I'm thinking about getting a short ram for my 96 integra, I've read all the debates about it vs. a CAI, and I still have some questions:

1 - It rains A LOT in my area, would I need the bypass?

2 - If I'm getting the bypass, would I be better off with a CAI?

3 - Not so interested in performance, more the nice throaty rumble (not the farting-in-a-can sound from canister exhausts)

4 - would like to mod my car at least a little, but I have no access to a lift, and since this is one of the few things I can do without a lift, I was thinking about this

Advice/opinions/suggestions??

 

There's a lot you can do without a lift. Just a 2-ton jack and jackstands. I've done my springs, shocks, bars, exhaust, intake, header, cat without a lift.

If you're not interested in performance, both will sound similar and will be throaty. I'd say the SRI is a little louder than the CAI but I could be wrong. If you're getting a CAI, get the bypass regardless of the conditions. You'll never know when water can get up in there and since you don't care about performance, it's better to be safe than sorry. The CAIs will be more expensive than a SRI. I'd suggest you get an SRI off of ebay and put a K&N filter on it.

 

1. Through the word "hydrolocked" into our search feature...it will show you what happens when a CAI and persistent rain mix. IMHO, the bypass filter is absolutely mandatory for a CAI if you will encounter rain. It is infinitely cheaper than rebuilding a motor. Period.

2. Bypass valves are pretty much redundant with an SRI (short ram intake). It is much more difficult to hydrolock a motor with an SRI compared to a cold air intake...given that the filter and tubing stay within the engine compartment. You'd need to be fording a deep puddle - more than 8" - to run the risk of hydrolock with a SRI.

3. I'm not sure what you're asking here..? If you're referring to the sound of an SRI vs the sound of a CAI... both will have a complex range of tones depending on throttle position and revs. An SRI will be louder than a CAI - because the point of air induction is closer to the firewall. The tone will escalate in pitch as revs rise, just as an exhaust will. Neither an SRI or CAI will make much of a difference in noise at idle. You'll barely hear them.

4. An SRI will be a little easier to install than a CAI... neither are very challenging. In either case you'll want to remove the stock resonator box for weight savings (and to sell on, perhaps). Removing the resonator box does require a floor jack and jackstands, but a full blown service lift is overkill.

As I am doing the simple bolt-ons as well...here's my recommendation.

I'd go with a short ram intake... and if you feel the need, you can fabricate ducting that will supply cool air to the short ram intake - without sealing the SRI off. That way cool, dense air is fed into the motor, but with greatly reduced risk of hydrolock.

 

And for the record, I'd like for someone to show me - with an actual dyno plot - that a small plastic bypass valve hurts the performance of a CAI.

The bypass valves do not open unless the main filter has choked on water.

And even if the bypass valve diaphragm was to fail in the open position, the relative temperature difference for a small percentage of total intake air has a negligible effect on cumulative intake air density. In other words, if there's any loss due to the use of a bypass valve, I'll bet it's in the range of 0.4 hp at the most.

As mentioned above, I'd like for someone to show me - with an actual dyno plot - that the use of a bypass valve drastically hurts the performance gain of a CAI.

So bring it, foo.

 

ill trade you my short ram for your stock intake pipe and upper portion of the filter box. pm me if you're interested.

 

i'll sell my AEM short ram for $45 shipped

 

AEM short ram has small ass pipe..... I'd just buy a ebay intake and get K&N filter.. or if you don't wanna buy both of them.....then just get the Ice-Man or Comptech short ram intake... it rains alot in my area too when its winter...but I have a CAI and a SRI, so I switch to SRI while when I driving in winter time... and CAI in summer time..

 

SRI vs CAI - SRI is shorter, allowing optimum air intake velocity sooner than the CAI, thus giving better throttle response. The CAI, however, will produce slightyly more horsepower in the top end because it's feeding denser air into the engine.

Bypass valve - I didn't bother with this because if it's raining hard and there are flood warnings etc, I will not be out driving. Also, I haven't had to drive through any deep puddles. Yet, I still got water in my motor because SOME water droplets were pulled into the intake. It didnt hydrolock but it did frighten me. The bypass valve WILL NOT prevent water getting into the motor unless the filter is 1/2 - full submerged in water.

 

Thing with the BPV is, it only actuates when there is enough pressure loss in the pipe to do so. A motor does not hydrolock from a few splashes of water. The only way water can get through the filter element, up the pipe, and ingested into the motor is when its submerged. IE when the bypass valve would actuate. Anything less will vaporize if it even gets passed the filter.

The BPV used to get knocks all the time for "only opening when the filter is submerged", but that is the only time it needs to open. As for it losing power, I dont buy that for a second. The CAI itself doesnt make gobs of power, how is a little piece in the middle that cant realistically disturb flow much going to rob power?

If it were me, Id get a SRI. One, dont have to worry about water at all, 2 the throttle response, 3 whatevers cheaper, if you get your shit together it'll come off anyway once you realize you should just boost the car

 

what if you're boosting with a JRSC? :rick: