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Ghetto Cold Air Intake Test - Impressive Results!

19K views 114 replies 32 participants last post by  Speedjunky01 
#1 · (Edited)
So I've never ran a cold air intake on any of my cars. Only short ram.
I was curious if the difference was real , it was a myth or just
personal preference. I didn't want to go out and buy a bunch of
expensive pipe. However, I found a bunch of aluminum pipe / duct
in my basement today and decided to make a functional mock up to
see what the hype was all about.

I'm running a D15B7. Stock. Recently, after long days of
driving in this summer heat, I was noticing some bogging on my
otherwise excellent running engine. I suspected it was the hot
air from the engine bay going into the short ram. That's what
motivated me to do this test.

First things first. I took off the filter on the short ram for the
purpose of using the pipe as one of the pieces -


Here are the other parts I used. Duct Tape (because this started out
as a ghetto mockup), clamps, rubber joint connectors, one of my shittier
filters just in case it fell off while I was driving, and cut pieces of aluminum
duct / pipe (I forgot a second needed joint in the photo) -


I put the down pipe through the stock air box hole to take measurements.
I had to make sure I was keeping the 90 degree joints in mind so the filter
wasn't scraping on the ground. After a couple measurements and a couple
cuts with a bandsaw, it was ready to go -


I was sure to label the joints because I had it set up in a
particular female / male fashion -



Next, I ran the down pipe through the stock intake hole and attached the
upper 90 degree joint which I then connected to the smaller "connector"
pipe that hooked up to the original short ram pipe. I used duct tape to
seal it up because this is, of course, the "Ghetto Cold Intake Test"...plus,
it matches my primer grey steelies -


I connected the lower 90 degree joint and slid the filter on to the female
end that was predetermined. I turned the joint in towards the engine so
the filter sits sideways with it's end cap facing the driver's side -

EDIT
Lower joint has been removed, the filter has been attached
to the down pipe and it has been put in between the wheel
well splash shield, the bumper and the bottom splash shield.


After all this, I went around and connected clamps to every joint in the
ghetto setup for safety and to ensure that there weren't any leaks.

Now, let me state that I was expecting absolutely no difference in
performance. Zero. And I was DEAD WRONG. I noticed it as soon as I
took off. And when I really gave it gas, I was in shock. The car seemed
to breath with ease. So much easier than before. And the best part about
this whole fun filled project is that it cost me ZERO dollars. This was just
shit I had laying around the house. Well, that and the fact that it
goes with my primer grey steelies as I said before. All I need now is a
Goodie Comb for my back pocket,

I'm keeping it. I'm tearing off the duct tape tomorrow and replacing it
with all the rubber joint sealers and clamps I have laying around my
garage.

The difference between short ram and cold air is NIGHT and DAY. If you
haven't done this test before, do it! You won't be disappointed. It's
awesome to be surprised!!
 
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#3 ·
Be weary of water puddles & rain.

Good write-up.
 
#9 ·
route it throught hte hole near the fender and you'll be good to go
 
#10 · (Edited)
It'll get tweaked. The good news is there isn't any
rain within the next 24 hours. Hah. Car never goes out in the rain
lately 'cuz the front tires are bald as hell anyway. I hop
in the GA16i....it has tread.

Gonna raise it up into the fender further. Ditch the curve at the
bottom. Either way, blowing your day doing something ridiculously
funny beats being an armchair warrior.

looking good dude, I love ghetto car mods.
Thanks. It's not about functionality. It's about duct tape.

If it does the Job, why not
That's right, brother.
route it throught hte hole near the fender and you'll be good to go
Right on. "test" was in the title...but now i'm leaning towards
keeping it forever after I raise it up a hair. I'm also a big fan
of Andy Kaufman so you can see where my mindset is as far
as odds of success.
 
#12 ·
I'm in south Detroit..'bout 15 minutes south of downtown off I-75.
The area with the WORST potholes in the city. Yes, that's possible.
I live in the blue collar area with lots of train tracks and semi trucks...
I'm sure you can imagine.

