here's my full Home Depot CAI instructions and material list

[jello_17602]

Due to a few posts on what materials to use. Here's what I used. Since the instructions I posted were on prior p-talk versions, that aren't available anymore to my knowledge.

1 - 3" Fernco coupling $8.00 at Home Depot
3-4' - 3" PVC pipe $10.00 per 10' piece
1 - 3" PVC 90' $3.00 at HD
1 - K&N Cone air filter(#3130 I believe. I'll check my box)
or any cone filter from Pep bys etc that fits on 3" PVC.($37.99 special order at Advanced auto parts)
1 - can PVC glue
1 - can spray paint(your color choice)

Post here any other questions. I'll try and answer them.

[TonyS PGT]

ok now what r the insturctions

[DaMacDaddy]

Hey, i've read that using alluminum piping with a few clear coats would be better than using PVC. Obvioulsy your using pvc, so what would your opinion be about using alluminum with the same dimensions?

[TonyS PGT]

will this fit an atx?

[Triped]

Originally posted by DaMacDaddy
Hey, i've read that using alluminum piping with a few clear coats would be better than using PVC. Obvioulsy your using pvc, so what would your opinion be about using alluminum with the same dimensions?

Aluminum will heat up faster, making your cold air intake a warm air intake.

[jsm_42]

Will this work for an ATX????

[Serric]

Will this work for an ATX????

Should :shrug:

[jello_17602]

I originally made this set-up for my 2nd gen Probe base ATX. The current 2nd gen Probe GT MTX is my second set-up. I'd be surprised if it doesn't fit.

As for some instructions. I'd have to check on lengths of the pipe.
But the home made version starts at the Air Sensor. In order from there it's 1)Fernco coupling, 2)PVC pipe(12"?), 3)PVC 90', 4)PVC Pipe(12"?),5) Air Filter.

[Brian Berryhill]

..Total of 3 pieces: rubber tube, pvc, and filter.

My Custom Intake Page (http://www.angelfire.com/ms/brianberryhill/pgt/intake.html)

Not as good as a Hotshot, but safer.

Not as good as a true cold air intake, but easier to make.

[brian2305]

slimm420 and I have a intake design that I've yet to see. thanks shawn for the great design. IM or send me your e-mail for pics. by the way there is no gluing of pipes on slimms intake design. and the bend is a very smooth gradual 90 deg.

[Brian Berryhill]

I've seen Brian's intake pictures and they look nice. The next time I change my intake up, I'll probably look for a similar setup.

Does anyone know where Darin's and Brian Young's intake pages are in cyberspace? My old links to their pages don't work anymore.

[SlimmGT]

I've been asked to supply pics and instructions on how to do the Home Depot Intake Brian described above. (It's Shawn, not Sean, btw :P) So, I have made an addition to my website, with pics of the setup. I'll take more pics of the CAI setup out of the car, soon as I take it out this week. It's a very simple 1 piece intake that requires no glue, and installs and uninstalls very easily. I feel the need to credit Quadcam_GT (Florida Mike), for he is the one who showed us in FlaPOC how to make and install them.

Parts: cost no more than $20 altogether+ filter ($25-55)

(1 or 2) 3" rubber couplings (# depends on the filter you use)
(1) 3" wide (gray) electrical (not the white water) PVC pipe, in a curved 90 degree angle and approx 2' long (one end should be flared) (home depot sold this exact piece, and still should)
(3 or 4) metal adjustable tightening ring clamps (# depends on how many couplings and what filter is used)
(1) cone filter of your choice. (APC, K&N, etc.) (just make sure it'll fit)
(1) can of hi-temp spray paint (optional, but it sure as hell makes the intake look alot nicer)

Directions:
Remove old intake scoop and airbox. Tuck away the vacuum hoses neatly somehow. Paint the piping first and let dry, should you decide to paint it. Connect the filter to pvc pipe. This can be done a couple of different ways. If the filter uses a rubber coupling (APC), then slide that over the pvc pipe enough to be able to clamp it down tight. If the filter uses a hard plastic coupling, a 3" rubber coupling will have to be used to connect the two together using 2 ring clamps (1 for the pipe and 1 for the filter). *WARNING* Using a rubber coupling to attach a filter that has a rubber coupling such as APC, you run the extreme risk of losing the filter and RUNNING IT OVER! Yes, I know this from experience... :( I had the flat-as-a-pancake cone filter to prove it. The rubber on rubber connection will give way and slip, from the vibrations of driving. Now, using the other 3" rubber coupling, connect one end of it to the flared side of the piping and the other end directly to the VAF, using 2 ring clamps. Voila! Yer done. Make sure everything is secure, and test. The sound is awesome, and there is a noticeable performance gain. :spin:

*NOTE* This setup works on every 2nd gen, even SE and ATX. MTX's are the easiest to set up, due to more space to work with. With the GT ATX setup like mine (least space), cutting of the splash guard might be neccessary to allow room for the filter (see pics). Be careful in rain, and around puddles. I'm not responsible if you suck water up into yer engine! No one I know with this setup has done so yet, in the rainy state of FL. Hopefully I'm not leaving anything out. I've tried to be as detailed as possible. I will try to answer any questions, if there are any. Good luck. :tup:

Here are the pics. (http://www.slimm.netfirms.com/cai.htm)

[The Wraith]

brovo.

[Brian Berryhill]

Nice.

[jello_17602]

Originally posted by Brian Berryhill
I've seen Brian's intake pictures and they look nice. The next time I change my intake up, I'll probably look for a similar setup.

Does anyone know where Darin's and Brian Young's intake pages are in cyberspace? My old links to their pages don't work anymore.

Brian, I don't believe Darin's page is around anymore. He PMed me back in around 2000 with the K&N Part number for the filter. But he never mentioned he also had a page on it. So I'd assume it's gone.

BTW Slimm, Nice write-up.:tup:

[Fastest95PGT]

I don't get why people don't use two 45 degree street elbows (well, 1 45 street and 1 standard for this setup). :shrug:

I used 2 45's since it's a more gradual turn for my HD CAI. Worked well.

[jsm_42]

I was wondering if I bought the right piece to make this CAI for my 94 Probe GT ATX. Heres a pic of the piece that I bought. http://www.geocities.com/spl_probe/Mvc-020f.jpg
So is this the right piece?
Thanks,
Jsm_42

[jsm_42]

Originally posted by jsm_42
I was wondering if I bought the right piece to make this CAI for my 94 Probe GT ATX. Heres a pic of the piece that I bought. http://www.geocities.com/spl_probe/Mvc-020f.jpg
So is this the right piece?
Thanks,
Jsm_42

For the link to work, You will have to copy it and paste it into a new window.

[Fastest95PGT]

Originally posted by jsm_42
I was wondering if I bought the right piece to make this CAI for my 94 Probe GT ATX. Heres a pic of the piece that I bought. http://www.geocities.com/spl_probe/Mvc-020f.jpg
So is this the right piece?
Thanks,
Jsm_42
What the heck is that?

[SlimmGT]

Originally posted by jsm_42
I was wondering if I bought the right piece to make this CAI for my 94 Probe GT ATX. Heres a pic of the piece that I bought. http://www.geocities.com/spl_probe/Mvc-020f.jpg
So is this the right piece?
Thanks,
Jsm_42

It's close, but not exact. I think mine is slightly shorter, and has one end flared. It should work though by the looks of it. Just make sure it fits in there right. On the V6 atx, there is very little room between the fans and the front of the tranny. There is also a radiator hose that tends to get in the way. I'll try to get pics of my piping soon.

[gt-fad]

ok well i really want to make myself a hd cai but i am so incredibly nervous about sucking any amount of water into my engine, i don't have money to tear it down and rebuild it yet, ntm here in detroit the pothole puddles are deadly. is there anyway to prevent the water from getting up into the engine if so could someone post pics or a description i will be working on a way to prevent water without reducing the... sucking power? of the intake. thanx!!!

[Fastest95PGT]

Originally posted by gt-fad
ok well i really want to make myself a hd cai but i am so incredibly nervous about sucking any amount of water into my engine, i don't have money to tear it down and rebuild it yet, ntm here in detroit the pothole puddles are deadly. is there anyway to prevent the water from getting up into the engine if so could someone post pics or a description i will be working on a way to prevent water without reducing the... sucking power? of the intake. thanx!!!
My suggestion is to not have it hang down past your splash guard. And be specially careful during heavy rainstorms.

I know that all puddles are impossible to avoid, but whenever I hit a large one, I immediately push the clutch in and take my foot off the gas... the slower the engine is going, the less air it is sucking in.

I would not be too woried though no matter what if I were you... I know people have seized their engine from puddles, but they must have been pretty damn deep or had their CAI lower than safe. If you think about it, water is heavy and even if you were to submerge half the cone filter, it'd take quite a bit of sucking power to suck water up the 15 - 18 inches (estimated upwards) that it would need to go to get into the engine.

[gt-fad]

wouldn't keeping it protected by the splash guard sorta screw it from gettin the largest amount of cold air??? i'd be much happier with a few less horsies and safe engine for sure but my question remains more or less cold air when protected by the splash guard?

[SlimmGT]

Originally posted by gt-fad
ok well i really want to make myself a hd cai but i am so incredibly nervous about sucking any amount of water into my engine, i don't have money to tear it down and rebuild it yet, ntm here in detroit the pothole puddles are deadly. is there anyway to prevent the water from getting up into the engine if so could someone post pics or a description i will be working on a way to prevent water without reducing the... sucking power? of the intake. thanx!!!

Solution #1. Keep your cone filter above the splash guard and refrain from cutting away the splash guard. (This is nearly impossible with a GT-atx)

Solution #2. AEM Bypass valve. This is what I'm talking about. (http://www.import-performance-parts.com/AEM-Bypass-Valve.htm) You can buy them a number of places, I believe, and have been proven to work.

Solution #3. Stop being nervous. :P

[Brian Berryhill]

Fastest gave a good reply.

To keep the intake from sucking as much, you just close the throttle. Ever put your hand over the stock airbox hole while the engine is at idle? The engine dies. I don't think the engine at idle has enough suction to get any worrisome amount of water into the engine. This is just a theory, and I hope I never disprove it.

My intake positions the filter against the splashguard, but not below it. I have only heard of water ingestions with the Hotshot intake, which positions the filter below the splashguard. I have heard of people running over roadkill and knocking the filter off. At my first autocross at the Gran Speedway Shootout organized by Bryan Pendleton and Brad Davenport, it rained during the morning and there were PGT's with Hotshot intakes that had water dripping out of the filter. I love these pictures:

http://www.angelfire.com/ms/brianberryhill/pgt/houston.html

[jello_17602]

If this helps your nervousness.
You'll be fine assuming the filter stays above the splashguard. I've went through 4" puddles on roads and never had problems. I've had it on my PGT for like 1.5 years. And on my prior 93 base for another 1.5 years before that. Without any problems.

I've also got a second one that sits like 2" off the ground, that I put on when at the dragstrip for more Cold Air.

[GTdrver94]

I'm gonna try to make this home depot intake tomarrow. So I need a pvc pipe with a 90 degree bend and a few more to attach to the bend that go down to the bottom of my engine bay where i place the cone filter And I need to glue the pvc pipes together right?

[GTdrver94]

Ok I made the home depot intake i love how it sounds this thread helped out a lot:D :tup:

[GTdrver94]

Heres pic of my intake its a bit different looking then others cause it goes to the side :???: but it still gets very cold air.:tup:

if you look you can see the filter.
http://images.cardomain.com/installs/296000-296999/296617_12_full.jpg


http://images.cardomain.com/installs/296000-296999/296617_13_full.jpg



http://images.cardomain.com/installs/296000-296999/296617_14_full.jpg

[SlimmGT]

I can't really see anything in those pics. Too dark or something...

[GTdrver94]

yeah i noticed that.. i am gonna take new pics tomarrow but until then i circled my filter on 1 of the pics here ya go http://images.cardomain.com/installs/296000-296999/296617_15_full.jpg

[beaster_d]

How do you mount the CAI onto the car? If you don't, doesn't it put to much strain on the VAF elbow?

[Fastest95PGT]

Originally posted by beaster_d
How do you mount the CAI onto the car? If you don't, doesn't it put to much strain on the VAF elbow?
The way that mine fits in, it has two things supporting it.

First, the filter sits on the splash guard, so that takes off a good portion of any strain there might be.

Second, there are these little metal lines that run around my pipe... I have no idea what they are for, but since there's not much strain left, it hasn't broken them yet. :D

GTdriver94's is too low, IMO, to feel safe driving through anything but small puddles with. Same style as the Hotshot which is why those are typically the only CAI's you hear people getting hydrolock with. :shrug:

I am thinking about redesigning mine to make a 90 degree turn at the bottom so it sticks to the side instead of straight down. But that'd probably cause more air resistance than the marginally colder air would compensate for. :roll:

[GTdrver94]

I don't really think it puts to much strain on the sensor... Just clamp everything down really good....:shrug: And yeah I do think my intake is a bit to low... I'm gonna move my filter up more on the tube first thing tomarrrow. I had to drive home from work tonight in the rain and to be honest I was worried some lol

EDIT: A thought just came to me.. Since I am gonna move my cone filter up on the tube more would that in anyway affect how the cone filter works? Cause I am moving the tube up inside the cone closer to the end of the cone.

[SlimmGT]

If you are worried about airflow, you could simply cut and shorten the piping, instead of moving up the filter.

[Fastest95PGT]

Originally posted by SlimmGT
If you are worried about airflow, you could simply cut and shorten the piping, instead of moving up the filter.
Yeah, it's debatable... I used 3 inch ABS piping and since I'm NA, I don't think that air flow is a big issue.

I do think that pulling air from down towards the splash guards is definitely better than having a typical K&N FIPK setup where the filter sits right infront of the MAF/VAF just under the hood next to the engine.

There is no air circulation in the area of the FIPK setup. I know the splashguard blocks the direct air flow of my setup, but indirectly, it will get moved around some by the air wooshing by below.

btw, you can bend up some brackets for the MAF/VAF to mount to the stock airbox bolts out of some sheet metal if you feel the need, it wouldn't be very tough since the bolts / nuts (I forget which is welded to the car) are removable from the stock airbox for you to re-use.

[SlimmGT]

Not sure if you misunderstood, or are agreeing with me... but I meant shorten it by just a few inches, so the filter doesnt sit so low, not make it into a HAI. I think my filter sits only about an inch or 2 higher than that. Also as far as mounting and supporting the CAI, as was mentioned... my setup needed no such support. The tight space between the fans and the tranny was more than enough support. That CAI is never going anywhere.

[GTdrver94]

Ok I took new pics today and I moved my cone filter up about an inch and a half to 2 inches. I feel much safer driving it now but still if i go over puddles i have my clutch pressed in. In the first pic its very bright but you can see the filter really good.

http://carscruisinamerica.tripod.com/intake.html

[TJ-MX6]

Some good shots there of your intake. Similar to mine - (check my sig below)- and for support, I used the orig 'studs' where the orig airbox was attached and bent a couple of metal brackets to make the angles to reach the VAF. 1 on each side, using the left rear and right side studs. Then I made another bracket for the left front stud to support the down pipe and clamped it to the bracket with another radiator clamp. This cai doesnt move At All. Down pipe is extended to about 1.5" above the top side of the undercarriage. No problems with water.

[Brian Berryhill]

Originally posted by GTdrver94
I don't really think it puts to much strain on the sensor... Just clamp everything down really good....:shrug: And yeah I do think my intake is a bit to low... I'm gonna move my filter up more on the tube first thing tomarrrow. I had to drive home from work tonight in the rain and to be honest I was worried some lol

EDIT: A thought just came to me.. Since I am gonna move my cone filter up on the tube more would that in anyway affect how the cone filter works? Cause I am moving the tube up inside the cone closer to the end of the cone.

I think not having VAF support brackets would put the strain on the rubber elbow between VAF and TB. You don't want that to crack, because you'll get a vacuum leak and a rough idle.

Moving the filter up without shortening the tube will make the airflow not as optimal. But, having it below the splashguard would be good for controlled situations like racing where that extra 1 hp might help.

[SlimmGT]

Originally posted by GTdrver94
Ok I took new pics today and I moved my cone filter up about an inch and a half to 2 inches. I feel much safer driving it now but still if i go over puddles i have my clutch pressed in. In the first pic its very bright but you can see the filter really good.

http://carscruisinamerica.tripod.com/intake.html

Those pics look quite familiar! :D With the better light, I can see yer intake looks pretty much identical (even in color) to mine, not to mention I have a white GT, too. :tup:

[GTdrver94]

Hell yeah white pgts own all! And BTW i love your tan interior man:bow: :ohyeah:

[SlimmGT]

Originally posted by GTdrver94
Hell yeah white pgts own all! And BTW i love your tan interior man:bow: :ohyeah:

Thank you. Much thought, time, and effort went into it. I love the tan leather, too. :ohyeah:

[Fastest95PGT]

Originally posted by SlimmGT
Thank you. Much thought, time, and effort went into it. I love the tan leather, too. :ohyeah:
But wtf is up with the black dash? That just completely throws it off, IMO... just screws up with the doors since it doesn't taper off or anything with such an abstract color. :shrug:

[SlimmGT]

Originally posted by Fastest95PGT
But wtf is up with the black dash? That just completely throws it off, IMO... just screws up with the doors since it doesn't taper off or anything with such an abstract color. :shrug:

I kinda felt the same way when I first bought the car, but you get used to it and it grows on you real fast. It is the same color combo Ford used for its interior demo pics for '95+ PGTs. (http://www.slimm.netfirms.com/modelinterior.htm ) Looks pretty classy in person, I think, but to each his own.

