Aftermarket Cold-air Intake

SnowbordrWRX · 06-15-2003, 09:21 PM

What would you recommend for a cold-air intake? I read that AEM makes a good one and so does K&N...I'd like to know what's out there that offers the best price/performance/fuel economy balance.

CloNeGTS · 06-16-2003, 02:46 AM

I think AEM is the way to go. I wouldn't touch Injen with your stock intake!

I ran an Injen CAI for about a 6 months until the AEM came out, did a comparo....no doubt in my mind AEM is a better designed and built unit.

I haven't seen a K&N other than the molded plastic intakes they make for SUVs. For some reason, I have a feeling their intakes wouldn't be as well designed as AEM. IMO, K&N is just jumping on the import bandwagon to grab a few benjamins.

SnowbordrWRX · 06-16-2003, 06:27 AM

Thanks Clone...I also was told that some intakes make the engine run lean, did you have to do a re-map after you had the AEM installed?

Guru · 06-16-2003, 09:30 AM

Actually I wouldn't use a CAI. Remember, on a turbo car you want the shortest path possible. That is more important than having colder air since the air will get heated up and cooled down anyway. Even if you have a 20 degree difference in 8inlet air temp, I doubt it will be more than 1 degree of difference once it gets to the throttle body anyway. Secondly the piping on the cold airs (any of them) will cause some wierd resonances and create a very off AF mixture curve. Unless you plan on dyno tuning it with a UTEC or similar AF device I say stick with stock intake and spend the money on mods that will actually make a difference. Uppipe/downpipe/exhaust will be a much better place to start.

BHODGES3 · 06-16-2003, 11:05 AM

Plus... don't you need improved "plumbing" to make significant use of anything a CAI would provide?

CloNeGTS · 06-16-2003, 01:43 PM

Not if the intake itself is a bottle neck.

I do agree with Dan about the CAI in a turbo car though. Get the additional flow of an aftermarket filter, get rid of the stock box, but let the intercooler do it's job.

SnowbordrWRX · 06-16-2003, 02:19 PM

well how do I keep the filter in place if I don't have the filter box? I'm confused... :-?

I found out that AEM also makes short ram induction intakes, would this be better than a CAI? And would I need to do an ECU re-map?

cann · 06-16-2003, 03:17 PM

i don't think any intakes are out for the 04 STIs yet, but u can definitely get a custom job in getting a HKS style foam filter in
foam filter works best and cleans itself with a few drops of detergent

CloNeGTS · 06-16-2003, 05:18 PM

Should the intakes from a WRX fit? I didn't think the intake tract of the STi was any different.

Any intake system is going to replace your stock intake box (all that black plastic crap under the hood....and the tons of it you can't see). It will simply be a tube that runs to the MAFS or near it and then the intake is on the other end of it. CAIs and short rams are only different in that a cold air runs the tube all the way outside of the engine bay...so that it draws cooler air in.

Guru · 06-16-2003, 07:08 PM

The Blitz SUS is the best intake I have found. I was flabbergasted at how much power was gained when we removed the cats and added the SUS on the STi.

CloNeGTS · 06-17-2003, 02:51 AM

I've always heard good things about that intake.

Is that in fact a WRX unit that you installed Dan?

hommerSTI · 06-20-2003, 10:00 AM

AEM is good one. in the fender the best. Frist i removed the junk, just ran the stock filter box and KN panel filter. Now i have the AEM in the fender lots better. Cleans up the engine compartment real nice

Guru · 06-20-2003, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloNeGTS

I've always heard good things about that intake.

Is that in fact a WRX unit that you installed Dan?

Yep. Same same. Works incredibly well and sounds awesome.

