While I love the high pitched, technical sounding V1 compressor whine I get at WOT, I miss the loud, deep bark of the n/a CAI/HAI. I am using plastic pvc piping (3.5"-4" wide) with a big k&n filter. Now, this intake is BARELY audible at partial throttle and silent at WOT. I think the ultimate sound would be the SC whine combined with the loud deep growl of the intake. If I change to steel piping, will it make a significant difference in sound? How about power?

On a side note, that 90 degree elbow connecting the compressor to the piping really bugs me. It looks like it's cutting off a lot of power. I might take care of that too.

 

I've got the steel piping and mine makes a very nice growl at WOT, although not nearly as loud as the prcai did when I was NA. Why your pvc intake is quiet is a mystery to me. I guess the plastic absorbs sound energy a lot better than the steel pipe. Or maybe it is making as much noise as mine but you don't hear it over your Flowmasters? I have the stock muffler on (since my HKS rusted through ) so I don't have much exhaust noise.

 

Do you have any pics of your setup Steve? Wouldn't steel have an echo'ing effect on sound whereas the plastic would be just the opposite, and deaden it?

And my exhaust is loud, especially at WOT. At partial throttle it is nice and gurgly, but at WOT it is just blaring loud. When I had my n/a CAI in, I put a 22" glasspack in the b-pipe which cleaned things up and made my intake growl much more noticeable, so hearing my engine isn't a problem -- although you will hear more of yours.

As far as power, any guesses? Maybe the plastic isn't taking too kindly to the heat and i'm not gaining that extra .5psi that others are getting with their CAI's?

 

My intake is exactly like what is shown in Cheston's website. I don't have the reference for on my home computer, I'll have to find it when I get to work on Monday.

I don't see how you would be losing any power just because your intake is plastic. The only way it would be losing power (compared to mine) is if the inner diameter was significantly less than 3.5", or if the bend radius of the 90 degre elbow was too small. The pipe I used had a 8.5" bend radius (to the middle of the pipe).

Your Flowmasters are loud? I'm thinking about going with a series 50 Delta Flow when I get around to upgrading to 3" exhaust. Loud is okay within reason. I don't want obnoxious loud, though.

 

I have an 80 series camaro (2 chambered) crossflow muffler. The 50 series are significantly quieter, because they aren't 2 chambered. They will give you a deep tone that's tame and quiet at the same time. Heres some pics of my setup:





And also, I want to mount my Apexi S-AFC under my pio-premier headunit in that little DIN. Heres a pic of the peice of dash that we will have to take off: (peice outlined in red)




How should we go about removing this peice of dash?

 

remove the shifter surround first by the compression clips from the rear first...unplug the wires for the lighter and the ashtray light...

one screw and compression clips hold the ashtray in after you remove the inner bucket

there are two screws on the bottom of the part you circled...and it squeezes in at the top...this piece will slide out after that from the bottom...

 

 

Mine's pretty quiet too.. maybe a little audible, but nowhere close to a n/a intake.

 

Is yours metal or plastic?

What do you guys think about that 90 degree elbow connecting the blower to the plumbing? It seems like it cuts off a lot of air flow...I'm thinking a 10tq/10hp gain at the wheels by replacing it with a mandrel bent 3" peice.

 

Well, a tight elbow is going to restrict flow more than a gradual 90 deg turn, but 10 hp? It's a little detail, but it is true that you can't make big power without paying attention to little details.

 

I was just kidding about the 10hp thing, although the elbow is painfull to look at it's so restrictive. I am betting a small gain from replacing it, maybe a few HP if i'm lucky. What gains do I want to see from it? 2hp/25tq would be nice.

 

I vaguely remember having to remove the AC vents above the console to get at two bolts holding the upper end of the entire center console assembly.

 

Well, I custom-butchered an intake - it's all metal up to a ribbed piece of plastic piping from home depot (at the flex), and then goes into the intake.

There's the possibility of a bit of turbulence for about 2.5 inches before the s/c, but then again the straight piping should prevent that/there's not enough ribbing for it.

Hard to describe without pics of what I did while doing it, so I'd have to take it apart to show you (from the top/pics you just see the plastic anyways.. I'll find a pic from a recent dyno later on to show you).