I just got a K&N cone air intake off ebay to replace the stock airbox of my 96 max, and I'm looking to make a cold air intake. Do you suggest I get a CAI kit from ebay and replace the crappy foam filter with my K&N, or should I just put on the K&N leaving the stock intake pipe in? Cuz I heard from some old thread on this site that the stock intake essentially acts like a CAI. Or can't I make my own cold air intake, which would be cheaper? Any info or suggestions would be great.

Okay, by cai do you mean a true cai which pulls air from outside the engine bay? Or are looking for somthing to replace your stock setup with a short ram? Short ram is going to be the easiest and you can use the k&n you already purchased. Do a search on a hybrid intake for how to's.
Or just buy a true cai and prepare to cut a hole in your fender.

I dunno, whatever boosts my HP the most. So if I get a true cai off ebay or sumthin' the K&N should fit on the pipe, right? Or are the pipes made to fit the size of the filters they use, which I noticed seem a lot smaller than the K&N i have. I guess I'm just worried about getting a cai and finding out the K&N won't fit on it. Also, how big would the fender hole be, and where? Help me out herre, I'm just a maxrookie

90% of the filters are 3 inch and all the ones that u see for the max are most likely 3 inch, what you have to decide is if u want to use just the adapter and filter or get a midpipe and get a cold air extension as well u can get the whole set with mid pipe and cold air extension for like $55 on ebay

Yup! also, if you decide to go with the cai setup, the K&N may not fit inside the fenderwell. It all depends on the size of the filter. Just try the midpipe and your current filter and see how that works for ya. If you dont like it, purchase the ebay cai for 55.00 bucks. With these type of setups you really cant ask which is better because everbodies opinions vary. Your just gonna have to experiment with them till you find one that you like.

yup pretty much everyone has their own opinions on it, personally i'm happy with the stock resonater and adapter + filter on my 5 speed

I looked up the size of the K&N filter I have (prod. # RU-2520) and it says the one I have is a 4 inch filter (or it gives the "mounting flange inside diameter" as 4 inches)....?
Also, creating a hybrid intake is basically just putting on the K&N and leaving the stock manifold in right?
One more thing, emissions. What will and won't pass emissions?

hybrid is the midpipe + a filter and adaptor or the jwt

go w/a short ram. not much difference of hp gain w/cai..and you run more risk of getting water sucked up into that puppy. k&n filter model number is ru-2820. short ram's sound is FIERCE!