Looking to get one cheap and have it powder coated by a buddy. I can't believe I'm breaking down and getting one, but if you just spent $100 having every piece of steel in the engine compartment from the valve cover to the hood release latch coated in matte black, you'd probably agree with me looking at a plastic air box just don't fit right.

Anyway, I've been looking on ebay and am thinkin about getting a CAI kit for a 1.8 protege. it's a general 2 piece tube kit with 3 rubber wraps, a hanger to slide into where the cone connects and a bunch of steel ties. I'm pretty sure this'll route around the battery as the guys emailed me each tube is 6" long and has a 3" fitting at all ends.

The problem is I measured the inlet on my manifold and it's only ~2.5" so I might need to make a trip to home depot and dream up a way to get a 3" tube around a 2.5" inlet.

But, we're talkin about $40 shipped for a CAI kit. I'm ganna have it sand blaster, baked/heat treated, and powder coated to match everything else... and if the cone filter sucks like it's almost guaranteed to, I'll probably fork out some more cash for a K&N cone.

Basically what I'm asking is what CAI kits u guys use, and if there are any real world differences between spending $200+ on a kit, and $40?

 

I'm just making my own, bought piping from jc whitney. Suppose i'll see how it goes, i like making stuff anyway.

 

im thinkin about using pvc piping if i go that route

 

 

sorry bro, budget limits. need new tires. And after a tune-up i'll most likely find out I need new springs and struts.

 

buy a ractive or weapon r. they are nice and not so expensive. try http://www.nopi.com




Basics:
95 mazda protege lx
Custom Pearl blue paint w/ radianzz
17" Konig Appeals
Falken FK451 205/40/17
Custom Apexi N1 catback exhaust

Stereo:
Pioneer DEH-7300 CD player
Stinger Wires
Planet Audio 600.2 Amplifier 600x1, 300x2
(1) Kicker CompvR 10 inch woofer in custom slot ported box
Rockford Fosgate 6x9's
Kicker 5 1/4's
(4) Q Power Tweeters

Soon to come:
Custom civic big mouth front
Ractive cold air intake
underdrive pulleys
adjustable cam gears

 

You crazy....Weapon*R shittier than Ractive (if thats possible) and WAAAYYYY more money too!

 

I bought one for a 2003 pro with the 1.6l i believe and it fits in my 1.5 nicely. I have pictures in the link of my signature.

 

what about putting the battery in the trunk and then piping the intake with a 90 bend right behind the grill? less distance travled that way and it seems like the air would be colder and less chance of picking up water from a puddle like can happen with a regular cai

 

The 1.8 one you find on ebay is definitely generic. It really doesn't matter what engine size you have. I also saw it listed on ebay as a short ram intake, but it actually goes far enough down to draw cold air which then makes it a CAI. Another note: I didn't need the intake adapter that came along with it.

Mine makes my car sound really throaty and deep. Definitely a good investment. Pulls a bit more too. Only problem I had though was with the hoses. I needed 2. One was for the valve cover, and the other was for a lower hose. Anyways, I put the hose that was supposed to go to the valve cover back into the lower hose (otherwise my car kept dying from no air current). Then i put a valve cover filter on so I dont get crap in my head.

I also took the time to take some pictures of it and a video so you can listen to it. I will post that in the videos/picutures forum.

Link is here