The Oldsmobile Connection

theburningcandle · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 108 Location: Wellsboro, PA

I am looking at also replacing my air intake with a coldair intake(hi flow what ever you prefer to call it). I have heard it can help increase fuel economy as well as perfromance. What do you all think about that? And do yu ever think it is possible to do?

license2ill · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 72 Location: North Dallas, Texas

If you're looking at putting on a CAI, then I would strongly suggest fabricating your own as it will be ALOT cheaper financially for you than purchasing some of the CAI's I've recently seen on the Net for the 3.1L Cutty SL's. It looks to me like prices can range anywhere from 150-200 dollars and up if you're looking at buying one. If you make your own it's going to cost you about around fifty bucks for everything. BTW - If anyone here has a link to CAI's for less than 100 dollars, Please post and mention! Thanks, -JJ

theburningcandle · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 108 Location: Wellsboro, PA

Anyone have a plan on how to make one i could see? See if its something i could do.

Netdewt · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Minneapolis, MN

Would it require welding?

license2ill · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 72 Location: North Dallas, Texas

I'd just use ABS or PVC pipe, a rubber fitting and hose clamps to connect the CAI tube onto the throttle body with, and an APC conical air filter that'll be found within the rice section inside Pep Boys. Besides the air filter, Everthing can be easily found at any Home Depot, Lowes, or Menards. Total price for the homeade CAI should be at or around fifty dollars or less.8) BTW - I'm probably going to make one this weekend and I'll be sure to let you all how it goes when I finish!:wink:

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2400 Location: Canada

look at mine in the album section... I made one on my car. He gave a very acurate discription of my process, except I used aluminum ducting instead of PVC, just because I needed to have a bend in the pipe. It works very well, and there is a noticeable increase in power, not major, but I think it was worth it.

Netdewt · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Minneapolis, MN

What metals would be acceptable if I wanted to do it out of metal? Or is metal not a good material for something like this? What diameter should the tube be? What sort of material should the connector piece be?

This site has prebent aluminum tubing for sale:

http://www.burnsstainless.com/AluminumTube/aluminumtube.html

OldsGuy · Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Lees Summit MO

I think you guys are getting some things confused. If you look at the induction system on your cars closely, you will see that the air intake BEFORE the air filter box is usually someplace in the driver's side fender. The air is getting in behind the outer skin of the fender from someplace in front of the radiator or perhaps between the bumper and the front fender, maybe down low. That means you already have cold air induction. What I see you guys refering to as cold air induction or intake is a conical air filter mounted in place of the O.E.M. air filter box. What this is doing is increasing the air flow but drawing that air from inside the engine compartment, so actually,,,,,,you have hot air induction........
In old cars like mine the old style air cleaner housing was round and had a snout on it which would draw air form inside the engine compartment. Some 442s had OAI hoods with true cold air induction which gathered air from outside the car. There has been discussion as to whether the benefit is from the cold air or the ram air effect or both, but there is no disagreement that it is better. Since the mid or maybe early 80's almost all cars draw air from a cooler spot than direction above the engine under the hood because, I suppose, Detroit engineers discovered that it was better for engine performance. I am not saying that what you are doing is not helping your engine's performance, it probably is, but it isn't cold air induction.........

Netdewt · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Minneapolis, MN

Yay for smart people!

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2400 Location: Canada

i would eventually like to insulate my intake tube, and build a baffle for the filter element, to seal it from the rest of the engine compartment. I think that would dramatically decrease temperature in the end.

73Delta88 · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 11:58 am Post subject:

would it really make that much of a difference?

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2400 Location: Canada

I dont think the difference between the air I'm sucking right now and after I built the baffle and insulate would make a noticeable difference, but it would look cool, and its the "proper" way to do it :-)

Netdewt · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Minneapolis, MN

How hard would it be to bend 3" dia. aluminum tubing myself? Prebent stuff is MUCHO dinero.

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2400 Location: Canada

I would think you would need to get that done by an exhaust shop or something... If you did it yourself you may end up creasing or collapsing the tube without the proper tube benders...

Make your measurements, and angles and take it to a local exhaust place, it shouldnt cost much to get some bends put in a pipe... A lot better than buying a premade one...

Netdewt · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Minneapolis, MN

I'm thinking of buying like a 3- or 4-foot section to run the intake in front by the radiator. I say 3" because most conical filters are 3" inside diameter.

Aluminum? Stainless steel is more of an exhaust application right?

Ractive filters seem to be the cheapest without crappy quality... about $25. Any other brand suggestions?