The coward's way out on a CAI

[Brad]

Ok, all we need is another CAI thread, but I did something just a bit different that avoided the cutting normally associated with the Civic CAI and I thought I'd share it.

I bought all the stuff, rubber couplers, intake tube and cone filter for this thing and was determined to do the normal Civic CAI. I took everything out of the engine bay that need to go as well as opening up the wheelwell. Well... I just stood there and wondered if there was any way to avoid cutting the sheetmetal as I'm a coward on this issue. Just can't do it! After awhile, it dawned on me that if I had two of the 3 inch 90 degree bend rubber couplings joined by a short piece of 3 inch PVC tubing, that it would reach from the MAF all the way into the upper wheelwell. I ran to the store, got another coupler, joined them and the two made a perfect unit to mate to the MAF and the bottom one just reached into the wheelwell. The rubber was flexible enough to squeeze through the exisiting opening with very little distortion and I was able to cut the end of the Civic tube and clamp it to the inch or two of the coupling that extended into the wheelwell. The filter bolted onto the shortened Civic pipe.. I plugged the civic ports with vacume caps and I was done!

Ok, this does have some downsides, such as:
1. It does introduce a couple of bends into the air flow path that the normal Civic CAI doesn't.

2. The cone filter I got with the Civic intake kit was not a K&N, but is good enough for now until I can get a K&N ordered.

3. The cone filter does touch the wheel well liner, but only lightly. Even if it gets bumped, the entire thing is made of rubber and flexes nicely, so no damage.

4. It does bend the MAF tube slightly to the rear of the engine compartment, but I don't see where that hurts anything.

Overall, I am pleased with this as the air path, even if curved a bit is much better than the old system. I was shocked to see the convoluted mess the old air intake system was!

I ran this and it seems better than my stock system, and very little noise for those of us looking for more airflow, but not alot of racket from the intake. At highway speeds you can hear the slight sucking sound from it.

I took pics, but no digital camera here. I'll need to get the roll used up and developed. If anyone is interested, I can try to post them if someone will help me with that.. never done it.
Overall I'm happy with the results. Brad

Please see later posts for pics and further info.

[SilverGA2001]

:rage: Ok, this sucks! You went from checking my car out cuz of it's mods to having more then done then me now! wtf Of course I'm still waiting on my CAI... It's now over 2 months... :rolleyes:

You just wait til I get mine Brad!!! w00t!

[SilverGA2001]

Stupid dialup internet crasheed just as I pushed Submit for the above post, so I ended up with a double post. :rolleyes:

Glad one of us has both cai and exhaust though now.

[GTManiac]

Originally posted by SilverGA2001
:rage: Ok, this sucks! You went from checking my car out cuz of it's mods to having more then done then me now! wtf Of course I'm still waiting on my CAI... It's now over 2 months... :rolleyes:

You just wait til I get mine Brad!!! w00t!

I'm in the same boat man, just gotta be patient. John's working as hard as he can, and it'll be kick ass when we get ours.

***edit***

I didn't know we were allowed to say 'ass'... must be something withe new boards.

[Brad]

Oh-Oh, I've incured the wrath of Matt! I'm in deep stuff now!
Sorry fella, just had the time to do it while still on vacation. In reality, the setup from APOC will be better than what I have by a long shot. It will be a more direct route for the incoming air, so you will still have me beat by a bunch. I e-mailed APOC and he said an order placed now will have a 3-5 week wait. He also said that everything he needed to do the intakes is finally in and he's working on them. Just be patient and you'll be pleased with the results. I may end up getting one from him... I just wanted to experiment while I was still off of work. I go back tomorrow..(picture Brad hanging his head and shedding a silver tear)... so I went ahead and did my "thing" today. In reality, I can tell the engine breaths better, but it doesn't seem to have helped the performance yet. I am thinking that since I had the battery out most of the day, the computer has to reset and relearn the air/fuel stuff to get the best performance. The other thing is that on your car, you'll have me beat no matter what with your GT gearing! That GT trans. is geared way better than my SE, so no matter what I do... you win! I'm just trying to get my old horse to breath a bit better! The top end seems stronger, but the bottom end doesn't seem quite as good as before. We'll see... Brad
;)

[SilverGA2001]

I wouldn't take that 3-5 week stuff to heart. He's got backorders to fill now, so I bet he uses all his parts and the same situation occurs as now. After I eventually get mine, I am worried about undoing the battery. I think I'll leave it connected but move it to the side or something. I don't want to reset things.
Yeah I know that GT gearing is sweet. Makes for some wheel spinning fun. :) Not that I do that sort of thing... :wave: Ah well, I'm starting to think it's all just not as much fun anymore. Thinking of stopping in my tracks and leaving well enough alone. Gonna have this car for awhile, and I don't want to do anything that makes it unbearable later on. :( Lost the spirit I guess.

