1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

cold air intake, metal vs rubberized.

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Old 10-14-08, 11:32 PM
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cold air intake, metal vs rubberized.

whats the difference between metal vs rubberized cold air intakes, we all know the obvious difference but what gains do i get from each one?
Old 10-14-08, 11:39 PM
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ambiant air intake u mean with long restrictve rubing? and u will gain nothing. we dont drive hondas
Old 10-14-08, 11:45 PM
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Metal will heat the air up if you have it passing around the radiator. The thickness of the metal (which is very thin, if like most CAI's) will heat up and cool down fast.

Same with the rubber. Best bet is to insulate the CAI and that will keep the heat down and cold up.
Old 10-14-08, 11:50 PM
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Generally speaking, I would buy the respeed bracket for the radiator that gives you a nice sized hole, put a filter in front of the radiator, then run the tubing back to a carburetor hat or the EFI MAF sensor and manifold. Then, from the Respeed bracket to the manifold, I would wrap fiberglass insulation around it and then wrap a tape or other wrapping to keep the fiberglass intact. You can get the insulation at Home Depot or Lowes or any other major hardware store. This will take 15 minutes of standing still to warm up, then only 2 minutes of moving air to cool it.

Wish I remembered where I read it from. I have the PDF saved on here, but it is among 5+gb of PDFs...
Old 10-15-08, 07:36 AM
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thanks alot for your insight, now tthat i have the knowledge where can i get one of those air intakes. which websites do you recommend for that kind of thing.
Old 10-15-08, 08:21 AM
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i recommend searching
Old 10-15-08, 10:15 AM
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Flexible dryer vent line FTW?
Old 10-15-08, 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by DivinDriver
Flexible dryer vent line FTW?

I did that on my Grand National so that i could decide if I liked the difference in sound, more water, cleaning etc.. before I built a nice one...well, my intercooler to intake line poped off one time and the dryer hose got shreaded by the compresser surge!
Old 10-15-08, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by drittens
I did that on my Grand National so that i could decide if I liked the difference in sound, more water, cleaning etc.. before I built a nice one...well, my intercooler to intake line poped off one time and the dryer hose got shreaded by the compresser surge!
But it has so many advantages:

Lightweight
Flexible & easily formed
Cheap
Doesn't corrode
Soft thin aluminum unlikely to damage much else should it unfortunately explode, etc
Cheap
Occasionally makes cool humming sound at high speed
Cheap
Projects that oh-so-sought-after high-tech image


Oh, and did I mention; it's cheap!
Old 10-15-08, 12:45 PM
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the biggest reason intake companies use silicone in place of metal in certain applications is because they either cant get the metal to form the way they need to to have the proper clearances or its cheaper to use the silicone elbow.

as for benefits there are none either way.

a cold air intake and "short ram"will have generally similar numbers as far as gains and honestly a fair amount of the time the "SRI" will ave better gains.intake companies just happen to know that a vast majority of consumers are not well informed and always want "cold air" intakes. so they make them the cheapest way possible.
Old 10-16-08, 04:19 PM
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mmmm nice to know!
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