass lets air in if there is too much pressure (because water is in the filter) saving you from getting water sucked into your engine.
#999, "RE: Intake Opinions For A New Owner" In response to Reply # 0
Honestly, just buy a K&N cone filter. For $60 you can get a couple more ponies throughout the rpm range just as you would with any "hi-po" intake. You might gain a little more with say an AEM cold air, but you are also spending an extra $100-175. Now ask yourself, is it worth it for the extra 3 hp which you aren't gonna feel anyway?
Really, the stock intake is perfectly fine at flowing good amounts of air. I don't see no physical difference between an aftermarket piece and stock except for the little resonator. Granted, the airbox IS restricive, so naturally a cone filter will cure that problem.
My advice? Buy a K&N cone filter and save your money for REAL mods like NOS, GS-T Mufflers, or a header.
#1000, "RE: Intake Opinions For A New Owner" In response to Reply # 0
I have the AEM and it was my first mod too. I am glad I got it. I love it. You do get what you pay for. The fit of the AEM is great. And it has a coating that is supposed to keep the air in it cooler from the engine heat. It is a quality product.
DAVE_FL 97GS AEM CAI AFX PULLEY AFX solid motor mount Magnaflow exhaust Sparkco 9mm wires Eibach Pro Kit tokico shocks Altezzas A Badass sound system Indiglows,neons,and all that good stuff...hehe
#1003, "RE: Intake Opinions For A New Owner" In response to Reply # 8
I used to have a K&N filter on my stock intake a long time ago, and went with an AEM cold air. biggest difference i would tell was on the top end, and it sounded a lot cooler. i thought about the PVC intake option too, but i casually mentioned it to my chemistry professor and he said not to put anything PVC in my engine bay, cause when heated up, even just a little, it gives off a highly toxic fume!!! that was enough to turn me off to it!
#1004, "Go for the AEM cold air.." In response to Reply # 9
Ya I used to have a cone filter on the end of the stock piping, and it sounded cool, but the AEM cold air intake makes a MUCH bigger difference. I would periodically switch between the two, and the cone filter felt a LOT slower than the AEM. It was noticeable, and my car wasn't fun to drive without the AEM. Needless to say, I haven't taken the AEM off in over a year...
#1005, "RE: Intake Opinions For A New Owner" In response to Reply # 0
AEM, Injen, Iceman. Go cold air, and I prefer one that is in two pieces so it you want you can shorten it. You don't have to worry about hydrolock and sucking in water unless you drive through deep puddles and submerge the filter. Then the AEM bypass will help. Don't know where you live or how much it rains...
I don't like the cone on the end of the stock intake tube. It has the resonator and the flex section that disturbe smooth airflow. Yeah the difference may be a couple ponies now. But if you do you more mods they work with each other. and the better each piece of yoru set up is the more overall power you will be producing. A bored Tb and intake manifold for example wil work much better with an actual intake than a filter on the end of the stock tube. I prefer to think ahead, and do a mod once and not go back and revisit somethign I've already changed. I guess itt depends on what you have to spend and how far you plan to go, and what kind of performance you are looking for.
BTW I have the Injen with the Cold Air Extension ($145 Intake $65 Extension) and love the set up, great sound and great feel especially on the highway.. really breather great.
Firefly: Mal: You don't know me, son, so let me put this to you plainly: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake. You'll be facing me. And you'll be armed.
#1006, "RE: Intake Opinions For A New Owner" In response to Reply # 0
Seems like the winner would be the AEM. Just for the record I would NEVER build my own out of PVC pipe. LOL! I know that in cetain situations it might be fine, and no knocks against those who have done it, but I like my cars to look sharp!
I will look into the purchase of the AEM as well as the bypass as I live in Florida where during the summer there is only 10 minutes a day that it isn't raining!
I thank each and everyone of you for your replies!