Checkpoint Engineering Cold Air Intake: Install & Review
 

Yo,

I bought one of Checkpoint Engineerings Cold Air Intake used. I had it powdercoated the same as my UIM/Stressbar.

This CAI was one of the first, if not the first from Checkpoint engineering. The tube diameter is 2.75" and was made out of sections. The new CAI units are 2.5" and are mandrel bent.

Here is some info from Checkpoint's website:

http://www.checkpointmotors.net/Prod...ail.asp?pID=39

Since this unit was one of the first and had the bigger tubing, the right side radiator support had to be trimmed. Chris down at Checkpoint took time out of his busy schedule to do this for me, he's very cool!

The install went well, I did my usual and took lots of time to make sure everything was trimmed, lined up, cleaned up, etc. This is definitely not an AEM intake for your Honda Civic. It takes a little work to get everything dialed in. Again, this was one of the first CAI's from Checkpoint, it's gone through some revisions since then so the newer revs should be easier.

Enough typin', where's the pics? Here ya go:

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...postid=2536539

Here you can see my AFM is now pointed down towards the CAI. You can also see that it is very close to the airpump pulley. I used some nylon ties to pull it away from it. It doesn't rub. I bought a hump hose and turbo clamps from http://www.vwturbo.com/ Great prices and super fast delivery.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...postid=2536562

You can see how the 2.75" tubing squeeks by the radiator. It leads down to...

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...postid=2536576

Woo, it's the CAI! You can see what the radiator and oil cooler looks like if you haven't had your undertray off. At the end of the CAI you can see a huge 'ol K&N cone filter. This is sitting right out in the airstream coming into the front of your car. The CAI bolts up to one of the holes for your undertray. Since mine was an early version it had a welded tab for this, the newer ones use clamps and a sliding tab for easier install.

I decided I wanted a little extra bug protection. If you've ever driven to and at Thunderhill in summer, you know all about those big 'ol butterflies. Anyways, I fabbed up a screen made from a file folder holder I got at the drugstore:

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...postid=2536597

You can see the end of the CAI with a latex glove on it. Finally, from the front here is what you get:

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...postid=2536589

Last note on the install, you will be trimming your undertray to make it fit over/around the CAI. A little bit here, a little bit there. It wasn't too bad.

Driving Impression:

I started the car up and it seemed to actually idle better. Imagination? Maybe! Once it was warmed up I took the GTUs out for a spin. It definitely seemed to pull harder up top, usually you can feel a little flat spot past 7000rpm. With the new intake it didn't seem to be struggling at the very high RPMs. My S-AFCII says my AFL was 63%...whatever the hell that means.

Intake noise from outside the car isn't too bad, not compared to an AEM equipped B16A. It sounds good.

All in all it's a worthwhile mod if you have the money and time to do a proper install.

Hopefully I can dyno my car this week and I'll let you know how the host of mods I've done works out.

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Every bolt on imaginable."

awesome writeup!!!!!!

That filter is in the perfect spot. Its not blocking the oil cooler too much is it??

It looks great!

nice. had i known they made one, i wouldnt have made my own.

Very Nice man. I didn't know the Check Point Intake was 2.5" ouch! Atleast ours is full 3" :D But it looks good non the less.

very nice write up and very cool intake.

how much total cost...

Kevin, why did you go with the "older" model? Just curious.



-Robert

mine's 3 inches. came out to around 50 bucks.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...e.jpg.orig.jpg


how much does checkpoint's cost?

250!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u gotta be joking

Yo,

Rob, you mean this?

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...postid=2536952

It's for sale! ;)

Heh.

Kevin
1989 GTUs "XTreme Filtration!"

Looks pretty sexy.:)

Yo,

How the heck are you guys getting a 3" pipe past the radiator support and the frame rail? The one I have is 2.75" and it's pretty damn tight. It's kind of a moot point on the diameter anyways...since it's choked down to 2.5" at the AFM.

The radiator shroud and support bracket both had to be trimmed.

About the price, like I said, I got mine used. I would still recommend the product because frankly, before Aztech's intake, there wasn't crap for the FC.

I'm a firm believer of supporting companies that support the FC community. Checkpoint is one of those companies. Chris is a nice guy to boot.

Glad you guys like the writeup and pics!

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Dyno soon!"

3" is not hard at all to accomplish if you know how your going to route it. :D But basically I just wanted it our intake to be a more economical solution than Check Point's intake. But you have to admit that the CP one looks nice powder coated. I will stick with full 3 inch thouhg. ;) Its all about reducing pressure drop. The bigger the better!

Yo,

Well, if you need a showcase car for your intake...;). I'll see what NZConvertible has to say about pipe size...he's got the big brain. *grin*

I hear you on the price and I give props to you for your intake. I'm glad you're manufacturing it. Like I said, I got mine used (read: cheap), so it's all good.

Have you dyno'ed yours yet?

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Money pit."

No dyno time yet. I ran out of funds when I went and bought the TII. Well I actually ran out of money before that. :( But I will be dyno'ing them both the N/a and TII intakes.

Looks good. I was going to go with this setup when I was still NA. Just one thing. Will you be Installing a water check valve (what ever those are called) used to prevent water making It's way to the Manifold, In the event of you being In a rain fall, or simular?

Sweet one mod on your car I did not install ;) hehe. Can't wait till we dial it in at the dyno next week!!! That S-AFCII is the most expensive novelty ever :).

- Dana "and the novelty has ended"

Yo,

Good question, but I'm not going to install a check valve. Number one, I don't often drive the car in the rain, but if I did I would just throw some cardboard or something on the front to block the rain. Ghetto, but hey. *grin*

I think the only time I would have water ingestion would be during a big rain storm and I stuck the nose of my car into a huge puddle...like 8-10" deep. I don't see myself doing that.

No doubt. My best description: It's a Gameboy Advance for your car. Heh. I've almost wrecked by fiddling with it when driving. I think it'll be the set & forget plan we talked about.

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Professional install though..."

Kevin....

Im glad you liked your intake, its a very functional design amd works well.

Chris is a good guy, i agree. Support for FCs is pretty much nil because people mostly complain about how something isnt free. I always get people asking about some part they like on my FC (that i built) and if i would build one to sell. I pretty much say "no" because i know they wont pay for it or appreciate it anyways. Good thing there are people like Kevin to restore a little faith in me.....

Checkpoint isnt going to be around much longer, new owners and new name are up and coming, same location though in sacramento. Cant wait, its finally going to be what it should have been all along.

Mmmmmm, 4 wheel drive dyno in the works...yummy

Graham

Stupid forum glitch, the post above was SUPPOSED to be this name, i dont know how the hell it posted as someone else...

Yeah man, makes my head hurt... :D

But Santiago's right, the bigger the better. A 3" pipe that necks down to 2.5" will still have less restriction than one that is 2.5" all the way. ;)

How much modifying of the undertray is required? Pics?

I knew I was in the right because I remembered what you, scathcart and others said. :D

Hurry up and dyno that bad boy already!!

Sweet! Nice write up and pics. :bigthumb: