ponykiller92

I made a CAI for my 92 rs with TBI





Up top is where I feel a huge difference. I am using the round filter not the TPI filters. All it took was some flexi dryer duct, a TPI snorkal and airbox, and a dremel.

90RS305: Another good thread with a slightly different setup - https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=314704

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

Hey that looks great. The modified TPI intake is the way to go to achieve a true CAI for TBI.

FreeLoader

this is probably gonna sound horrible and annoying and stupid and other things, but I've never been one to to let that kind of thing stop me...

...any chance you could give me a DETAILED description of what you did?

...what I really want to know is:

1. what year of camaro did you get the tpi duct and air box off of? it looks one of the SD ones...

2. where did you get the duct, how long and how much did it cost? was it actually called flexi-duct?

3. how far from the air cleaner base did you dremel off? I'm assuming about an inch...

this is probably the dumbest and most generalized one...

4. is it in any way hard to pull off the plastic piece on our cars and pop in the air box, or does it just drop in?

thanks..and sorry...

FreeLoader

btw if you haven't seen this yet, you may want to.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=215638

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

hey freeloader, here are you answers to you questions.

1. It came off an 86 with maf.

2. I got the ducting at Lowes, but any hardware store should have it. Just ask them for some flexable aluminum ducting. It costed me about 7 bucks for each piece, had to buy 2 of them. A 5" diamter and a 3" diameter (those are approx.)

3. Yes, the snorkal of the base is only left with a a half to 3/4 of an inch. Just enough for the hose clamp to be able to grip it.

4. No, it isnt hard. Mine was held on by a few bolts. I just unbolted them and drop the TPI airbox in place, no mod required.

FreeLoader

thank ya much, one more question though, why'd you have to get two different sets of ducting? first one didn't fit?

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

well, I only got one at first, but the smaller diameter wouldnt fit the TPI snorkal or the AF base, so I had to go bigger.

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

the smaller ducting went beind the fog lights, the larger on the snorkal and base.

ThraxXx

The only issue I could see from that setup is that the hose is ribbed causing unwanted restriction however the pure cold air should provide an overwhelming boost over the stock and open air element setup. I think I may attempt something similar to that on my bird.

FreeLoader

another route to go with the ducting could be to get the hose from a 91-92 tpi, it wasn't ribbed, and there's a good chance that it'd fit.

FreeLoader

...but since that's half decently rare in junkyards, I'll just go for the ribbed ducting until I find what I come across something better.

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

The ribbed ducting was th only thing that I could think of that would allow enough flexing for when the engine rocks under hard acceleration. I will eventually build some smooth ram air boxes for behind the fog lights. This will look better and be smooth inside, plus a little larger. I also plan on builing a TB box that sits on the TB so instead of using the large round filter base, I can use the TPI filtes. Still having trouble figuing what I can use for the snorkal to the TB that is 1, cheap, 2, readily available, and 3, flexable enough to withstand any kind of engine rock that takes place.

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

One thing that I noticed, is that when the duct is fully compressed, though it isnt like glass, it is relatively smoot. THe poblem comes when you stretch the duct out, it can become ver jagged on the inside.

FreeLoader

so if you used ducting that's much longer then needed, and compressed it, you might have less "ribbing" so to speak?

90RS305

From the looks of it, you really don't have that much ribbing on your current setup in the first place. Secondly, having the tubing conpressed, whereas it WOULD creat a smaller place for the air to become turbulent, would create a DEEPER place for the air to become turbulent, IIO putting you right where you left off. The way I look at it, the stock forms of both TPI and TBI have ribs on the intakes and they don't seem to hurt all that much, you should be fine...

Bruce (90RS305)

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

When I look at the stock stuff, The ducting I used is actaully alot smoother than stock. Going to the track tomorrow, will see if it makes a difference.

Akshay

I found a long flex hose at a junkyard and routed my snorkel underneath the bumper. I also noticed more midrange power.

But I'd like to setup a tpi-style intake like yours before winter comes around. NICE.

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

I really like the set-up. Gonna se if it nets me anything at the track this week.

FreeLoader

ok I went to the junkyard again today and FINALLY found the tpi intake setup and bought it (17 bucks for top and bottom, woohoo)

ok, I know you dremeled the neck off of the circular air box, and I know you got a breather and got rid of the pcv pipe thing, but did you run into any other problems when moving the air box?

what about the rubber hose on the bottom, did you just plug that, what about the wire, did it move okay?

thx

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

The sensor that is in the housing has a long enough wire for it to move. my thermac thing or whater was never connected anyway. The other vac hose that went to the TB unit, i just got a longer piece of hose.

If you havn't already get rid of your air silencer ring on the housing. It is just tack welded. This set-up was very easy to do. Just dremel off the two little tabs and the housing will rotate with ease. I am gonna get some pics and make a a how to on it.

IROCtheRoad

I really like that setup; nice work! I just bought the upper and lower parts from a TPI air-intake plus all the bolts for $20 and bolted it right up. I have an open air element with air coming from the side scoop and now up front like yours. Works really well, especially at higher speeds. But again, good job!

