My hare-brained CAI theory

[Goldmember]

My only problem with PVC pipe is that it gives off some seriously nasty fumes when heated (PVC= Poly vinyl CHLORIDE)

I'm actually thinking of sourcing a 96-01 Crown Vic inlet tube. Large diameter and very smooth, plus it has the ports for the IAC and PCV in the right places. All you'd have to do is flip it to the pass side and trim some off the end. Only possible issue would be it running into the strut tower.

Anyway, stock tube goes back on next week (For the time being).

 

[AaRoN]

My only problem with PVC pipe is that it gives off some seriously nasty fumes when heated (PVC= Poly vinyl CHLORIDE)

I'm actually thinking of sourcing a 96-01 Crown Vic inlet tube. Large diameter and very smooth, plus it has the ports for the IAC and PCV in the right places. All you'd have to do is flip it to the pass side and trim some off the end. Only possible issue would be it running into the strut tower.

Anyway, stock tube goes back on next week (For the time being).

Yeah, but that requires it to reach near it's melting point. I'd hope your intake never gets that hot.

 

[ryclef331]

You will NEVER heat an intake pipe to the point where you're going to melt pvc. I ran a pvc inlet pipe for YEARS and now run a hacked up aluminum jobber that works but guess what I'm about to do. I'm going to make another PVC intake b/c it just plain WORKS! If you're smelling pvc pipe fumes, you got bigger issues than just a cai...Again, what do you think JLT makes theirs out of? They just throw some flashy paint on'em and sell'em for a few bucks. I'm not saying you'll pick up 20 hp from switching to pvc instead of aluminum. The reality is it all has to do with where your car draws the air in at. But even still, under hood or fender well isn't going to make all the difference in the world, yet common sense will dictate that there is some benefit to be had by attempting to prevent heatsoak and pulling in hot under hood air.


...damn I'm drunk as hell and thought sound pretty fucking intelligent, no?

 

[Goldmember]

You will NEVER heat an intake pipe to the point where you're going to melt pvc. I ran a pvc inlet pipe for YEARS and now run a hacked up aluminum jobber that works but guess what I'm about to do. I'm going to make another PVC intake b/c it just plain WORKS! If you're smelling pvc pipe fumes, you got bigger issues than just a cai...Again, what do you think JLT makes theirs out of? They just throw some flashy paint on'em and sell'em for a few bucks. I'm not saying you'll pick up 20 hp from switching to pvc instead of aluminum. The reality is it all has to do with where your car draws the air in at. But even still, under hood or fender well isn't going to make all the difference in the world, yet common sense will dictate that there is some benefit to be had by attempting to prevent heatsoak and pulling in hot under hood air.


...damn I'm drunk as hell and thought sound pretty ******* intelligent, no?

Sounds good to me :happydrunks: :happydrunks:

And I have a bunch of PVC pipe in my basement!

Another member did an awesome job with his http://www.sn95forums.com/forum/index.php?topic=19849.0 I'll just adapt this to 4.6. I want to keep the strut tower brace, that might be the only thing- he's 5.0 with a Fox TB so he can't keep his the way that CAI's set up

 

[Mr. OAM]

If the CAI is actually drawing in ONLY outside air (through fenderwell or such) I can see the advantage.

While I was at the Carlisle show I was looking at the 2005 and up Mustangs and the CAI kits on them that go to the left front corner of the engine bay and have two walls to keep out engine heat. I looked real close to see where this thing was sucking air from and all I could find was a slot about 1" by 3 1/2" in the sheetmetal that formed the lip at the bottom edge of the headlight. Other than that there's no place to suck air from. The engine has to be wheezing.

I agree about the aluminum tubes. Any cool outside air will keep the aluminum cooler by drawing the heat out of it and taking it into the engine. No advantage there.

Steve

 

[Knuckles281]

If you want plastic, maybe get that March ram air thing? IDK if it's good, but it's plastic, and affordable. Does anybody know anything about that?

 

[Goldmember]

If you want plastic, maybe get that March ram air thing? IDK if it's good, but it's plastic, and affordable. Does anybody know anything about that?

I think the CAI has pretty much done away with ram air popularity-wise. The March piece features a scoop that goes under your bumper, drawing air from below the car.

Just think... rain, road debris, small animals... as opposed to a filter sealed in the fenderwell. (Don't go flying through deep puddles, though)

 

[GDTrumbo]

If you want plastic, maybe get that March ram air thing? IDK if it's good, but it's plastic, and affordable. Does anybody know anything about that?

I think the CAI has pretty much done away with ram air popularity-wise. The March piece features a scoop that goes under your bumper, drawing air from below the car.

Just think... rain, road debris, small animals... as opposed to a filter sealed in the fenderwell. (Don't go flying through deep puddles, though)

I've read through this thread. I have an aluminum CAI and I have pulled 27.5 mpg many times.
The only things I did that I didn't see listed were to disconnect the battery and let the ECU
re-calibrate itself and I did reinstall the OEM "screen" & seal into the new CAI.

I used to have a '93 LX w/ the March CAI you speak of. It is a "catch-all". Screen it and provide
a small drain hole at the back of the scoop and youre good to go! GT