Poor Mans Cai

[keoni1978]

I have been looking at K&N and airaid intake kit and wasnt that excited about paying 2-3 hundred dollars for a kit, so I decided to rig my own.

My truck is a NBS SD. So first I removed the factory airbox, took a pencil and marked the area that I want to cut. I did it based on what I think would keep the structural intergrity of the box. Once I'm done marking it, I took my dremel tool to it and thats it. I basically cut the back side and the corner or the front side.

I dont know if it'll dyno more power but according to my butt, its a lot more responsive and gave it more power too...I think

[C & A s Dad]

Are these new inlets pulling in cool air from the fender or are they open to the engine compartment? If you have opened it up to the engine compartment you will be pulling in more air but it will not be "cold" as with a Cold Air Intake CAI system.

[VMax2007]

Hate to say it. But you just butchered your stock CAI and turned into a "HAI". I also seriously doubt you increased airflow since the box is not the bottleneck in the system. My guess is the increased power you feel is the Placebo effect.

 

Oh well, I am sure there are plenty of stock replacemants out there from people who replaced theirs with an aftermarket or GMPP one that would be willing to sell you theirs. I am keeping my stock one for resale purposes since not all people like them.

 

May I ask how you can justify not spending $200-$300 on a CAI after spending $40K on a truck? Just curious.

[VTSierra]

Hate to say it. But you just butchered your stock CAI and turned into a "HAI".

 

Thats exactly true. By cutting the holes in the airbox, you are now pulling air from the engine compartment. Doing this is actually going to give you less power. The hotter the air, the less dense it is, which means less oxygen. less oxygen means less giddy-up.

[Draenor]

ouch!! As much as I hate K&N, I would of bought their kit than do this.

[Bostonsfavson]

I admire you for trying to save money and tackling it yourself, but unfortunately the above comments are true. At this point you may want to consider pulling the trigger and ordering a new intake.

[keoni1978]

dont really care about the money, I was just bored so decided to give it a try. I can always go out and buy one.

 

My question is, after market kit is still inside the engine compartment so how is it pulling in cold air? for example, the K&N kit. Its got 2 walls holding up an airfilter .

[VMax2007]

dont really care about the money, I was just bored so decided to give it a try. I can always go out and buy one.

 

My question is, after market kit is still inside the engine compartment so how is it pulling in cold air? for example, the K&N kit. Its got 2 walls holding up an airfilter .

 

That's not what you want either. Most (including the GMPP CAI) have the enclosed box, just like stock, that draw air through the fender. "CAI" is not really the proper term since the stock airbox technically is a CAI, but the aftermarket ones provide better flow by minimizing friction and losing the sound bladders.

[Ghost3B]

The Filter goes in the fender wall...not the engine compartment. That's why there's only 2 walls.

[topdj]

you just hacked up a 08 sierra denali :0

have done any other mods?

[keoni1978]

The Filter goes in the fender wall...not the engine compartment. That's why there's only 2 walls.

 

That makes a lot more sense to me. I guess it's time for a new kit

 

 

you just hacked up a 08 sierra denali :0

have done any other mods?

 

just lights but didnt hack anything. As long as its replaceable I'll hack it.

[keoni1978]

dont really care about the money, I was just bored so decided to give it a try. I can always go out and buy one.

 

My question is, after market kit is still inside the engine compartment so how is it pulling in cold air? for example, the K&N kit. Its got 2 walls holding up an airfilter .

 

That's not what you want either. Most (including the GMPP CAI) have the enclosed box, just like stock, that draw air through the fender. "CAI" is not really the proper term since the stock airbox technically is a CAI, but the aftermarket ones provide better flow by minimizing friction and losing the sound bladders.

 

 

thanks for the quick lesson. I better find a replacement fast

[Bostonsfavson]

I've got the K&N kit on my '07 Sierra Denali and it installed and works quite well. The picture doesn't show it, but there's a lid for the top which seals the system from the warmer engine compartment air. It even comes with rubber strips so you can get a better seal.

[FREAKENHYE]

I've got the K&N kit on my '07 Sierra Denali and it installed and works quite well. The picture doesn't show it, but there's a lid for the top which seals the system from the warmer engine compartment air. It even comes with rubber strips so you can get a better seal.

 

 

Yup. I agree with boston, I have the 63 series. Its Dynoed at 17rwhp on there site, and blieve me it makes a difference.

[C & A s Dad]

The Filter goes in the fender wall...not the engine compartment. That's why there's only 2 walls.

 

If you are speaking about the K & N system, the filter is in the engine copartment and not in the fender well. The metal walls do isolate the filter somewhat but certainly do not seal out all of the hot air.

 

I know of no "CAI" system that has the filter " in the fender well". However, the OE box and a few aftermarket kits do pull their air from the fender well.