CAI time!

[CerialPhreak]

Hey all, summer is almost here for me and I'm determined to build my CAI before the end of june. I went to AutoZone the other day and priced out how much the piping is going to cost me and 50+ is a little steep for this broke college kid. Can anyone point me towards some cheap piping? I remember people were saying that pvc is not a good idea, i think there was something said about some other kind of plumbing but the name escapes me. Basically i plan on ditching my airbox/ resonator assembly, mounting the MAF into a new piece of pipe and running the piping towards the bumber (or as good of a spot as i can do with the least amount of trouble). As for the mounting, worst comes to worst ill get a scoop on the side of my bumper (reminds me of a prelude i know with a laundry exaust vent as its scoop for its intercooler, no its not sponsored by home depot). Anyhow, someone on here has to have built a CAI on their gen4, any tips you can offer?

[Phat Devil]

lol ok, depending on where you want the actual pod filter to be will depend on how much it'll cost.

I'm about to build one that has the pod filter just in the guards, not all the way down to the front coz like you i'm on a budget and more curves = more money ahaah.

Just get a ram intake from ebay. Then either go to an exhaust shop and get pipes made up.

Or just pick up 1x 45 degrees angled piece of 3in steel pipe, 1x 2.5in straight steel pipe, 1x silicon/rubber joiner, 1x silicone/rubber joiner but 3in - 2.5in decreaser, 1x spraypaint.

With these parts, cut them up to size. Remember to measure twice cut once. With the bits all in the right sizes, i'll spray paint the insides and outsides of the pipes to prevent rust and improve the asthetics in the engine bay. Attach them all together and hear the vrroooom.

[leasaunce]

or do Custom CAI jst like what i did.

ask any exhaust shop.

[TRDCamryCL]

Custom might not be a way to go depending on where you live. Some states in the US require CARB.

[CerialPhreak]

Whats CARB? Im assuming its some california air purification crap or something...?

Thanks for your help guys.

[cmdrkettch]

CARB stands for California Air Resource Board. Its emission laws are the strictest in the country, IIRC. Obviously they apply to California, but some other states have adopted them as a standard as well, as TRDCamryCL stated earlier.

[GrayGen4]

I'm also thinkin about doing this, but is it really worth it for an I4 w/auto? Anyone done it and have feedback? SRI is my other choice, but not really sure about either one.

[leasaunce]

Originally Posted by GrayGen4

I'm also thinkin about doing this, but is it really worth it for an I4 w/auto? Anyone done it and have feedback? SRI is my other choice, but not really sure about either one.

is it worth it..?? its up to you, the stock airbox filter is good enough, putting SRi will give you LOUDER (annoying Sometimes) noise, if you compare SRi and CAI, I recommend you getting CAI, sounds much better.

Performance-wise...both roughly the same, but with SRi (used to have that in my camry)
after a long drive you can feel the car losing abit of power, as it was taking in warm/hot air from the engine bay. But since I got my custom made CAI, the sounds way nicer and getting cooler air. Just downside of putting CAI; needs TLC more often than SRI (especialy the air filter)

Overall, Stock airbox is good...But if you want a meaner sound then by all mean, get a CAI or SRi. (oh yeah, im not sure what's the rules there in the States, but in Australia SRi they're Illegal)


Cheers,
Leasaunce

[GrayGen4]

Excellent, thanks for the info. I'll probably pass on it for now, but perhaps in the future sometime.

BTW, where did you order your headlamps from? I dig the black halos, and think they'd look good on mine.