Author Topic: CAI or performance replacement air filter? (Read 7966 times)

wicked · « **on:** Feb 23, 2005, 08:31AM »

Good day,

I'm new to Antrx and I've just purchased a 95 bluebird LX. I'm looking at alternatives for replacement of air filter. CAI or replacement air filters (UNI filter/K&N filter etc) . Any recommendations and what is the cost involved. I've read some articles on CAI not much better than replacement, would you guys share your experience with me. Thanks.

SSS · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 08:33AM »

A properly designed and built CAI will always provide greater gains than just a filter change.

noss · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 08:54AM »

as a comparission, changing an air filter might give you 1-2 kw. mounting a pod filter in your engine bay might get you 2-3kw, and a well designed CAI will give you up to 8kw, maybe more, maybe less.

but as sss said, it has to be well built & designed.

Leopard-Man · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 03:33PM »

I have a pod on my u13 and i didn't really notice any power increase after i installed it however it changed the sound completely. It used to have a really quiet drone but now especially at high revs the engine roars. Sounds really good now i think

wicked · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 24, 2005, 07:48AM »

Thanks guys for the feedback. Any of you guys have an idea of how much a CAI (U13) will cost in Brisbane and what I should look out for? What is the trade of in a cheaper CAI. Has is got anything to do with the heat insulation? I'm just trying to fit a CAI at a leaner budget after purchasing the car. Hehe....

noss · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 24, 2005, 11:05AM »

i guess there are really 2 main ways you can do a cold air intake. you have the ultra cheap pvc piping cai's which are just an extension from the air box (which personally i wouldnt put anything of the sort in my car) and you have the metal equivelent.

the pvc version will give you mid ranged gains, the flow will not be terribly great as there points where the pvc connects with another piece of pvc will cause turbulence of the air flow, you are also limited as to the bends you can have. 30 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees. the 2 big advantages of this setup is cost (under $30 of piping) and you get cold air.

the metal version will give you the highest gains possible provided it is made right. what i mean by being made right is if there is minimal or no dags internal to the piping, the bends are nice smooth mandrel bends, and there are a minimal number of bends in the piping. avoid sharp bends where ever possible. you can then, if you like, heat wrap the piping to allow your engine to perform at its absolute optimum. the advantages are obvious, high air flow, low turbulence and cold air. the problem is of course the price. you can expect to pay anything from $200-400 for a good cold air intake and then around $80 worth of heat wrap to cover it. it is a lot of money, but it is defiantely worth it. you dont just hear the induction noise, you really feel the gains too.

there are threads in the faq section on both the pvc and metal cold air intakes for the u12, the information can be directly applied to the u13 without any problems.

wicked · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 24, 2005, 12:50PM »

Thanks Noss. I'll see what I can gather this weekend. Cheers mate!

wicked · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 28, 2005, 08:04AM »

Hi guys,

Here an update about the air filter on my Bluebird. I have a scan over the engine bay & couldn't find any good place to place a CAI with good air ventilation from the front bar without any surgury to the frame (I don't have any tools). The radiator is massive, leaving mot much room for anything else. I'm tempted to do a CAI facing downwards, closer to ground. But I remembered how a mate of mine fucked up his air flow meter (R32 GTS25) driving down hill into a puddle. Hence, I searched for a performance replacement filter for the time being till I can prove that air filter indeed makes a significant difference in a lowly modd car and till I have 300 bucks to spare for a well design CAI. Here are the choices I have for performance replacement air filter: Blitz (70 bucks, use & throw), Unifilter ($70), Simota ($70), K&N ($140). There might be cheaper prices else where but these are the prices I was quoted at Autobarn and Unifilter. Anyway, I purchased the Simota filter. So far, the difference is that the car is pulling harder at 4000 rev as compared to 5000+ rev previously. The air filter does not produce a 'whissssss' sound as compared to a K&N filter. I'll keep u guys updated of any other changes I've noticed in near future. Cheers

noss · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 28, 2005, 09:26AM »

the simota will whistle if you locate it outside of the engine bay.

i cut a hole in my car to get the piping outside of the engine bay, there was already a hole there and i just enlarged it, but yes, difficult without the right tools.

as for getting the air flow meter wet, i used to have my filter located high up basically hard up against where the hole was cut. i had no problems when the filter was there. i've since bought a k&n and its too big to fit in the same location as it fouls the tyre, so i've installed a bend to move the filter away from the wheel and now i do have the occasional problem with water.

the afm wont be damaged, it just doesnt work when the hotwire is wet, and as a result, your car wont run.

