LS4 Performance Grand Prix GXP | Monte Carlo SS | Impala SS | LaCrosse Super

Cold Air Intake Question?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 03:05 PM
  #1  
Str8BlkSS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Grand Blanc, MI
Default Cold Air Intake Question?

Hey i know that most if not all of the impala and monte carlo owners are running cold air intakes. But the question i have is what is a better cold air intake to go with, K&N, Cold Air Inductions, or the ones ebay have for under 100 bucks. Im looking to install one but i would like some feed back on which one iss a great buy and a good product.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 04:41 PM
  #2  
Cully77's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Chicago NW Burbs
Default

In order of quality:

1. CAI
2. K&N
3. Ebay

The Cold Air Inductions box completely seals the cone away from the heat of the engine bay; and the intake arm is not plastic like the K&N

The K&N is an open box, all plastic, and arguably somewhat more prone to heat soak than the CAI

Ebays are junk IMO they are not even true cold air intakes because they do not seal off the cone from the heat of the engine bay. You'd get the same result from removing the stock airbox and putting a cone on the end of the intake arm.

As a fourth option, you can make a home-made intake from parts from home depot, although generally there is no data to back up any results of a home made system.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 09:59 PM
  #3  
Tappeter's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Central NY State
Default Make your own

It's not hard at all to make your own CAI. Some aluminum, lexan, hardware, a cone filter and silicon elbow. I used matte board and masking tape to make a template, transferred the pattern to sheet aluminum, some bending and pop rivets and a little patience is all it took. This is my third home made CAI, I made one for my 2001 SS, 2005 GTP and now my 07 SS.
Attached Thumbnails Cold Air Intake Question?-monteengine1.jpg  
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 11:02 PM
  #4  
DrJesus616's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: chicagoland
Default

Originally Posted by Cully77
In order of quality:

1. CAI
2. K&N
3. Ebay

The Cold Air Inductions box completely seals the cone away from the heat of the engine bay; and the intake arm is not plastic like the K&N

The K&N is an open box, all plastic, and arguably somewhat more prone to heat soak than the CAI

Ebays are junk IMO they are not even true cold air intakes because they do not seal off the cone from the heat of the engine bay. You'd get the same result from removing the stock airbox and putting a cone on the end of the intake arm.

As a fourth option, you can make a home-made intake from parts from home depot, although generally there is no data to back up any results of a home made system.
ill agree with cully on that one ... the CAI intake is awesome ... worth every penny - but tappeter's seems to accomplish the same thing, so i guess if you have the ability and resources- thats the way to go ...

hey cully, we going to go to a car show when it gets warmer ?
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 11:09 PM
  #5  
AlabamaGuy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
Default

I made a true fenderwell. The tube actually stays cool to the touch which is super nice. I love it.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 11:32 PM
  #6  
DrJesus616's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: chicagoland
Default

Originally Posted by AlabamaGuy
I made a true fenderwell. The tube actually stays cool to the touch which is super nice. I love it.
is there enough room between where the computer mounts, the fender and where the headlight sits without having to modify anything or did you just sneak it through all that ?
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 07:14 PM
  #7  
Cully77's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Chicago NW Burbs
Default

Originally Posted by DrJesus616
ill agree with cully on that one ... the CAI intake is awesome ... worth every penny - but tappeter's seems to accomplish the same thing, so i guess if you have the ability and resources- thats the way to go ...

hey cully, we going to go to a car show when it gets warmer ?
Absolutely! I'll PM you my cell.

And another advantage of the CAI is that it mates to a certain aftermarket hood
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2011 | 01:28 AM
  #8  
KurtMCSS's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Default

Cai ftw
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:20 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE