CAI, experiement

[Redtruck-VA]

This morning I left out of the house when it was still cool. Man, Red was jumping, she really likes the cool air. I have a K&N -77 CAI with a cone air filter located over next to the fender. I also have the IAT mod telling the PCM the inlet air is 10 degrees cooler than it actually is. Later in the day I dialed up ambient temp and IAT temps to compare them. Ambient temp was 81 and inlet was 79, that is hardly 10 degrees. Anyway this got me thinking maybe I should try to actually make the inlet temperature lower. Stop by Lowe's and picked up a roll of silver covered insulation and some HVAC tape. Wraped the K&N chrome tube and double the insulation thickness on the bottom. Tested it and got Ambient temp of 80 and inlet temp of 69 degrees. Engine feels great, Did two launches. My usual routine is, turn off the OD and put the lever in 2nd. Touch the brake and roll down on it in a smooth motion letting off the brake just off idle. She spun hard and shifted, which isn't normal. Launched a second time and held the lever in 1st and manually shifted and she move out nicely. Side note, upgraded my valve spring tool with a grade 8 bolt, went by the dealership and of course they didn't have any keepers in stock.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/945/img2011042900022.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/img2011042900022.jpg/)

[Onk]

is your intake tube metal or plastic?

[Redtruck-VA]

Kevin, the K7N-77 kit uses a chrome metal tube with obviously soaks up a lot of engine heat. Do I need to mention the insulation is really shiny.
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/323/img2011042900023.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img2011042900023.jpg/)

[Onk]

if you wanna knock down a few degrees of engine heat, see if you can locate a composite/plastic intake....

[Redtruck-VA]

This is holding the temperature at ambient level so I think it's good. Now I just need to find out how durable it is.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3001/img2011042900025.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/img2011042900025.jpg/)

[SmokedRam]

I wonder if header wrap would result in the same findings....

[Redtruck-VA]

I wonder if header wrap would result in the same findings....

Adam, this is a bit cheaper and the wrap doesn't have the same insulation qualities. But on the other hand the wrap is very durable. I have exhaust wrap on one of my motorcycles and it really knocks the heat down. If you already had the wrap I would try it, but if i had to go out and buy it I would try this first.

[SmokedRam]

Actually on my 318 I am running a 14x3 with a K&N element...when Patrick made it (whom I bought it from) he sprayed the base real good with heat resistant paint. I cannot attest for the actual temp inlet differences in the intake though, but judging by my butt dyno, it does make a good bit of difference in throttle response. However, I believe that is more of a result of the increased amount of air flow the 14x3 generates, rather than the air temp.

[Redtruck-VA]

It is really impossible to know without having some sort of gauage to monitor. I think I'll even try insulating the air box.

[Redtruck-VA]

Got the air box done more to just finish up the insulation theme then to actually reduce the temperature.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2219/img2011050200057.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/img2011050200057.jpg/)

[Silverbullet08]

u could also make your own heat shield/box, cut a circle out the side for a tube and fab your own vararam for it.

[Redtruck-VA]

Nick, you are right there is a nice path that a 4" flex hose could be wiggled down to some really fresh air.