Drivetrain Replaced HAI with Alta CAI
#1
03-16-2009 | 07:58 PM
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6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas
Replaced HAI with Alta CAI
Soon after purchase I (well, a club mate) stripped out the airbox and stuck a K&N filter right on the airbox. Since I did it the same time I put on a 15% pulley, the difference was startling but how much was due to the HAI was unknown.
This weekend the same bud helped install the Alta v2 CAI. Wow, big improvement!
The surprise was how loud the supercharger is. It's common knowledge that it's louder than stock, but given that the HAI was basically straight open at the throttle body and was also very loud, I didn't expect much difference. Boy was I surprised. All I can think of is that the filter is inside the wall now.
Love it, especially since Alta lowered the price $100 and was running a 10% off coupon.
Time for a tune!
This weekend the same bud helped install the Alta v2 CAI. Wow, big improvement!
The surprise was how loud the supercharger is. It's common knowledge that it's louder than stock, but given that the HAI was basically straight open at the throttle body and was also very loud, I didn't expect much difference. Boy was I surprised. All I can think of is that the filter is inside the wall now.
Love it, especially since Alta lowered the price $100 and was running a 10% off coupon.
Time for a tune!
#5
03-16-2009 | 10:55 PM
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
#6
03-17-2009 | 09:59 AM
My little dose of LITHIUM
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
The JCW and Dinan have one thing in common: they are made with a composite (plastic) material. All other CAIs use metal (steel or stainless steel).
Some people believe the steel units heat up (heat soak) and therefore contribute to higher IATs.
My experience and testing suggest that the airbox makes little contribution to rising IATs under normal or high load conditions. So long as you have a nice source of fresh ambient air (front scoop, cowl opening), so long as you don't have hot air entering (seal the air box from engine bay air), and so long as you have a free flowing filter -- clean it often --, then you are doing about all you need to do.
IATs rise because of two things: compression in the SC - which is pretty unavoidable as that's what superchargers do - and heating of intake path components - IC horns, IC, intake manifold. Once the components are hot it doesn't matter what filter you're using...
Bottom line: make a choice of CAI from the list of common alternatives, make sure it's working well, and then fuggedaboudit.
Some people believe the steel units heat up (heat soak) and therefore contribute to higher IATs.
My experience and testing suggest that the airbox makes little contribution to rising IATs under normal or high load conditions. So long as you have a nice source of fresh ambient air (front scoop, cowl opening), so long as you don't have hot air entering (seal the air box from engine bay air), and so long as you have a free flowing filter -- clean it often --, then you are doing about all you need to do.
IATs rise because of two things: compression in the SC - which is pretty unavoidable as that's what superchargers do - and heating of intake path components - IC horns, IC, intake manifold. Once the components are hot it doesn't matter what filter you're using...
Bottom line: make a choice of CAI from the list of common alternatives, make sure it's working well, and then fuggedaboudit.
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