(Rants and Raves) Something you guys should know about Cold Air Intakes...

[DrewsZ71]

Im going to tell you guys some good info about cold air intakes...but first I just want you all to know a few little things about myself and where Im coming from on this and future subjects. Since I was a kid, Ive been a gear head and mainly just an automotive guy. Yes most guys make this claim but it was different for me. I graduated high school at age 17 and went off to different colleges and vocational schools. I was fortunate enough to meet one of G.M.'s executive people in charge of research and development for the region I was in. I was hired within his region to study and particiate in various projects. In that time I met some of the smartest automotive guys on the planet (at least I thought so) and learned a vast amount of knowledge, and would like to share some of it with you. My main concern is letting everyone know the myths and truths about different aftermarket products. I don't claim to be the holy grail of automotive knowledge, but I sure as hell didn't sit in an office selling K&N dyno sheets to put on TV...lol OK enough about that.

....Cold Air Intakes....

A cold air intakes purpose is to cool the incoming fresh air that gets filtered on its way to your engine. When air starts to drop in temperature, its true that the air molecules move closer together to become more dense. The rate of speed at which these molecules move is dependent on numerous factors that cant all be measured out precisly. However it is known to some people how fast the rate of molecular movement is depending on certain numerous factors i.e. ambient temp, humidity, aerodynamics, etc.
Now here is the intersting fact that YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW.....IT TAKES A 10 DEGREE DROP IN AIR TEMPERATURE TO EQUAL A 1 H.P. INCREASE. Please feel free to look that up if you can find an engine builder that is willing to divulge all his little secrets. But because of popular marketing and those stupid ass ricer movies everyone thinks colder air equates to more power. Yes that is a fact but not in the sense in which we are all led to believe. So let me ask you this....If you're driving down the highway in the middle of summer when its 90-100+ degrees, how in the world is that cheap ass little plastic box that has a see through cover so you can see the neon blue air filter inside going to cool your incoming air so much that you're gonna get a horsepower boost? The truth of the matter is, that there are airflow management systems out there that can give you some extra ponies. BUT! the materials and archetecture that are required in their design are not practical in todays "build it fast and cheap" cars and trucks. I know there are people out there that claim that their "brand X" gives them a big boost in power, but honestly the majority of those people feel that increase because they want to feel it and they are led to belive they will feel it and thereby expect to feel it. Im not saying that they are all completely bogus on all vehicles but the principle remains the same...Its called The Law of Physics.
So to bring this to a close, I challenge you to grab a hose wrap it up, bend it, twist, or do whatever you want to it. Then turn your oven on and stick one end of that hose inside with a thermometer at one end, then blow through it. I doubt you'll be able to blow ice crystals out the other side as we are all led to believe. So take this info as you will. There are always other opinions out there and I respect those. So do me and yourselves a favor. Once you get past the fancy names, the pretty paint jobs, the shiny chrome, the multi-color LED lights, and the hefty price tag ask yourselves this... How does this thing work? Question everything you can before you decide to spend your hard working and depreciating dollar on it. Do your research before you buy all those pretty contraptions. And that goes for you too, all you throttle body spacer people....IM DONE!

[adampaul1964]

Now tell us how you really feel! :lol: Seriously that was pretty informative, I think the "cold" in cold air intake is more of a sales gimmick, but doesn't the less restricted airflow provide some power gain?

[DrewsZ71]

it will certainly let the engine breathe easier. but not necessarily faster. All you can do is get the air to the throttle body, once its made it inside its completely dependent upon the internal workings of that engine. Basically if you want to stuff 10lbs of poop in a 5lb bag, you'll just need to get a bigger bag...lol

[adampaul1964]

Ha Ha, I hear ya!

[bry2500]

The 10 pound poop stuffer would be a turbo or supercharger. That will truly give you a denser charge. But more air requires more fuel, which in turn makes a bigger boom that requires stronger components other wise the boom becomes tooooooo big and things break. So what ends up being a moderate investment becomes a financial nightmare. Best way to do it is to have it done the right way the first time.

[Chevy Newby]

so when you mentioned the shiny blue filter with clear box Itake it that I shouldnt get a Volant intake???:neutral: what would you recommend for my truck. I am no gear head at all but I respect those that are. Thats why I am on here. Damn that Volant does look COOL :lol:

[adampaul1964]

Oh yeah get the volant it's a good intake I'd have one but too many mouths to feed! I had one on an older truck and loved it. I would recommend staying away from a 10lb poop stuffer though :lol:

[DrewsZ71]

Well I think Volante is def one of the better intakes out there. Id get one if they weren't so dang expensive. I didn't mean to insult volante intakes. Apperance is certainly a major factor when installing aftermarket stuff. I was just poking fun to all those companies that try to make it look fast rather than actually be fast and have it look good too...lol

[adampaul1964]

Well I think Volante is def one of the better intakes out there. Id get one if they weren't so dang expensive. I didn't mean to insult volante intakes. Apperance is certainly a major factor when installing aftermarket stuff. I was just poking fun to all those companies that try to make it look fast rather than actually be fast and have it look good too...lol
Did you see the install on 2guys garage, they dyno'd it and got a 23hp gain dont know which engine it was though

[silveradotrailblazer]

Good article Drew. I think what people think is a horspower gain is actully just better throttle response because of less restrictions in the so called CAIs. Whats your opinion??

[DrewsZ71]

I definitely agree with ya on that one. You will feel a quicker throttle response

[silveradotrailblazer]

what programmer doe you have?