In all seriousness, that intake can't stay where it's at. I know that.
With a little modding, it can get out of the bay, though and be safe.
I'm not too worried about the looks 'cuz I don't enter car shows.

Where you at in WKRP? I've spent a lot of time there. Had some friends
there and used to play a lot of the bars / clubs there.
 
#13 ·
Taylor area I guess you are in, Monroe is too far south :)

I'm near Fairfield, OH just outside the 275 loop.

GOOD friends live up around Telegraph, like Beech Daly and Goddard area.

Unleaded Racing might ring a bell. I'm also on MiHondas.com • Index page which is worlds away from the asshats on XceedSpeed.
 
#16 ·
Yep, I'm in Wyandotte. Right next to Southgate and Taylor.
My wife is from Taylor originally...right around your friends.
I'm Downriver born and raised...I know this area almost too
well. Love it, though. Hate the winters but can't seem to
leave.

Yeah, dude...Monroe is like another state. We moved there
for about 6 months and couldn't take it. I mean, talk about
a place with absolutely ZERO going on...Christ.

Fairfield. I know right where you're at. As a matter of fact,
there was a house I used to crash at right around there
whenever I came through.

Yeah, Unleaded totally rings a belL

Thanks to the wonders of the baby monitor, I'm able to
hang out in the garage. I just shortened the ghetto intake
and stuck it in between the wheel well splash shield and
the lower splash shield. Pulled the plastic out a little
so it was visible. The first one was a test. I can actually roll
on this one for a little while..but still as ghetto.. and that's
important.


Asshats! Bwahaha!
 
#17 ·
i gained .3 at the track going from a short ram to a cold air as did mr. bone.
 
#18 · (Edited)
i gained .3 at the track going from a short ram to a cold air as did mr. bone.
__________________
Right on, dude. I rode motocross from the ages of 5-16..
Then switched to BMX (vert / street)..I haven't had anything
to fill the void in years. I decided I want to build a DD / track
car or just a track car and start getting back into fun and speed.
I get all jacked up just looking at people's time cards. Hah.
My wife is a little freaked out by the idea but she "gets it" and
is totally supportive.

Yeah, and I had read over and over about B7s not taking well to
bolt ons. Personally, I think it's just SOHC jealousy. j/k/. But yeah,
the short ram made the car feeling more "free"..I'll give it that.
The cold air, however, was totally noticeable performance
wise. And that's on a stock engine. I can't wait to get my
set up going with a cold air setup.

Are you running a header? If so, what brand? After this experience,
I want to find one I can actually feel
 
#19 ·
I would be scared every time I drove my car I was going to hydrolock it with the filter in that location

best of luck... I hope your shield works well ;)
 
#20 · (Edited)
Thanks on the luck! Hah!

If you look at the the photo in one of the later posts, I rerouted
the filter to the fender well. It's the safest place I can find besides
the trunk. Hah. Is there are safer place than the fender well?
I'll repost the photo -


I had pulled the plastic back so it was visible for the photo. There's
also the stock splash shield underneath the filter as well. It's pretty
well protected now after it went from test to something I dig. Is there
a safer place? If there is, I don't know where. Glove box? Under the front
seat? ;)
 
#23 · (Edited)
Thanks, man. Yeah, free is awesome. I wasn't going to spend a bunch
of money on ridiculously over priced pipe for something I might not even
dig.

I'm not going to be cutting out cam gears with my air nibbler :) ...but
it was fun.

Butt dyno's can be deceptive..you'd be better off getting on a real dyno and let the numbers tell you your progress with the mods you want to do
Yeah, once I have my cam and manifold in, I'd like to see where it's at.
I'm not looking for super serious HP for my DD. Just like
to make it more fun. When I start on a real track build, it'll be a completely
different story.
 
#24 ·
at that point i had just the intake nothing more. WIth a full exhaust and more weight and the Ice box thing i dropped .25 more
 
#26 · (Edited)
So far, it's 'going to suck' level has ben nothing but air.
I'll report back on it's suck level in the near future. Still
drives like a car. I'm just disappointed it didn't give me
an extra 200 HP like I thought it would. Damn. It must
be the lack of chrome on the additional extension which
is reacting with the chrome on the store bought section.

I'm thinking that if I get the pieces chromed and throw one
of my better filters on, I should easily be able to hit 225-250 HP
just out of this mod alone.
 
#27 ·
lolol...nice write up man!
my $.02...go to the salvation army, find a wind breaker, cut it to specs, spray it with some scotch-guard(water shedding), and rig it on the filter...good cheap way to help minimize the water that it could suck up...

And you get rep for Riding!
 
#28 ·
lolol...nice write up man!
my $.02...go to the salvation army, find a wind breaker, cut it to specs, spray it with some scotch-guard(water shedding), and rig it on the filter...good cheap way to help minimize the water that it could suck up...
And you get rep for Riding!
Thanks, man.

That is such a great, ghetto idea that I'm gonna
do it. I mean, to what scum bag level can you elevate an air intake?
We're gonna find out!

Dude, you're the first rider I've met in the Honda world. Right on.
I ride street for the most part. Right now I'm rolling on a 1989
Haro Team Master with the Bashguard. Seriously. Hah! Ditto on the
rep. How long you been riding? We're a dying breed, man. Gotta'
stick together.
 
#29 ·
HEll yeah, and there's actually quite a few of us on here...Go Haro!
Im stuck in 2000, still rockin my haro Backtrail...freewheel status, none of that fancy cassete hub shit for me!
And the windbreaker idea...straight up theft from injen or somthing, cuz they make one for like $20...but thats money...and were goin super budj!
Keep on it!
I been riding since i was about 6, started racing, and then found the streets...now im a grown ass man on a lil kids byke!
 
#30 · (Edited)
fuck that, dont set it up to accomodate for rain, wtf. you race in rain? set it up to get the most air it can, even ram air, thennn make a quick connect spot, where u can pop the hood and dissconnect it so it just sucks from engine bay when raining...



Edit: windbreaker with water repel on a part that is setup for performance? wtf. go back to short ram before putting a piece of plastic over the damn filter...smh

WORD i just won $5,000.................. You know what ima donote this money to the police force!


thats basicly what was just said up above.
 
#32 ·
fuck that, dont set it up to accomodate for rain, wtf. you race in rain? set it up to get the most air it can, even ram air, thennn make a quick connect spot, where u can pop the hood and dissconnect it so it just sucks from engine bay when raining...
I like your attitude. Right on.

However, I have to at least make the rain sheath so I can
hang it from my rear view mirror. Now that's a conversation
piece.


HEll yeah, and there's actually quite a few of us on here...Go Haro!
Im stuck in 2000, still rockin my haro Backtrail...freewheel status, none of that fancy cassete hub shit for me!
And the windbreaker idea...straight up theft from injen or somthing, cuz they make one for like $20...but thats money...and were goin super budj!
Keep on it!
I been riding since i was about 6, started racing, and then found the streets...now im a grown ass man on a lil kids byke!
totally, dude. Straight up freewheel. No gyro for me. All those trends
come and go. I've seen'em all, man. I'm a Club Homeboy Member, for
f*ck's sake. Older than dirt in the BMX world.
Being a grown ass man on a bike is a good feeling, my friend.
Keeps you feeling young.. both mentally and physically. Plus,
you always have smashed up shins..and the ladies like that. ;)
 
#31 ·
yeah, but the jackets not really gonna do much to inhibit the flow...almost every major intake manufacturer make one of these for cone filters..
 
#33 ·
Gyro? dont you need brakes for a gyro? lol
yeah, i cant give up the original Dubs...my 20' rims have outlasted all the trends!
Even though it seems like all the older bikers(im 25 this year, and thats old now in bmx!) are swapping for the mtb/bmx things...but I'll take a bloody chin and busted shins over over quiting anyday! Thats what makes you feel young, a good carcas toss!
 
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