Ractive short ram intake...any good?
 

I was considering this intake because it seems to be the cheapest one available. Im not concerned with performance gains, just looking to clean up the engine compartment.

Any comments from any one using it, good or bad?

Is it cheap for a reason, like very low quality?

Ive seen it for around $68.00

1. Use the search feature of this board. Try "ractive intake" or "ractive problem".

2. It's cheap because it is not really "engineered". It's a very generic intake and if it was specifically made for the Protege, it was designed by a monkey. :wackit:

3. It adds a cool sound and about 0 HP (by my reckoning). It does not affect fuel mileage either way (also by my reckoning). It does look nice under the hood, and even better if you have the tubes powder-coated in color (get the fit right first though!).

4. The two problems with the Ractive intake are the mounting bracket and the proximity to the brake master cylinder (which is also an AEM problem IIRC). You will probably need to make your own bracket and likely chop 2 inches of one of the sections to improve the fit. I say "probably" because some people claim to have used the included bracket with success - this is the exception rather than the rule it seems.

In essence, if you are looking for the cheapest intake and are slightly handy with tools and brackets it's a decent choice.

These intakes are also sold under various different names on Ebay.

Final thought, do a search for "ractive bracket" for ideas on what you will likely have to do if you choose this path.

I had it and it worked great.... i took it off because i am fooling around with my own though....

FACT:

ALL intakes (injen, AEM, ractive, generic (ebay)) are made of the SAME MATERIAL

FACT:
NONE come with KN filter EXCEPT AEM (the others are red dyed to LOOK like KN)

FACT:
INJEN looks the best, but they ALL perform the same... within respect to +-1 or 2 hp, a number NO ONE can ACTUALLY FEEL.... IF you can FEEL a difference of 1 hp,, then you are amazing.

hope that helps.

Zio, what would you say would be the best intake out there right now to buy for the price and preformance? Its my next mod on my 99 lx. any pointer's

Its totally up to you... personally i would go with the cheapest one that FITS properly. Most intakes will add from 6-8whp.... i have been stock for a while now, and i will tell you it does make a differenec.... i dont know if anyone has dynoed their own car in this board, but i know someone did at the other protege board... just search for intake dyno.....

This is not true. Some are made of stainless steel and some are made of aluminum. Some, who knows? Some are chromed and some powder coated. Some, who knows? I bought the AEM because it is made of 6061 powder coated aluminum. I don't know what the Reactive is, but I would bet the cheapy eBay ones would be suspect. I know mine won't rust through in a year or so. My suggestion for any part is to buy the most expensive one you can afford. Not blindly, of course, there are deals out there. Do some research.

Thanks for the good info. I didnt realize the ractive could fit so poorly, after all, its not very difficult to make an intake for this application.

And I seriously doubt you will see 6-8whp from ANY intake.

Ok, after doing a search and reading the troubles with the ractive, I think Ill pass.

I've had enough experiences with crappy fitting aftermarket parts for one lifetime already. Guess Ill just stay stock.

From mazda statistics, the short ram CAI's dont work as well, because it requires velocity to make the CAI work properly and since the short ram CAI's dont directly feed from the outside air, they dont get as much air flow. Injen is a good CAI for the Protege's and Pro 5's, mazda has actually acclaimed them on their CAI.

So, what everyone is saying is, its better to stay stock? or what, help? next mod is my intake, but if its totally sense less to change then, i will not do it. Think I'm better off buying a new or used engine from off of corksport.

Your not going to rule the streets with a CAI. If you change it because you like the way it looks and you like playing around under the hood, great, its your money, do as you want.

If your looking for lots of performance, look elsewhere.

Where does MAsda "acclaim" Ingen on thier overpriced intake??

Inquiry minds want to know.

And how does a filter tucked into the wheel well get any more velocity than one under the hood? It doesnt, your logic is poor.

If I knew how to raise the bullshit flag I would do it..

Cold air is better, thus the reason for the Injen. Warm underhood air is not as dense.

I believe the diameter of the tube and the vacuum from the engine will determine the velocity of the air intake, not if the filter is down in the wheel well or up higher in the engine bay.

stop spewing your bullshit

:bsflag:

you are so full of shit

Thanks for the flag assist.

Later

the injen intake is not over priced, its as much as the AEM short ram. Plus you only get hot air from under the hood, whereas in the wheel well you get colder air