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

When people get there modified TPi set-ups done they can submit a tech article to me that I can add to the stickys or make it a new one.

FreeLoader

that would be nice, it would be great to finally have a detailed article on how to make a friggin cold air intake for our cars...

...hopefully someone can include a detailed article on how to open up the bottom half of these boxes so some real air can flow in...

...I dunno, I know with a little imagination and ingenuity it'd be relatively easy to do, but I personally like to get the details from people who have stuff that works, as well as clear pics of them that I can base my results off of.

sadly, I don't have a camera to work with...

90RS305

Lets add it to one of the existing ones. Its gettin' perdy cluttered up there again...

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

Give me a couple weeks. I got to get some stock pieces to take pics of, then I will right up the tech article.

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

well, with the CAI and he cat removed, I gained about a half second, as well as another 2 mph. I shoud be mid-high 15's with my mph at 85.

90RS305

Half a second sure as heck ain't bad for the money you put into it! I'd probly do that setup myself if it wasn't for the fact I like the way an open element looks better

Bruce (90RS305)

ponykiller1992

iTrader: (1)

I know what you mean. I think after I finally get my air housing fo the TB it will look alot better.

cloudmaster

Any particular reason you couldn't use some of the steel/aluminum HVAC ducting (painted to match the car, of course) with just a little piece of dryer duct (or one of those rubber junction pieces for sewer pipe - that might look fancier) to allow some flex right at the junctions?

Heck, you might be able to find some diesel exhaust pipe at the junk yard, cut it up and weld it back together so it'll take the right path, and have an intake that looks like those expensive tubular CAI's that the ricers (and people with modern cars) run.

FreeLoader

so I FINALLY got an extra snorkel to chop up for my CAI, and I have a few more questions...

1. how'd you move the snorkel to the middle, I mean I know you can do it, but mine rocks back and forth a bit, does yours do that too?

2. did you move the ring thing at all?

3. there's something on the inside of this extra intake thing that looks like a mini gold air filter...what is it? mine never had one...

thx.

REVLIMIT

Just wanted to let you guys know that the one intake made for TBI trucks. The one with the chrome air bonnet will fit under the hood. You can find them on ebay for like $29. Sadly it doesnt fit under my hood though since I have a carb now and a higher intake manifold. But hell even so its only about .75" to tall. Just need to raise the back of the hood a little.

FreeLoader

I knew about the cold air intake, but I prefer the ram air style that this guy did.

I like the way it looks, and personally(not that I want to start an argument) I think the ram air design will get you more air overall.

REVLIMIT

yea I'd agree that his setup might be able to grab more air then mines. The problem for me though was I have the 3 point Edelbrock STB. After you put one of those a box like the one he has is out of the question. Theres just no space anymore since theres only like an inch between the filter and the STB of a 14x3. Unless ofcourse you'd want to crush down and flatten the ducting...which woudl then lower air intake.

FreeLoader

theoretically, a tpi strut tower brace should be "compatible" with that setup.

of course this would be assuming that you haven't already bought the tbi one, so you're out of luck, heh.

3rdgenstm

When I get around to it, this is what I am going to adapt to a 87TPI snorkel and a donor tbi base.

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...55&prmenbr=361

FreeLoader

I just want everyone to know that I went ahead and bought speed-density tpi ducting and it wasn't long enough to connect to my base, I cut the arm too short.

my suggestion, if you can come across one of those then cut your arm around 3-4 inches from the base, then it should connect.

otherwise, that truck duct seems to be the best second option.

p.s. I tried some of the ducting at autozone/advance auto, and I dont suggest it, the ducting is cheap and flimsy, mine ending up bowing down after the engine heated up for the first time and was only about 1/4" above my belt.

so, ya, I wouldn't suggest that.

that all being said, I've gotten a base, cut the arm, gotten a tpi cleaner setup, and gotten various hoses and made a ram air setup, and I'd just like everyone to know that not only has it more than noticably improved overall speed and power, but my car idles smoother, I somehow managed a 3mpg gain(actually from around 15 to 19.2, but I'm going with "results not typical") which in these pricey times I couldn't be more thankful for. It seriously seems like I have a whole new car on my hands, it's very odd, to be quite honest.

this setup should really be looked into more throroughly, there's real potential here.

at some point I'll go to the track and see if there's any gains, when that happens I'll post 'em.

Gallileo60

Mine is identical... Made it about 5 years ago...Works great...Looks cool too....Am thinking of putting an Extreme flow lid ion it for even beter flow, plus cold air....Tom

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

back from the dead. anyone know if the v6 dual filter setup is the same as the v8? meaning airflow characteristics and all.

d00012

I believe it is. Sucks you can't really do this to the Firebird without some fabrication...and possible structural loss...Oh well, I like my open-element look.

Jason E

I gotta say, this looks like a REALLY good idea for overcoming the heat soak issues of an open element. Maybe I'll experiment with mine a little...