SSS · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 28, 2005, 10:35AM »

K&N filters can be found for around the $80-100 mark.

LatinoU13SSS · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 3, 2005, 01:43PM »

What would you say to buying a pod style filter ( what brand would you guys recomend ) and then placing it in the original air-box.

Or a heat shield..

noss · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 3, 2005, 02:03PM »

i'd suggest you heat shield it, just sitting it in the stock airbox is only doing half the job. really it is pointless if you dont shield it. its not too expensive to get some sheet metal and bend & cut it up to nicely shield off the pod. go to autospeed and read the article 'shielded sucker' it shows you how to heat shield a u12, the same methods can be applied to any car. you have to realise that if you have an unshielded pod in the engine bay, although you're getting more air, its hotter, and the car will be more prone to pinging or detonation, fuel economy will reduce and the car will be generally sluggish off the line as the heat has built up at idle while at the lights or stopped in traffic.

brand wise, i'd go k&n. they come up on special every now & again for $69 which is half price. usually when they're on special you can get them from repco or autobarn. simota are quite good, but i have found that their filters arent of the same quality that they used to be. they'll last you about 2-3 years if you clean them. k&n filters are supposed to last virtually forever.

there are of course more brands to choose from but for most they're prohibitively expensive, and the improved performance over the k&n is marginal.

LatinoU13SSS · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 3, 2005, 03:35PM »

Thanks for the advice i will keep you posted as I progress on my project..... I will post a photo of my ride soon

LatinoU13SSS · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 4, 2005, 03:18PM »

Has anyone had much to do with the brand "Weapon R "

they supply a COI which comes with all that follows....Short Ram Intake, Dragon Series, Mandrel Bent Aluminum Tubing, Velocity Stack For Increased Air Flow, With Dragon Filter, Polished. ( thats what the ad says anyway ) all this for $122 US...
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/performance/index.php?brand=weapon_r&brand_part=cold_air_intake&brand_make=ni&brand_model=altima&brand_year=1995

It says thats its for a 1995 Altima which is the same as a 1995 Bluebird, yes??
What do you guys think??

noss · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 4, 2005, 05:43PM »

i dont think that one will go out of the engine bay, which means that you'd still need to heat shiled it, is that what you'd be after? price is good, but shipping will kill you.. but yeh, the altima is the same car. have a look and see if AEM have any intakes.

Ka-Bluey · « **Reply #15 on:** Jun 4, 2005, 07:30PM »

Hey all,
I have just installed a (home made) CAI on my U13 SSS. Used 75mm PVC pipe and sent it through the hole under the fuse box beside the battery, my pod filter now sits under the front indicator sucking in nice cold air. Have already noticed the difference between the pod being in the engine bay and there. Now just gotta get some bits of metal and support the pod so it doesnt move too much. Have some pics but cant load them onto the forum, so if anyone wants to see the might be able to send to email or try pm.
Cheers
TL

DJ Jonb · « **Reply #16 on:** Jun 4, 2005, 10:18PM »

yeh cai all the way..... more air = more power + its better for the motor

SSS · « **Reply #17 on:** Jun 5, 2005, 02:23PM »

Quote from: DJ Jonb on Jun 4, 2005, 10:18PM

yeh cai all the way..... more air = more power + its better for the motor

that is incorrect: colder air = denser air = more power.

Ka-Bluey · « **Reply #18 on:** Jun 14, 2005, 09:32PM »

Heres few pics of my CAI. Needs to be painted and still looking for a stock filter box.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/Kroiwi/CAI/CAI_1.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/Kroiwi/CAI/CAI_3.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/Kroiwi/CAI/CAI_4.jpg

wicked · « **Reply #19 on:** Jun 15, 2005, 08:40AM »

Looks good, how's the performance?

Ka-Bluey · « **Reply #20 on:** Jun 15, 2005, 09:26AM »

Much better. Contant cool air.
Altho im a bit scared of driving in the rain, cos i dont want water to go up with pipe.
Might have to seal of that section soon.