When I bought my car it already had an AEM cold air intake, and the inner fender liner was removed so that you can see the filter just in front of the tire. Anyway, is it common to remove this or was someone just trying to get more air in there? I don't like it because lots of road crud (pebbles, tar, paint, roadkill) gets on the filter, plus when raining the wheel can throw water onto the filter. Am I overly worried or should I pop rivet some heavy plastic in?

Here's a dumb thought... hang with me. Does REALLY cold air help the intake, or does it just need to be cool. Here's why. I was thinking of making a little aluminum tray to go under the intake, and when you take the car to the drag strip you can throw a handful of dry ice under the filter to really cool the air. This actually is something I would probably never do, but the thought has popped into my head, so I just had to get it out. Any thoughts on this?

Justin D. Fender

 

To your first question, you can get a air bypass valve on your CAI, if its from AEM to avoid water going in your intake or you can go to any junkyard and get a cover or make one yourself to relace fender liner...

2nd question, cold air is cold air, get it from the outside or inside, as long as its cold air, then it should serve its purpose.

 

Most tracks don't appreciate having dry ice thrown about their track as it spills from your pan.