school me please... what's the diff between short ram and CAI? why would one get one vs. the other?

thanks

hg

 

because the CAI feeds colder air to the engine than the short ram. The colder air is supposed to add more HP.

 

The cold air intake takes a little more to install... you have to take the whole air silencer assembly out of the fender well... but it does add a little extra kick. The short ram is basically a short piece of aluminum pipe that replaces the stock air intake pipe and the filter sits up inside the engine compartment where the stock air box once was... you get a little less hp, and it might drop your gas mileage a tad, but they are cheaper and easier to install... best advice, if you are getting an intake... just go for the cold air...

 

Speaking of which...Does Injen make a CAI that fits our cars?

Or is AEM better? Just curious cause I like the way the chrome Injens look.

 

all intakes with the same bend and diameter are the exact same thing. they are a pipe. thats it. the filter has more of an impact on the performance among 2 different brands with the same bend and the same diameter.

cai's are not always better than short rams. for example, some cai applications need to be so long to relocate the filter that they lose the pressure buildup within the intake that a short ram, even though inhaling warmer air, is more efficient and will provide a higher hp gain because the affect of the higher pressure is greater the affect of the cooler air. 2 companies that have done dynos on all applications are aem and arospeed. we carry both and can tell you which application is better for which car. ie, 95-97 jettas gain more hp from a short ram. first gen cl's gain more from the cai.

 

Umm, here are some thoughts on the short ram vs. cold air intake:

Short Ram:

1) Much easier to install, you can easily do it in like 15 minutes or so.
2) Cheaper
3) Still get to hear the engine growl in the VTEC range
4) Don't have to worry so much about the filter getting dirty and the car's engine hydrolocking because of water

but... they do give you less HP gains than with a CAI.

CAI:

The CAI has 2 main advantages, and they are that you get more top end power and more of a HP increase... BUT...

1) Have to clean the air filter more often
2) Harder to install
3) Cost more money
4) Have to worry about hydrolocking
5) Probably will need a bypass valve

So the choice is yours, if you want all out performance, go for the CAI, if you want worry free operation, while gaining a few HPs, and have an amazing sound, go for the short ram.

 

that's all good and great.. but remember that you will get more pressure loss with the longer CAI tube versus the short ram. the intakes also have the whistling sound.
getting colder air is good...... but pressure loss isnt, and hydrolock is not good either.

brand doesnt matter.

 

Also, as soon as you get moving, there is no difference in intake air temps with a short ram compared to a CAI. It's just when the car is sitting idle with no fresh air coming through the grille does the motor start to inhale heated air from the motor.

So, just drop the clutch... there's more than enough power to break the wheels loose, and by the time you hook up, nice cold air should be coming into the engine bay.

 

u guys are da best! ^^



hg

 

AEM has recently come out with the chrome pipe. It's a tad more expensive but it looks really nice.