[lawson4450]

I had origionally purchased a stillen air intake for my truck when they first came out with it in 99 or 2000 now this was before all the cold air box stuff and this and that and it wasnt too expensive. I purchased a for better words a filter box on ebay with a filter for 25 bucks and i think it works just as good as those 300 plus dollar set ups.I dont think its all that big a deal on my truck because all i have is the intake. throttle body spacer(honestly cant tell you if it works or not since ive had it so long i dont remember what stock ran like lol) and a magnaflow exhaust the computer is programmed but nothing big just more for speedometer and tires. I can see it making more of a difference on the higher horsepower vehicles but i got mine pretty cheap so i think it was a good investment not to mention it sounds cool sucking the air in lol.

[DrewsZ71]

The programmer I have is a ProComp, it is made by hypertech though. I really don't like hypertech all that much, but it was on sale and I was just curious. It does however have some pretty cool lil features to it. Like harder shifts through the gears and rev/speen limiter, and im able to change the tire sizing for my bigger tires. Theres a few more cool little things to it, but i really don't use them. Its ok I guess Im pretty satisfied with it, which I usually don't say about hypertech products...lol

[silveradotrailblazer]

If you ever have a chance to try a Diablo programmer I think you will like it. It has so much more tuning capabilities. Shift firmness and shift quickness, delay that quick 1-2 shift, timing,injectore slope,idle adjustment (raised mine by 100rpms for better throttle response) There website doesnt show eveything you can do with it.

[TRPLXL2]

I bought a K & N 77 Series intake for $279 at Stylin Concepts, I bought it because everybody kept bragging it up and making all these unfounded claims. As far as getting better gas mileage, I got 14.3 before installation. And after installation I got 14.3 according to the DIC, and as far as horsepower goes whatever I might have gotten got eaten up by the gearing and larger tires on my truck. I think that was the worst $300 I ever spent on my truck, the only gain I got off of it was the shiny chrome tube under the hood. :lol:

[yotchie]

how about throttle body spacers. they had one on horsepower tv and the got a few extra horses out of it. i dont understand how they claim to do anything all it is is a small piece of aluminum or some metal with a hole in it. if they make a difference it would be nice to know no point on spending money on something that does not work. i had an airrade intake on my old truck but the stock one was in really bad shape. with no wrecker around and i got a good deal on one. i never noticed a real difference other than looks.

[DrewsZ71]

If you ever have a chance to try a Diablo programmer I think you will like it. It has so much more tuning capabilities. Shift firmness and shift quickness, delay that quick 1-2 shift, timing,injectore slope,idle adjustment (raised mine by 100rpms for better throttle response) There website doesnt show eveything you can do with it.


Actually, I wanted to get that Diablo programer. Ive been waiting and waiting for the price to come down on it. It just so happens that the procomp went on sale and I bought it for like $250. I wish that I would've just bought the diablo, b/c thats the one i really want to get.

[DrewsZ71]

how about throttle body spacers. they had one on horsepower tv and the got a few extra horses out of it. i dont understand how they claim to do anything all it is is a small piece of aluminum or some metal with a hole in it. if they make a difference it would be nice to know no point on spending money on something that does not work. i had an airrade intake on my old truck but the stock one was in really bad shape. with no wrecker around and i got a good deal on one. i never noticed a real difference other than looks.


Im gonna post another thread about the throttle body spacers as well soon. There wont be a whole lot to it. Like you said its just a block of metal. :lol:

[tbplus10]

Im gonna post another thread about the throttle body spacers as well soon. There wont be a whole lot to it. Like you said its just a block of metal. :lol:

Throttle body spacers were designed after the idea of the old style "High Rise" manifolds popular in the 60's and early 70's which worked great for added performance on carburated engines (if you didnt mind a carb sticking through your hood). But these arent carburated engines were dealing with, they like everything measured and precise, and most of that measuring was done at the factory in the engineering phase.

[DrewsZ71]

Very true indeed, tb. I just put up another rant and rave posting on the General Q&A forrm about the throttle body spacer

[sundancer2004]

Drew, thank you so very much on your article. I hae been asking about the benefits of a CAI and you have pretty much sold me on leaving it stock. i guess just a K&N air filter and have a go at it. thanks again steve

[2COR517]

CAI is last on my list. The idea of course is not that it magically cools the air as it approaches the engine, but instead pulls cooler air in through the fender, rather than the the hot air in the engine compartment. And, there certainly would be a gain to the smoother plumbing, but that would be in high RPM / WOT situations. I don't do that often.

I had an 89 K1500 w/305 a few years ago. Put on a Gibson single exhaust and K&N FIPK (or whatever it is). Did them both on the same night. Wished I hadn't. Should have driven with the new exhaust for a week or two, then added the K&N. I did make one run up the highway with the new exhaust and old intake. Exhaust sounded great, engine normal. When I put the K&N on, the cab was much noisier. At WOT, it was almost unbearable in there. I can't say that they made a huge difference in power or economy. Maybe a little bit. The exhuast sounded incredible though. I had several people ask me if I had a big block in the truck. I am going to put another Gibson single on the 97. If I want more power, I would probably go with a programmer vs CAI.

[Crakums_GT]

I am definitely looking at putting a programmer in next rather than a CAI. I really need something to correct my spedo for my new tires since it is about 8-10 mph off at 70mph. Someday I'll get a programmer. They're just so expensive though. Thank you for the info on the CAI.

-Greg

[bob13]

Great post thanks for the info!!