Thread: Cold Air Intake

Plenty of info right here:

ZZ Performance

Lol, you're definitely not going to suck water into the Wizaired. I'm happy with the looks and performance. And, if you select the proper option in the drop down, they will include the filter so you don't have to hunt for one.

The Wizaired is way ahead of the K&N in performance. The K&N does a terrible job of protecting your intake charge from engine heat.

I agree with Sabre here.

The K&N barely blocks ANY of the heat from the Engine (it is not an enclosed setup), where as the Wizzie proctects the whole filter from the inside engine elements, ie heat and dead bugs (well for the most part ). You are much better off with the Wizaired as stated above.

Originally Posted by TCO

Ok thanks guys. I think I am going to save up and get the Wizaired CAI.(I am only 17 and still in high school... it makes it kinda hard to spend a ton of money at once)

I completely understand TCO! If want a cheap and easy way to have a cold air intake? You can just make a FWI, Fender Well Intake setup. The biggest cost is going to be the filter in this case, maybe $40-50 bucks depending on the brand you purchase.

You can fashion PVC piping to extend into the Fender Well, or as some have done to keep them less dirty is to simply run the cone of the Air Filter into the fender well hole and then use a 3 or 4" ABS plastic roof flashing to cover it so it only breaths in the colder air from the fender well, and it will keep it from getting to much water on it like some fender well intakes can cause.

Here are a few pictures of a project I did for my 3" FWI intake. I have since though gone back to my Ram Air box, not cause it didnt work, but I liked the looks of the Ram Air package







The cost like I said is minimal to the cost of Wizaired or Thrasher CAI. I personally would do the Wizaired over the Thrasher cause I use to own a Thrasher and never liked the cooling abilities of it. But for for the short term, or even intermediate plan, you can go with this kind setup for about $60-75 bucks.

The things you need.

3" or 4" Straight PVC Piping. Its best to get the 6ft size and cut accordingly to position the filter inside the fender well. Many have debated the pros and cons of a 3" PVC, so if you can master the 4" PVC, go for it.

4" to 3" reducer (if you are going the 4" PVC piping route) for the end of the PVC Piping into your TB. I used the stock rubber tubing as it gave me more flexibility to move the piping in the position I wanted. I used the 3" PVC piping in the photos above so I did not need the 4" to 3" reducer. It fit nicely in the elbow without issue.

1 4" Inlet Airfilter (3" if you are only doing the 3" PVC Piping) The 7" length will be good enough to get the job done, I have the same size one in my GTX, the 9" might be a touch much if you are only going to stick the cone of the air filter into the fender well.

4" ABS plastic roof flashing is used to go over the PVC piping and to cover the Air Filter at the Fender Well hole. Helps to keep all the bad hot air out of the filter.

All these parts with the exception of the Air Filter can be bought at your local hardware store, ie Lowes Home Depot, Ace Hardware etc. You are looking at maybe $20-25 bucks in parts from the hardware store and then the cost of the air filter.

In my pictures above you see I relocated my AIT sensor closer to the air filter. I drilled through the ABS Plastic and then drilled into the PVC piping and used a rubber washer cut in half, like a bagel, and then Gorilla Glued THE WASHER ONLY in so that the AIT sensor would seat firmly into the hole without fear of coming out. I had to purchase an AIT extension wiring kit to make this happen. But for your purpose and budget, that is an item you can get later.

I hope this helps! If you need any more questions, please feel free to PM me and I can do my best to help ya along!!

Good luck in what ever direction you are going to use

Originally Posted by TCO

That looks pretty interesting. I think I might just go with the Wizaired though. I really like the way it looks and I just want to have it done right and not worry about a screw up on my end.

Thanks for the help guys.

You'll like the way it looks, too. People are always surprised when I pop my hood. You can see it in my sig image, but if you want a better view you can let me know.

The WizAired has a spot for the PCM.

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

The WizAired has a spot for the PCM.

Really?
I've heard nothing but complaints about the quality of the wiz. The intake tubing is crap. No PCM mount. The heat insulation is on the wrong side of the box. Pain to get to the filter (you have to disassemble the box). The K&N does seal well to the hood if you add some 1/2" pipe insulation. Granted the wiz looks nice but I question the performance above the K&N as noted in the earlier post.

Originally Posted by Stonewall

The intake tubing is crap.

There have been revisions over the years. I've taken mine off and put it back on repeatedly since install and it's fine.

Originally Posted by Stonewall

No PCM mount.

Someone's feeding you bull. You can see it strapped in to the mount right here:

Originally Posted by Stonewall

The heat insulation is on the wrong side of the box.

Lack of understanding of thermodynamics. I can go into details if you like, but it is where it should be.

Originally Posted by Stonewall

Pain to get to the filter (you have to disassemble the box).

Pain? Two bungies and the top lifts off... Takes three seconds, literally.

Originally Posted by Stonewall

The K&N does seal well to the hood if you add some 1/2" pipe insulation.

For the price they charge, I shouldn't have to modify it. Bloody expensive for the crap they sell you. Most of the w-body websites selling it don't recommend you buy it. Some refuse to offer it. How's that for a statement of value?

Yours still doesn't seal right because of the diagonal brace preventing contact with the hood along a decent section of the box. That's why the better models (CAI brand and the WizAir, not to mention Thrasher and SLP) seal it to the fender, not the hood. The K&N intake was K&N's way to make a cheap buck off you. They took their generic intake, modified as little as possible to make it fit and slapped it in a box to sell you. That's all the R&D they did, and it shows.

Originally Posted by Stonewall

Granted the wiz looks nice but I question the performance above the K&N as noted in the earlier post.

Question as much as you like. Doesn't affect the outcome any.

Originally Posted by TCO

Alright I am just making sure.
I can get the K&N CAI for the same price as the Wizaired with the filter. Would I be better off going with the K&N or not?

Dont not waste your time and money with the K&N intake setup. Why? Well for the simple fact that is it NOT a true CAI system. All it consists of is a plastic housing (guard for the fliter) that does not stop hardly any engine heat/air from reaching the filter. The Wizair is going to be your best if you want to keep your air filter inside the engine bay.

I had the Trasher in my 98 GT and Reptile did a couple of scans and it showed it did little to nothing to keep the air reaching the filter at ambient temps. So dont waste your time on anything else CAI related unless it is a Wizair.

WizAired box vs. K&N