[Brad]

Lost the spirit????? We CAN"T have that! Come on man, get a grip! You da man! If we loose you on the cutting edge of things, what will the rest of us that need inspiration do? We gotta get ya turned around here! What will it take? All of us singing Kum-By-Yah around the campfire or a GAGT weinie roast in your honor there in Tipp City? Just let us know Matt! Yo friends be all pulling for ya! Brad

[SilverGA2001]

Originally posted by Brad
What will it take?

a V8

[Brad]

No prob! One can of V8 vegtable juice will be in the mail to ya soon! Please forward your address via PM and I'll mail it out! Wow! Problem solved! Brad

[VTECSiGAH8R]

We can say ass but not ****, that's ****ed up!

The second word is p1ss BTW. :)

[Brad]

Woooo Hooo! After driving the GA with the Borla and CAI for a bit to get the computer used to the new mods... what a difference! Much smoother, more power overall and a real joy to drive. I was accelerating and making a turn from a stop and chirped the tires without trying. When I talked with Spoon a year ago, I asked where to put my money in GA mods. He said the exhaust and intake were where you'd find the most bang for your buck. Guess he was right! Brad
Now...if one of those boost brothers would just leave his car for an extended period in a lonely dark parking lot....

[Brad]

By the way... if any of you guys try this, please drop me a PM and let me know what you think. So far, I like it. Brad

[Brad]

Ok, finally got the pics into digital form via the 35 mm camera and WalMart developing... I'll post the ones that show the most overall detail. Remember, this is accomplished with only rubber couplers, clamps and tubing available at your nearest Lowe's and a cone filter and part of a Civic CAI. All this is available to you if you have a Lowe's and an AutoZone/Advance Auto near you.
Brad

First, a top pic of the two 90 degree bend couplers joined to the MAF. It only requires a 3 inch length of 3 inch PVC pipe to join the two couplers end to end and it just drops right into the existing fenderwell opening with just a little bit of pressure/squeezing.

[Brad]

As promised, the two couplers extend to right where you want them... just inside the wheelwell. This is what it looks like.
Brad

[Brad]

The cone filter attaches to a shortened Civic CAI tube. I used vacume caps to plug off the two ports on the Civic unit and I used hose clamps to ensure that they seal and don't come off with vibration. The space between the two ports is handy for the perforated metal strapping I put on it later to ensure it was braced inside the wheelwell. The prongs on the end of the tube in the pic are handles of a pair of pliars that I used to prop up the tube for pic taking.
Brad
PS- the original filter was a cheapie from Advance Auto, but it still looked like a good filter. This one is the K&N that I ordered and replaced the original with.

[Brad]

Ok, it all just slides together and with the clamps tightened, it is finished. I added the support strap just because I'm paranoid. The Civic tube is a bit smaller than the 3+ inch opening for the rubber coupler, but the rubber is so extreamly flexible that the clamp had no problem in squeezing it down to fit securely. The K&N air filter I ordered was one of their universal types, K&N stock number RR3002- 3inch flange, 6 inch base, 5 1/4 inch tapered top and 5 inches long with an inverted cone on the end instead of the solid top. Remember, YOU are responsible to double check me on these measurements and stock number as I won't be responsible if you order the wrong one. This stock number has the blue top ring (my favorite color)- yeah, can't see it, but I know it's there and I know it's blue! I was able to rotate the filter a bit more than the original one I had in there and it does not touch the fender well at all now.
Brad

[grass]

nice work
:thumbs::thumbs:

very creative and well thought

[Brad]

Ok, final pic... thanks gurus for letting me take up the space. Kinda proud of this little variation on a theme.
This is the final pic with the battery back in. The battery does not interfer at all and the coupler is only slightly distorted where it passes through the existing fender opening. The flexible MAF tube is bent slightly to the rear, but I can't see where it hurts anything at all. If you try this, drop me a PM and let me know. So far, I really like it and I can say I did it myself with inspiration from the folks at GrandAmGT.com and without cutting my fenderwell! Brad

[Brad]

Thanks Grass! I appreciate the kind words. I thought there just had to be a way to do this without ordering an expensive kit or cutting the fender. Maybe I should sell these as kits on e-bay! Yeah, right! :rolleyes:
Brad

[SilverGA2001]

Hey Brad. Your setup looks good. I still want to see it soon though. I like your support strap on the short ram tube. I was a bit worried about my own filter being mobile inside the fender well. I have no support on it as of yet, but I also have no need of it yet. Everything on the APOC seems very sturdy. But if I'd have done something like what you have, I'd definatly have put the support strap on it. Very good job man. You told me lots about it and you do justice to it. :)

[Brad]

Thanks for the nice comments Matt! I realize it is not as flashy as some setups, but it did what I wanted in the way that I wanted it done. This setup does not seem to produce any real extra volume from the engine (a little, but not much). That fits well with us old timers who's hearing is going away! While I don't have any track times, my seat-of-the-pants feel is that the Borla made a big difference and the CAI added just a bit more.
I watched a ricer/tuner show on the SPEED channel and they put a CAI on a Honda (if I remember the make of the car right..having a middle-aged mental moment here!). The CAI added exactly 8 HP to the little 4 banger. I would imagine that it would add something in this range for our V-6. Maybe I'm optimistic, but I've heard claims for the Borla of 10-15 HP and if the CAI is about the same as the Honduhs, this could mean that this combination could add up to about 20 HP difference. It runs much stronger and it was worth the money and time to do the Borla and CAI, IMHO. Brad