[gt-fad]

yeah seriously i have the black and tan it grows on you quick really

[mitchgt]

i know this thread is old, but i just figured it would be best to use any setup similar to k&n fipk then running a pipe from under the splash guard then up and facing the filter... then cool air from under the car would be forced right next to the filter... and no water would travel that far, but i have yet to decide how to make the pipe stable(i.e.- screwed on to something) so i havent made it yet.. any pos/neg ideas/comments on this idea?

[GTdrver94]

Yeah i think i remember a thread on somen like that a while ago.. But they had a Ractive filter.. And thats all I remember really.... But it should work I don't see why it wouldn't:shrug:

[Fastest95PGT]

The only downside to having a filter box with a snorkel is that there would be more surface area up by the top of the engine to heat up the air around the filter more than the filter being at the bottom out in the open where there is more air circulation.

I think you'd have to nearly submerge the filter before it would take in any water. So if you keep your filter above the splash guard, you should be fine.

[Violater]

Jello, what exactly did you do with that small hose that used to connect to the small nipple on the stock airbox? Also, is that the exact model number K&N filter you used? (#3130)

[Fastest95PGT]

Originally posted by Violater
Jello, what exactly did you do with that small hose that used to connect to the small nipple on the stock airbox? Also, is that the exact model number K&N filter you used? (#3130)
You can get a vacuum hose and just extend the one that went into the stock air box. Then just drill a small hole into the rubber part of where the filter connects to the piping for the CAI adding another adaptor nipple to connect the two.

Currently, I don't have mine plugged in since I forgot to hook it up last time I put it back together... but doesn't seem to help or hinder performance / gas mileage at all. . . . It is sitting down by the filter though... just not connected.

Is that bad?

[Violater]

I don't think its entirely bad, but it did originally connect to the airbox for a reason, to get FILTERED air. So I think another solution is to try and find a tiny air filter to connecft to the small vacuum line. Anyone done this?

[Fastest95PGT]

Originally posted by Violater
I don't think its entirely bad, but it did originally connect to the airbox for a reason, to get FILTERED air. So I think another solution is to try and find a tiny air filter to connecft to the small vacuum line. Anyone done this?
I'm telling you... the top of the filters are rubber so just poke a hole and push a straight line male to male vacuum adaptor through it.

Waste of time and effort to have them separate.

[SlimmGT]

In the year and half I've had my CAI, I've never had that vaccum line hooked up to anywhere. Makes no difference. I dunno what that line is for, but it sure doesn't seem to hurt just having it sit there. But, if yer paranoid about it, just do what Jeff said. Just plug it right thru the rubber coupler.

[Brian Berryhill]

I just taped some paper towel around mine since I didn't want to mutilate the rubber coupling (I use the 90 degree elbow).

However, I did pick up a used 5 micron syringe filter from the lab I work in... I think it will fit inside the vacuum hose. I just don't know how easy it will block up.

Brian

[Violater]

Well the CAI is now successfully installed. FYI, what I ended up doing was taking the nipple out of the stock airbox, and attaching it directly to that little hose. The opening on the other side of that nipple is so small, it pretty much acts as a filter in itself :D

[jello_17602]

Yeah, the spare vac. line doesn't cause problems.
Mine was blocked off with a sheet metal screw since I bought the PGT. And the car runs great.

[Yelmust]

I made mine out of flex piping, which is that aluminum that you can bend. I think it works very well, and it dips nicely down to the splash guard where the filter rests above out of waters way. Has anyone one else tried flex piping as a alternative to say PVC piping. I think it's lighter, and although it may be aluminum, it doesn't get too warm. I just have one question though, would all the little ridges mess up the airflow, because it isn't exactly all that smooth, but I seriously think I'm getting some gain out of it. And it only cost me $30 to make.

[gt-fad]

yes colorchangingt has a flex piping cai it works for him :shrug: