Put it in last night with my dad and it took us a while...everything fit pretty snug and I love the GRRRRR sound it makes now past 4K...It is awsome...the only thing I have to do is get a piece of rubber for behind the main pipe cause I think at full throttle I think its vibrating against it



I sounds good but I think something is lose still...sounds like a vibrating sound..

 

I get the same feeling under WOT but everything is tight. I even used a smaller 3.25" hole saw and the pipe is really snug. I am thinking that the flow is just extremely violent.

 

So how much faster is your Max?

Did yu have a Pop-Charger before? Is there a noticable difference?

I'm contemplating getting a CAI and drilling a hole in my fender if it's worth it.

IanS

 

Yea really matty, your initial post was kindof a let-down .

 

and remember Ian he has 5spd so his gains/losses might not be as noticable as automatics.

 

OK, anyone out there with automagic and CAI??

Is it worth it?

I'd do a search, but I'm a lazy azzh-le.

IanS

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....utomatic+gains

SuDZ

 

thanks sudZ but that didn't answer his question.

 

Thanks for the search...heh.

unfortunately, that says nothing specific about CAi vs Pop Charger, It's more about stock vs Pop Charger.

IanS

 

Yes I have auto and CAI
and Yes I think it's worth it.

 

Ummmm....

Please tell me why.

IanS

 

I have 5spd-CAI and I think it is very worth it...Goin up hills there is even more power, like say at 2k rpms in 4rd goin up alittle incline there is plenty of power to tap ..it feels faster at WOT on the highway and throttle response is great...Im surprised how quiet it really is when your not on it...you can go though the gears and not even know its on there until you really tap into it..regular cruzing speed you dont even know its there...I think its really great.

when you dont drive the car for a while then get in it, you forget what it sounds like till you tap it then its great

 

Matty my man...

Tell Ian if you felt a difference in low end throttle response with the CAI vs. The pop. You lost some with the POP, when you put your CAI in did you feel that lost throttle power come back? And them some ? explain please.(and were talkin' noticable, not if you "think" you did )

 

I didnt start out with a pop but from what I heard:

Pop Charger = Bad low end (auto city driving), good highend 5spd good all-around
CAI = Good all around Low end and High end for both auto-5spd

Beleive me, it will give you a reson to waste gas to hear the sucking in from the K an N filter GRRRRRRRRRRR its awsome

 

 

Craig Mack... you were waiting for this.

pop - agree with the slight low end loss. However, mid to high end, it is good for both 5 spd and auto.

 

You know what Calvin Lee, I 99% agree with ya. Now Allllll you gotta do is change that slight to a Significant

 

I drive an auto-max and I put on my CAI about two weeks ago. I notice a big difference around 3500 RPM's and at WOT it sound like a big 8 cylinder.

When I am just cruising around regular, it sounds no different. It is a stealth MOD until you decide you no longer want it to be a secret.

Well worth drilling a little hole under your battery!

My .02cents!

 

If isn't going to give me at least a 5hp or 5lb of torque difference on 1k-3k RMP's, it's not worth it to me.

I can't justify the cost just to sound cool...I already hear the "phhhhht" when I romp on it with the K&N Pop-Charger.

So, is the low end gain at least 5hp or torque OVER the Pop-Charger?

Basically, I want some better lowend power....

Thanks!

 

Ian, my brotha:

You know the Lag we are both getting with our popchargers. Well, think of it this way: The CAI is whoosing in cool air from OUTSIDE the engine bay. It is like a more intelligent and smoother (better airflow) stock intake.

I have a Cattman Cold air intake on the way. Ian, once the CAI goes in, your lag will be completely gone, and you will have some gains over stock. Now, if those gains are feelable to you or only on paper I don't know. But, if you want your low end back, get the CAI. It may even be louder than the POP because the tubing magnifies the growl.

Like I said think of the CAI as a smoother better flowing stock intake with a sweet growl. If you are stock and have no other mods (especially exhaust) you will see about 6-10HP. Now, how many of those reach your wheels, I donno.

Keep in mind adding other flowing mods such as a Y-pipe, catback exhaust, increase the airflow, and bring more out of each mod. So you'd probubly get another 2HP outta your intake.

Keep the questions comin' if you need anymore help bro.

 

Another thing Ian is that I believe we are losing Torque off the line with the Popchargers, thus giving the lag. Keep in mind the CAI will restore and increase that as well.

 

Nothing is going to give you 5 hp or 5 lbs of torque over the popcharger unless it's the y-pipe.

The CAI does not give you 5 more hp or 5 lbs more torque over the popcharger.

Edit: (after reading Craig Mack's remarks) If you want to keep the best low end and get the best acceleration off the line? Keep it stock. While the CAI is a slightly better "off-the-line" intake over the popcharger, both intakes are made to free up more air while in motion.

 

Don't listen to him guys he's on drugs.

 

Clee would you agree that a CAI will give the same if not better off the line acceleration than the stock intake ?

 

?

 

OK.....

So this is the gist that I get.

Let's assume I DON'T have a Pop-Charger, and my ride is completely stock - Now, let's say I put in a Warpspeed CAI -

The CAI would cause quite a bit (8-10hp) more juice in the powerband, and be at LEAST as good as stock on the takeoff, maybe even a little better (2-3hp?)

Now, let's say I get a Pop-Charger instead - I lose 2-3hp on the low end, but gain the SAME amount as the CAI in the powerband???? Or is it more like 7-8hp instead of the CAI's 8-10??

Now, let's say I have a Warpspeed Y-Pipe - (Which, in reality, I do)
It would give the bonus of having a Y-Pipe (12-18hp) PLUS a couple of hp in the powerband from EITHER a CAI or a Pop-Charger?? Or would one be better than the other in adding to a Y-Pipe for the powerband?

Hope that and my questions are clear.

Thanks,
IanS

 

When you are in mid-high range power you are moving fast enough that the engine heat decipates and your popcharger sucks in colder outside air that rushes into the engine. (In theory, anyway)

I personally felt NO gain anywhere with the pop, only that annoying lag.

Alot of the guys here feel that CAI+Y-Pipe is the best combo, and I agree. For example member MedicSonic went from a pop+y to a CAI+y and said it was definatally worth it.

The only way I can garentee you anything is when I put my Cattman CAI on in a few days. But I know it will make me wish I had gotten it in the first place.

Ian, the warpspeed CAI is going to start to come with quality k&n filters just like Cattman+place racing. They however cost $50-60 more than the Warpspeed. Purchase a Warpspeed CAI, sell your pop and be out like $100. I see that you crave low-end just like me so I really feel this will make you happy.

 

I'm really gonna do that back to back dyno / track run come spring.

All this "what if" and "let's assume" stuff is making my head hurt.

 

Dyno's are cool but it's if you feel the difference that matters. In about 4 days I will be able to answer this thread with solidiquy <--

 

numbers aside the idea is this. up to a certain speed your engine bay is hot. past 40 or so it gets cooler. that's when your POP kicks in and you see gains. With CAI you have this effect all throughout the powerband. i doubt if there are any tangible results down low, even on paper. then again maybe i lost something in the theory.

 

I don't know ... let's say (in theory) that the pop gives you more power but you feel more with the CAI. Are you going to say, "I want more power, but I feel it in the CAI, so I'm gonna get the CAI."

The CAI vs popcharger issue has never really been settled because I don't think there has been a back to back dyno of a popcharger and a CAI on the same car. There was a study done on two different cars, but the variables are just too many.

If you're going to do a back to back dyno, be my guest. I'm still going to conduct my own study. Not because I don't believe you but because the more evidence, the better.

Just be sure to put a big fan in front of both the HAI and CAI.

 

If ANYONE ever does a dyno, PLEASE post it in the forum.

I think I'm going to wait awhile until more evidence is given.

I think what I'll end up doing is talking to WSP and making sure they'll take it back if it doesn't work.

IanS

 

The CAI will "work".

The disagreement here is whether the CAI is better or the popcharger is better. But they both "work".

 

My view on this hole thing is

pop-charger = $115 lose low end (HOT ENGINE AIR UP TILL 40mph)
Free-flowing CAI = $215 All around powerfull and free flowing (COLD AIR)

I can litterly still have power to my engine on the back roads in 4th and even around turns when I have to shift it up the growll GRRRRR kicks in and its off around the turn in ease...it feel faster (quicker) off the line then it did...>BUY THE CAI


sorry bout the caps

 

Ok fine, just get a B-pipe then, it should help compliment the flow of your exhaust.

 

I've heard that CAI-Y-pipe is a really good combo so I'm gonna wait till the early summer to do it

 

I've heard that a HAI - y-pipe combo 5 spd ran a 14.2 ... I've yet to hear a CAI - y-pipe run that time.

 

I thought the Y-Pipe was going to be loud but today I found out different....Will it be loud with my CAI and stock muffler, and maybe an Apex-i WS at the end of the summer ??




What brand Y-pipe ???

 

aye... no need to be flaming. if you like HAI, go for it. if you like CAI, go for that. it's personal preference. which one is better? go conduct your own experiment.

 

Man, some people on this board don't know a joke when they see one.



I wasn't flaming but at the same time I was pointing out that the CAI is not God's gift intake for the Maxima.

It's a valid point bringing up, should I pay $200 for an intake if a $100 will do the same or better job?

And I will conduct my experiment. And this board also has people that will not believe or accept the truth even when it is placed right in front of them in writing.

So I'm going to dyno back to back and make track runs back to back. Once with the popcharger and once with CAI.

And when I'm done, if the CAI is better, I'll cut the damn hole in my car ( Maybe not ) and then we can stop having these three page long discussions about which intake is better.