Cold Air Intake

**dc2r** · 02-09-2003 10:18 PM

Okay guys, I need some help here as I have managed to confuse myself. I always thought a CAI is just some steel or alloy piping that leads from the filter to the engine. Am I correct here? If I was to buy an AEM CAI, would it include the pod filter. Is it better to use a pod filter with a CAI? Is it possible to connect the CAI to the stock airbox? What exactly is a CAI and how does it work exactly? Thanks.

**aZZ** · 02-09-2003 10:32 PM

CAI is purely relocating the Pod filter to somewhere around the engine bay which gets plenty of cold air such as inside the airdam in your front bar. or near your wheel arch.

hense the reason some people dont get them becuse if you suck up water then your motor is pretty much cactus.

**wynode** · 02-09-2003 11:20 PM

CAI - Cold air intake.

The term isn't reserved for pod filter setups. Its basically any type of setup that allows the engine to breather cold air which is generally taken from just under/behind the front bar.

No point geting a pod filter unless its shielded from the engine bay because otherwise you will just be sucking up hot air.

**A'PEXi** · 04-09-2003 08:58 PM

ermm u can buy the aem cai with a pod, but i think its something like 700aud importing them from the states....

**Calvo** · 04-09-2003 09:00 PM

wat a waste of $700 that'd be, unless u REALLY get huge gains from it...

**ATSE** · 04-09-2003 09:56 PM

I reckon the AEM is a waste of money... yes it does give you gains... but Bang for Buck... no way.

CAI is a piping system connected to your Throttle Body, which has pod filter connected at the end of the piping, which is feed to the front fender/bumper of your car to suck cold air in. This will give give you more HP but less Throttle response

Short Ram is a short pipe connected to your throttle body, with a Pod fitler at the end of it. It sits in your engine bay. Gives you better throttle response but not as much HP as CAI. I am currently running this setup with Cold Air piping from the front bumper.. and i'm pretty happy with it and it gives a nice roar.

OR you can use a stock airbox, buy a drop in filter (K&N, Spoon, Trust) and create piping from you front bumper to the airbox, creating a nice cold air feed. This is probably the best setup IMO, makes you engine bay look clean, Legal and also noticable gains.

**Calvo** · 04-09-2003 10:00 PM

i heard that its pretty bad if not setup properly coz if water splashes up, then ur ****ed.
btw wat does AEM stand for?

**bennjamin** · 04-09-2003 10:18 PM

DONT WASTE UR MONEY PEOPLE !

For maximum results...just runa stock airbox setup with direct cold air feed !

to do this , basically replace ur stock airfilter with a hi flow after market one, ( spoon or TRUST i suggest) , and replace the pre-airbox piping with a single , straight as possible pipe running from the front bumper inlet.

I have done this upon my lil EG5 civic...increases lo to id to top end torque and power...big gains on top end - as air is almost being rammed into the engine...more PSI = more pure combustion = more power !

I would think the gains on a bigger capacity car is excellent return for a very small amount spent - TRUST/SPOON replacement fi flow filter = $60-$100, piping = free ? PLUS a few minutes thought....= PRICLESS !

Also , to prevent water or any other foreign body entering the custom piping, u should put a small amount of holes at any bends or lenghts to allow liquid to escape, and maybe place a less dense foam close to the very front , allowing maximum flow, but protecting from immidiate elements.

Ive got pix and diagrams if u r interested...

Ben

**BPA** · 04-09-2003 10:52 PM

how would i run a feed into the stock airbox on an vtir civ? ie, what materials do i need?

cheers'
Sam

**ATSE** · 04-09-2003 11:10 PM

AEM is a company

but dunno what it stands for

Yes that problem causes Hydrolock. when water gets into your engine. Air and fuel gets compressed in your engine... but water can't... But AEM have this built in foam thing which prevents this from happening... (Sucking in water that is). But to be honest.. this is pretty hard to occur, unless your car is like submerged in water. To avoid this, when you drive over a large puddle, just let go of the pedel, cause your throttle will be closed and there will be no vaccum to suck the water in..

Well all you really need is a cutter, air con piping from Bunnings warehouse (get around 3inch piping) Oh and a BBQ and some alcohol for a friend to help you

Check out HOnda-Tech.com and search for this kind of topic... some of them have step to step guides on what to do with pics