Cold Air Intake - CAI

[captrowdy1]

Sent: 3/20/2008 11:35 PM

I know that this has been discussed before but I'd like to hear everyones input. I would like to put a cold air intake on my winnie. Now I know I can run down to Lowe's or Homedepot and purchase a piece of metal dryer hose and run it out the front. But I just think that looks like crap so I'm interested in something a little more ah better looking. K&N doesn't make a retro for my '89 454. I wonder if some one makes a 3" black hose that will adapt to carb and run out front to new air cleaner box. or to K&N filter? Any thoughts?

[Cooneytoones]

Sent: 3/21/2008 3:08 PM

Go to a junk yard..find a  '90 or above Chevy Truck...that might be the hardest part  LOL...... more fords than Chevy's in a place like that.... The 4.3 S-10's Blazers & Pick-ups all have a cold scoop, two would due.... they would be easy to retrofit either behind the grill or under the bumper....they will also have the hose duct (black) attached from there to the air cleaner...they won't be long enough to reach.....BUT NOW...........you can then go to Home Depot or Lowes, depending on whether you like Tony Stewart or Jimmy Johnson.....and get some heating duct and the rest of the stuff to retrofit.

[Oz]

Sent: 3/21/2008 5:38 PM

Routing down to the bumper for a single snorkel isn't too hard but, if you have a dual snorkel, which is obviously preferable, one side is a bit difficult.

However, with either, you're better off going directly forward and making the intake tube openings in the radiator cowl.  Like Timmy said, go to Lowe's or Home Depot and get your tubing.  You can fit it to a dryer vent with the flapper removed and painted black.  Add fine mesh, metal screen to stop bugs and debris.

You should be able to make a slight dip in each tube to catch moisture.

The benefit of routing it this way is, since the distance is shorter, the air is cooler and, running it directly to the cowl gives you a ram air effect.  It's also easy to remove so as to get at the rest of the upper engine and you don't have to worry about the tubing interfering or getting bumped, rattled or knocked into.... gulp... the belts.

A K&N filter is certainly a good way to add flow as well.  Of course, there are other manufacturers who make the washable, reusable filters now too and are less expensive.

[racinjason]

Sent: 3/24/2008 1:12 PM

Can this be done with any winnie and what are the benefits of the ram air? I have a 1978 brave with the 440-3 motor.
THANKS JASON

[captrowdy1]

Sent: 3/24/2008 7:16 PM

Yes can be done to any Winnie Jason.  Makes a huge difference on engine running temp and cold air is much more dense and burns fuel more efficiently. Dog house keeps in a lot of heat in and engine.  Older Winnies don't have air induction like newer ones do. Plus if you have it sealed well it makes it like a ram air forcing more air into engine and producing a better fuel air mixture.Thus makes engine run cooler and more efficient.
Rowdy

[ZR91]

Sent: 3/24/2008 8:17 PM

I ran a homemade ( and rather cheesy looking) cold air intake last year, using 4"dryer hose and an aluminum heat duct attached under the front bumper.

Functional ? yes, it cooled off under hood temps and seemed to help with power & economy...

Ugly ? double yes.

This time I am going to use a dual snorkel air cleaner, and figure out a way to duct those to some sort of louvers in the hood. I just have to figure out how to prevent rain from getting in.

[racinjason]

Sent: 3/25/2008 8:31 AM

so the dryer vent gets attached to the air cleaner inlet tube?
Thanks for all your help!
Jason

[ZR91]

Sent: 3/25/2008 11:58 AM

I used a large cable tie to attach the dryer hose to the air cleaner, and several more to route the ducting away from heat sources and moving parts, in as direct as possible fashion to under the front bumper. This was attached to a 4" wide by 12" long duct mounted horizontally under the bumper to be out of the way and yet "scoop" as much air as possible.


Jay

[racinjason]

Sent: 3/25/2008 1:49 PM

Thanks for everyone's help. I will install one this weekend.
Thanks Jason

[toddabney]

Sent: 3/25/2008 2:41 PM

hey Jayson, before you buy round tubing check out the rain gutter down spouts.while i was a Lowe's i saw flexible rectangular down spouts.it looked like it would fit over the air cleaner intake and would be just as easy as the dryer vent to install. i haven't done this yet on my rig(1973 440.3 w/duel intake air cleaner) but from what i saw it should work. happy cruzin, todd

[racinjason]

Sent: 3/26/2008 7:39 AM


I went to the hardware store last night and purchased a round to rectangular register boot made of sheet metal 4" round by 10" by 4" rectangular and 4" dryer vent the solid aluminum type not the foil type. The total purchase was $20.00.I attached the dryer vent to air cleaner using dryer clamp and ran through the dryer vent through rubber shield above radiator by cutting a 41/4 hole.I then attached the register boot just inside the grill with self tapping screws and then hooked up the dryer vent to boot with another dryer clamp.total time about an half hour.
jason

[JDxeper]

I ran across this CAI system while looking for replacement breathers.  A new chrome double horn air intake.  Looks good.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SPE-711/?rtype=10      Hm?

JD