Are they? I'm planning to get one for my 1996 Honda civic ex..What'ss the difference between cai and sri? Should I go with name brand or generic off ebay? What's the difference between eBay brand and AEM or K&N?
Thanks

 

the difference IS...

SRI- short Ram Intake)- Reduced Induction capabilites, and the obvious fact that is sucks up hot air, instead of what our engines thirst for which is cold air, THUS creating the cold air intakes, But their are flaws...

CAI- cold Air Intake)- In all ways better then SRI for 1. cooler air, thus more density=more power, 2. ... well their isnt a 2, 1. beats it all lol, FLAWS- are, they possibility of Water getting into the Motor Potentially causing catacylsmic damage too the motor internals, due to being exposed to water(one of the elements that makes metal rust)

NOW for the brand? doesnt really matter, for SRI doesnt really matter, all do the same job but the best bang for the buck is the carbon fiber password JDm Whale Dick intake, for the cai intakes, never really heard of anyone hydro-locking their motors cause 1. if you do have 1 your not ever supposed to drive through puddles, and if you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, turn off engine, and glide through it, never go through a puddle higher then the lowest lug nut on your rims

and.... thats about all i've learned on these... as far as being legal in ca? im pretty sure theirs no laws restricting this mod to your car

 

I'm not sure if it ever was or is at this point a big deal, but the other thing about brand is that some have a CARB eo number that basically says they paid a fee and got a number. supposedly you cant pass smog with one that doesn't have this sticker on it, but since I just got my first car that passes smog without slipping the guy an extra couple hundred I wouldn't be the authority here.

 

Cliffs:
-Technically "legal" in CA
-Cops can/will still hassle you for it
-Minimal power gains (if it all), worth the risk??? (that is entirely up to you)
-Do not buy eBay, no matter what people say
-Buy from a company that actually puts R&D into their products (ie AEM, INJEN, K&N)

 

Legal in the state of CA, just has to have the CARB sticker.

and as for the info king29 gave it to you already.

 

So basically I would have to go with a brand for it to be legal in CA?
Is Sri bad for engine if it's pulling hot air in?

 

technically its not BAD but it does limit the power you can make. pretty much "power is created from dense air fuel mixture(created by the cooler intake temperatures) allowing the mixture to be burned more efficiently"

if you really were scared of both sucking up water from cai, and sucking in heat from the SRI, i think theirs a DIY if you look for it on a heatshield, where some guy built this box covering his intake, too protect from the heat but it was in the perfect spot to absorb cool air and not absorb water, so it was a SRI modded to prevent both things, pretty hand and looks clean if you do it right

and thats my $0.02

 

AEM and k&N are legal. in order for it to be legal it has to have a CARB sticker and a CARB number. ebay brands are garbage dont waste your time or money with them

 

and a SRI wont make as much power but you will feel a quicker response...a CAI will make more power but you wont feel it until the upper RPMs. a SRI is not bad for the motor tho

 

and there is laws regarding any modifications to the car in CA. they technically can give you a ticket for just a SRI or CAI most of the time they wont tho. in order to pass smog the intake must have CARB sticker

 

ebay and aem or k&n do the same thing the ebay one is with no c.a.r.b. sticker the aem and k&n is so thats the only reason its cost more


get a cold air and use it in the summer. when winter comes cut it in half and make a short ram so you dont hydrolock your motor over a puddle, then in the summer add a rubber cupling and make a cold aid again

 

no ebay??????? what you mean? it does the same stinkin thing. cold air intake I dont care if its made from pvc or ebay, it is made to suck the outside colder air(since cold air is more dense then hot) and when it explodes in combustion chamber, it expands a bit more then hot air and thats how you gain some power.

EBAY:
no carb
cheap
same hp gain
issue with cops or reff


BRAND NAME:
overpriced
has carb so smog and reff is cool
does same hp gain





go on craigslist and search

I got a aem cold air for my gsr for $50 with the carb. thats really good

 

You guys wanna know why ebay is so cheap ?

It's all the same. It's 20$ for pipe + 20$ for filer + an extra $200 for the carb sticker. Simple as that.

Rather pay it now than later.

 

Short Ram ftw!! They sound better and can deliver just as much power as a CAI.

 

Well I actually have a sri from a 99 accord v6... Would that piping + filter work in a 96 civic ex?

 

yeah but ebay intakes dont have as good flow or duel chambers like the v2 AEM one

 

i think it will try it and see

 

what i was going to say

id say if theyre carb approved and pass smog then i assume they should be

 

I guess I'll go dig for that pipe+filter that should be in a box... Hopefully it will fit.. but I kind of want a CARB legal intake system.

 

the best intake systems out there are k&N and AEM v2 CAI but thats why they cost $300

 

What's the best for $50-$100?

 

check andysautosport.com they might sell an AEM short ram intake for pretty cheep. the cold air intakes are gonna be a lot more. spyder makes a cold air intake for like 90 i think check on that website its pretty cheap and its legit

 

I know Amazon and eBay has AEM SRI for $100.. but I was wondering if there is any cheaper.

 

 

I know eBay is the cheapest but I want carb legal intake