I have just finished my first official mod for my 1987 base N/A! I bought a prelude CAI system from ebay and i modified it to fit my needs. I'm not sure if anyone has used this method of keeping the stock CAI pipe, but taking off only the filter box. This seemed to simplify the project, and not as much fitting and molding was needed. The AFM seems to have come out perfectly level, and all the pieces fit together, so i think the operation was a complete success!



The filter came down right where the brake intake duct was. We cut a sufficient hole in the brake intake with a pair of snips. This allows for maximum intake and fitting.


Hole in the engine bay...


Here is a custom made (by us) braket to give support to the previously-hanging brake intake duct.


A piece of fuel line was slit and used to cover the jagged edges of the hole in the engine bay.


Here is a real piece of work. We worked a flat piece of aluminum to fit over the air filter and bolt on to the inner fender. This gives the air filter protection from rain and other crap thrown up by the tires.


Finished!!!


Perfectly balanced?

Let me know what you think!

 

why did you have to make the alum panel in the fender well to cover the air filter??? Did you have to trim the fender liner or is it just an access for the filter???

 

The aluminum piece was probably not necessary, but it wasn't too much work and it just bolts on where 3 of the bolts in the fender wall are. The fender wall was only trimmed where the filter comes out.

 

yeah my setup has the same hole. It just does not have the filter on the outside. I used a venting pipe to get the cooler air into it with any worries of splashing puddles.

 

Looks great. Nice work, and good step by step instructions.

 

what year of the prelude CAI piping did you use?

 

i did the same thing but didnt use my stock induction tube, il have pics up tonite of mine,, looks almost like that

 

i used a 92 prelude kit

 

coolest cai yet? looks like every other fc cai ive ever seen :P

 

But he did keep the stock rubber peice !

 

I like yours a lot

 

Yah I've seen a couple people do that. It's easier really, and keeps the AFM level a lot more easily, so it works pretty good.

What I don't understand, though, is why the hole for the piping/filter to go through is so freaking large.

 

We used an air nibbler to get the hole started, and after adjustments, we had to keep enlarging the hole. Ill be getting some sort of molding to fill the gaping hole soon enough...

 

Ah cool. Yah I know how things can get too big too fast when you're trying to keep it clean or even

Good job though.

 

Don't drive through any deep puddles!!

 

Make sure to get a bypass, or avoid driving through puddles.

 

its funny how everyone says dont drive through puddles.. i havent heard of anyone locking up an engine yet doing this. what you guys mean to say is dont be a dumb **** and drive in floods. if i missed a post where someone hydrolocked or what ever let me know.

 

It's not just about hydrolock. A bypass valve is a failsafe just in case.

People spend a lot of time and money to get a few extra horses through a cold air intake. If the filter gets wet, it is WAY less efficient than dry. So if you splash the filter, you are negating any positive effects of a cold air intake in the first place. Depending on how wet it gets, you may even be robbing yourself of power.

 

i dont like it ...

not only do you have to worry about large amount of water, but what about dirt (rocks, sand, dust, ect) i say goodjob for the effort but your just asking for trouble. with the filter that low, any of the things listed could cause additional stress on the filter which will lead to premature failure.

the gains over a proper heatshield would be small if any. and after 20-30K it would most likely be less. In the long run the heatshield will last longer, give more consistant power, and be more reliable (not to mention be easier to service) then your CAI setup

 

Blahh ever hear of the water injection treatment?

 

The aluminum guard and the bottom of the brake intake duct protect the filter from water, dirt, rocks etc...just to clear that up

 

This was a DIRECT RIP OFF FROM ANOTHER SITE. Give credit were it is due. Nopistons.com had a OLD *** WRITE UP in the archive on the exact same thing.Same honduh intake used. I have linked it in the past many times. Not trying to hate or bust your *****, but I do have a hard time patting you on the back.
Original link with very good write up with pictures.
http://www.nopistons.com/forums/inde...&hl=custom+CAI

As for what I think,you got

 

Sand, dust, and rocks are protected by the filter. Honda's have used CAI's for years without problems. Why should this be any different? Check out dDub's setups, they are easy to service yo.

Now this is where you say "I had a friend that..".

 

Unless you're hanging out in Louisiana around hurricane season, it's hard to suck up that much water.

 

who is going to drive through a "puddle" that goes 3/4ths of the way up the fender? if you're stupid enough to do that, i think you're going to have more to worry about than getting water in your engine.