CAI filter size & relevance

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09-19-2008, 06:24 PM

#11

Canary94GT

4th Gear Member

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Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 1,233

That helps a lot, thank you guys.

09-19-2008, 08:31 PM

#12

projectresto83

M.A.D. Motorsports

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Indiana

Posts: 8,014

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRO50SC

My take on filter size. Makes no difference. The amount of air flow is determined mainly by the diameter/size of the intake tube. It won't accept any more flow no matter how large the filter is as long as it's at least the size of the inlet opening. After that, size doesn't matter.

I converted the BBK I have to work in conjuction w/ my blower. quality stuff. It was worth what I spent for it.

I was thinking the same thing on the size. Bigger is better up to a certain degree like you said. After a certain size the restriction no longer becomes the filter size but becomes the tubing size just like you said. But then again with the mass air it will only read a certain amount because of the MAF meter size and with that bigger is not always better either.

09-19-2008, 10:38 PM

#13

Canary94GT

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Location: Seattle, WA

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this has seriously been the most helpful cai info so far... no telling me the common "spend it on something else" lol

09-19-2008, 11:09 PM

#14

OnyxCobra

6th Gear Member

Join Date: Nov 2005

Location: Rochester, NY

Posts: 8,467

Mine was $40 on ebay, looks awesome and is pretty much the same as a MAC intake.

09-20-2008, 12:12 AM

#15

projectresto83

M.A.D. Motorsports

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Indiana

Posts: 8,014

I bought the 98's full price from Latemodel and it did perform out of the box. I didn't get to feel the difference between stock and the CAI on my brother's 92 but the fenderwell style BBK did look great. Much better than a one of our buddies 87GT with the MAC Engine bay air filter style CAI.

09-20-2008, 01:09 AM

#16

dudeboy

3rd Gear Member

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: Washington, Seattle

Posts: 551

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectresto83

But then again with the mass air it will only read a certain amount because of the MAF meter size and with that bigger is not always better either.

What makes you say that a bigger MAF is not better?
From what I know, there is little chance of going too big with the MAF... the less restrictive, the better.

I have some random thoughts to add to this....
More important than the filter *size*, is the consitency of airflow across the MAF. What I mean by this is how accurate the MAF signal is, due to tight bends and filters mounted directly to the MAF meter.

How do you fix that?
Use several inches of straight tubing just before, and just after the MAF meter.
ALL of the CAI kits I have seen place a tight radius bend just before the MAF meter. Sometimes this is a significant problem, sometimes it isn't.
In my 87 LX 2.3 I have a tight bend just before the MAF, and from my datalogs, all seems to be decent. Not good, but nothing to complain about. On the other hand, some guys can't get their 5.0 to idle until they clock/rotate their MAF meter.

KIM,
The stock intake system is a CAI.
Remove the silencer, and you have a pretty decent CAI.

just my opinion though,
jason