06-15-2003, 09:21 PM	#1
SnowbordrWRX Drive True Posts: 1,337,039 Join Date: May 2002 Trader Rating: (0)	What would you recommend for a cold-air intake? I read that AEM makes a good one and so does K&N...I'd like to know what's out there that offers the best price/performance/fuel economy balance. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

06-16-2003, 09:30 AM	#4
Guru Senior STI Driver Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 356 Join Date: May 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Topless Wing Actually I wouldn't use a CAI. Remember, on a turbo car you want the shortest path possible. That is more important than having colder air since the air will get heated up and cooled down anyway. Even if you have a 20 degree difference in 8inlet air temp, I doubt it will be more than 1 degree of difference once it gets to the throttle body anyway. Secondly the piping on the cold airs (any of them) will cause some wierd resonances and create a very off AF mixture curve. Unless you plan on dyno tuning it with a UTEC or similar AF device I say stick with stock intake and spend the money on mods that will actually make a difference. Uppipe/downpipe/exhaust will be a much better place to start.

06-16-2003, 02:19 PM	#7
SnowbordrWRX Drive True Posts: 1,337,039 Join Date: May 2002 Trader Rating: (0)	STi Keychain thread in STi Interior well how do I keep the filter in place if I don't have the filter box? I'm confused... :-? I found out that AEM also makes short ram induction intakes, would this be better than a CAI? And would I need to do an ECU re-map?

06-17-2003, 02:51 AM	#11
CloNeGTS S204 Racer Car: Solo II, WRC Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,776 Join Date: Oct 2002 Trader Rating: (1)	Proper Forum I've always heard good things about that intake. Is that in fact a WRX unit that you installed Dan?

06-16-2003, 02:46 AM	#2
CloNeGTS S204 Racer Car: Solo II, WRC Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,776 Join Date: Oct 2002 Trader Rating: (1)	I think AEM is the way to go. I wouldn't touch Injen with your stock intake! I ran an Injen CAI for about a 6 months until the AEM came out, did a comparo....no doubt in my mind AEM is a better designed and built unit. I haven't seen a K&N other than the molded plastic intakes they make for SUVs. For some reason, I have a feeling their intakes wouldn't be as well designed as AEM. IMO, K&N is just jumping on the import bandwagon to grab a few benjamins.

06-16-2003, 06:27 AM	#3
SnowbordrWRX Drive True Posts: 1,337,039 Join Date: May 2002 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks Clone...I also was told that some intakes make the engine run lean, did you have to do a re-map after you had the AEM installed?

06-16-2003, 11:05 AM	#5
BHODGES3 Professional STI Driver Fav Mod: Computer Programmer Posts: 438 Join Date: Jan 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Plus... don't you need improved "plumbing" to make significant use of anything a CAI would provide?

06-16-2003, 01:43 PM	#6
CloNeGTS S204 Racer Car: Solo II, WRC Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,776 Join Date: Oct 2002 Trader Rating: (1)	Not if the intake itself is a bottle neck. I do agree with Dan about the CAI in a turbo car though. Get the additional flow of an aftermarket filter, get rid of the stock box, but let the intercooler do it's job.

06-16-2003, 03:17 PM	#8
cann Junior STI Driver Posts: 112 Join Date: Jun 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	i don't think any intakes are out for the 04 STIs yet, but u can definitely get a custom job in getting a HKS style foam filter in foam filter works best and cleans itself with a few drops of detergent

06-16-2003, 05:18 PM	#9
CloNeGTS S204 Racer Car: Solo II, WRC Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,776 Join Date: Oct 2002 Trader Rating: (1)	Should the intakes from a WRX fit? I didn't think the intake tract of the STi was any different. Any intake system is going to replace your stock intake box (all that black plastic crap under the hood....and the tons of it you can't see). It will simply be a tube that runs to the MAFS or near it and then the intake is on the other end of it. CAIs and short rams are only different in that a cold air runs the tube all the way outside of the engine bay...so that it draws cooler air in.

06-16-2003, 07:08 PM	#10
Guru Senior STI Driver Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 356 Join Date: May 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	The Blitz SUS is the best intake I have found. I was flabbergasted at how much power was gained when we removed the cats and added the SUS on the STi.

06-20-2003, 10:00 AM	#12
hommerSTI Amateur STI Driver Posts: 28 Join Date: Jun 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	AEM is good one. in the fender the best. Frist i removed the junk, just ran the stock filter box and KN panel filter. Now i have the AEM in the fender lots better. Cleans up the engine compartment real nice