So there are a couple of threads and stuff, but none really have any conclusive answers.

I have a 99 Honda civic Dx. I'm wondering, is a cold air/short ram really worth the money. I've heard that a drop in K&N filter, stock air box and remove the resonator can have equal effects.
So whats the real deal should I opt for the cai or go for the cheeper short ram?
Is there a real noticeable difference in the two? Is the cold air worth the money. Or drop in filter?
I know the cold air vs. short ram depends on what kind of power you want, low end-mid or mid-high. But whats over all better.
Or are they both a waste of money?

Thanks guyss.

 

http://www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?t=143160




I love my intake.

 

I think you should tell us what's your plan is.

1) CAI/ long ram:
Pro: 1) You get the coldest air.
Con: a) You get some water during the rain.
b) With a dry filter, you will get dust/ dirt into the engine over time.
c) If you are not running a turbo or bigger displacement engine, the flow is not fast enough to go to the engine.

2) Short ram:
Pro: a) You get more air than OEM box.
b) You have a higher flow speed with aluminum tube.
Con: a) You may get alot of hot air from engine bay. To prevent this, you may need to build a enclosed box or a heat shield.
b) With a dry filter, you will get dust/ dirt into the engine over time.

3) K&N drop-in:
Pro: 1) Higher flow compare to OEM.
2) You retain the OEM box so that you reserve cold air for low end power.
3) Give you good mpg.
4) With K&N solution, you won't get dirt/dust into the engine.
5) Don't have to deal with cops when you get pulled over.
Con: 1) You don't have the best gain compare CAI/long ram at the peak band.

The best/ideal solution:
Go for ARC intake box if you have the $400 to spend. An OEM box & tube design in aluminum. Biggest opening in front. However, it is very expensive for just an intake.

Ihave the K&N drop in filter. I am going to route a tube from the front bumper to the intake box's opening (take it off during the rainny season).

Hope this helps.

 

id go with a drop in K&N cause with a cold air you are riskin to get water in your motor when you go through a puddle or when it rains..but with a short ram you get all the engine heat so its not really cold air..plus if you get your hood popped and you have a drop in K&N in your stock air box you won't get hassled..

 

I say an icebox, aluminium pipe with stock box without resonator.
The alumni pipe will give you more flow then stock.

 

See I'm not exactly positive where i want to take this car.
I wanted to start with some bolt on's and later on when i have some money (minimum wage s*** job) B16 or B18 swap. Or i was thinking of later on turbo'ing this baby.
Right now I'm just lookin for some small stuff till i get a little more experience.

In my part of Texas, we don't have smog laws and really any bolt on problems. People run down the streets with turbos screaming and like a bagillion DB exhausts. Im not extremely worried about puddles (Texas mind you) lolz.
Im just low on cash and i don't want to buy something thats gonna suck. I love the look of aftermarket intakes, and totally love the sound. But if i can get the exact same effect for 50$s then hell I'd do it for now. But later on with either turbo or if i decided to go super N/A I'd for sure want an intake.

All in all i just don't want to waste my money you know?
What do you guys think?
Water and cops aside

 

http://hondamarketplace.com/showthread.php?t=2614056
If you are looking for an intake for a D16Y7 then buy my intake. If I still had a Y7 i'd love to rock it again.
Its seriously MUCH louder than the regular generic ones on eBay. My chick keeps nagging at me to install it on her car instead of selling it because hers isnt loud enough.





If comes with everything you need to install it, minus the filter. You can use any 3" filter, I recommend AEM Dry-Flow.
Give me $5 more and ill paint it whatever color you want.

 

Best idea so far. I took it a step further with the complete Comptech Icebox intake system. Its a short ram that gets cold air. If you felt the heat in that engine bay after driving you would not want your engine using that air. The sides of the box are plastic and the outside is pretty hot but the inside is cold. It looks almost factory and its CARB legal. It is also pricey.

 

go for the CAI.. nice air flow to engine than SRI or drop in

 

No, that's not the difference (except when referring to the drop-in). The issue is intake air temperature.

 

oh temperature... its the same when you are running dont you think that air from the outside does not go in the engine bay?? imho cai is better because of the longer tube creates better air velocity

 

Wouldn't diameter be the main affecter of velocity?

 

oh yeah i also forgot that hehehe youre right.. tube length and tube diameter.. well just my opinion

 

i like aem cai. sounds amazing, better power gain than most intake setups, and i've never had trouble in the rain after 2 years. its amazing how many heads the sound turns with the cai being my only power mod. u can easily hear the vtec crossover (sohc too). its a little bit trickier to install than a short ram, but its still a simple bolt-on.

but it all depends on what u wanna do with ur engine in the future. i am planning on going turbo, and when i do, i gotta get rid of my cai cuz it doesnt fit my setup..

 

i thought a cold air intake was when you make a box inside of your resonator where the drop in filter goes, and put ice cubes around it before you go driving....lol

 

The ideal situtation is that you want the coldest air possibe with a highest flow. The big disadvantage of CAI is that the 1.6L doesn't strong enough to suck the air in unless yours is turbo charged. I believe Jackson Racing has tested that.


One more thing, dry air filter gives you a maintenance free of mind. But, what you pay is what you get. You will get dirt/dust into the engine for free as well. You may not notice as much. But, check it out after 30k miles. You will find loose dust behind the filter. Good luck.

Anyway, loving the sound doesn't mean it gives you the best performance. You also need to define your goal before your purchase. Sound? Look? Performance? Or, all around?

 

drop in: better safe than sorry

 

You still have the y7?

.........sigh

 

Get a short ram,get header heat wrap and wrap it around the short ram tube.

 

whatchu talkin about y7s pull hard as ****!! LOL
At least it get good mpg!

 

so would you suggest i take off my CAI and go for SRI???

well i use my car on track days once in a while

 

Sooo final opinion? Shorty with an ice box?

Performance and sound in mind (cost too).
Also id like to nooot have dust in my engine. any unanimous filter recommendation for zero dust and high flow?

 

if you really hve the cash to spend look into the arc intake system. its f*ing awesome but rather expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ill throw this out in the blue.....get a aem SRI and heat wrap like previously stated. and add a BPI velocity stack with a K&N filter and BAM. I think it should give you some good torque gain. Atleast i did that on my GSR and the damm BPI velocity stack helped ALOT. I was able to tell. So maybe it could also help the SOHC.

 

Again, I don't perfer dry filter especially for track. CAI with K&N cone filter is best if your car is turbo charged.

ARC is the best if you have $400 to spend. If not, Comptech icebox? The K&N drop in is a very good choice if you don't want to spend too much on ARC or icebox.

Short ram isn't a good choice if you circuit racing/road racing because your car will be in high RPM most of the time and the engine bay would be very hot. Unless, you are getting the "Max Air" intake shield. For track/road racing, I'd perfer you to have an intake box (ARC, Icebox or OEM box with K&N drop in. I am not sure how Max Air shield can seal out the hot air). This is the place where you reserve cold air for sudden accerlation.