[randomward]

I've got a friend with a GMC Canyon and a bunch of people on his forum have made a CAI/SRI using parts from home depot for about $50. I remember seeing something like this on our forum but for the life of me i cant find it and i've exhausted my search options. I thought someone on here might have some idea as to what i'm talking about.

 

[King of Canada]

look down

 

[joenichols71]

I built a cold air intake from parts at home depot for less than 50 bucks. The intake runs down the wheel well and out where the front fog light would be if I had them installed (cutout the hole for the intake rather than for a fog light). I used 3" ABS pipe, one 90 degree 3" ABS fitting with a 1 1/4 outlet (this faces downward when installed to operate as a rain drip and a bypass should the main 3" opening get clogged with a piece of trash), one 3" 45 degree fitting which is what sticks through the hole where the fog light would be, and a regular 3" 90 degree fitting to get me from the engine compartment into the wheel well area and down. The factory air hose that runs directly off the factory air cleaner, which I kept due to all the computer crap on it and other reasons regarding the oil in those cold air filters, is used to run inside the 3" pipe. The other mod I made was to switch plugs to the Bosch 2P (not the 4P as they run too hot) platinum plugs. My results are now getting a combined mileage rating of 29 mpg. The cost of doing this was less than fifty bucks and an hour and a half of my time building and installing it. The only part I removed from my element to do this was the removal of the factory inlet plastic pipe and resonator and I pulled back the wheel well shroud and turned the tires all the way to the left to gain access inside the wheel well and bumper. I have yet to develop any plans or instructions but will soon and I will take photos as well.

 

[joenichols71]

Okay, I promised pictures of my homebuilt cold air intake for my E so here they are...

The first picture shows my pipe coming in from the wheel well and hooking up to the factory hose, which is now clamped to the air box. The second photo shows a close up of the same pipe coming in from the wheel well on the right hand side. You can also see the foam I used to protect the pipe from the metal framework. The left side of the photo shows the piping under the headlamp housing as it runs to the bumper area and eventually out. The third photo shows the the piping now penetrating the front bumper through what would be the fog lamp if I really wanted them, but don't as I find them particularly useless. This inlet is now the source of the cold air and wind is allowed to be blown directly into the piping which is three inches all the way up to the factory hose. The fitting inside which is not shown does have an 1.5 inch inlet facing downward, acting as a dirt and drip leg leading to the atmosphere. The riser piece from the bumper area up through the wheel well to the engine compartment is about a foot long vertically mounted so most debris or any water that collects inside will drop back down and either back out the front or down the drip/dirt opening. This also acts as a bypass to allow air in in the event something is picked up and blocks the front inlet like a stray piece of cardboard. if anything else gets inside and makes its way to the air box, well, that's why we have filters, isn't it...

I am contemplating maybe making kits to sell. This really was an easy system to install and if I make a kit, it would really only be two pieces to put in plus a grommet. You would need to provide glue to attach the hose to the piping network. I have had this system now for about a half a year and have not experienced any problems with it. I have driven in dusty conditions and in recently in rainy conditions and so far, so good. I do find bugs and small pieces of paper inside the air box once in a while but that's okay with me as long as they stay in there and not go to the pistons. Though some may not like this idea, let's face it, it is much easier changing this filter than changing a filter from AEM or Injen in which you would have to take the E apart again, annoying... That was not something I wanted to ever battle. So I get the benefit of both worlds, a cold air system with a direct inlet in the front end and the ease of changing out or cleaning my filter every ten thousand miles within only a few minutes of my time. Enjoy the photos and let me know what you think.

 

[jdude3454]

nice, bigger pic's?

That looks and sounds pretty simple and very effective. Do you have any bigger pic's?
When I get my E I may try this before getting a injen cai and say a lot of money and hassle.
Thanks
Jdude

 

[joenichols71]

I don't have bigger pics but I have thought about putting together kits for this simple mod. Anyone interested?

 

[jdude3454]

I don't have bigger pics but I have thought about putting together kits for this simple mod. Anyone interested?

what will it cost?

 

[joenichols71]

I spent less than fifty bucks for the whole project but there are a couple of items I would add if I did it again. I would add a 22.5 degree in the engine compartment to get around the battery a little better and also a 3" no hub coupling, which can be found at Lowe's near all the ABS stuff. This way I would cut the vertical piece in half and essentially have two pieces to install, the upper portion running from the air box through the wall into the wheel well, and the second running from the fog light hole and then up to the wheel well. This way you can twist both halfs for a better fit rather than trying to tweek it after it is glued. The only part that you will need to get from a plumbing supply house is the three inch rubber grommet, usually found on tank lids with pipes penetrating through such as sump tanks. I don't know how much that costs as I managed to find one for myself at work.

 

[nacranym]

plumbing supplies at work?

so you're really Joe the Plumber?

<grin>

 

[awdhonda]

Diy intake

That looks great. I did the same thing to my 08 about a year ago, it works great. I didn't go all the way doen since i have factory fog lights. I also installed a drop in k & n filter. If anyone is wondering i also did this on my ridgeline after i had the k & n full intake, which i returned because i got the same results from my own abs one. I have not tried the spark plugs yet. Also i did a little mod to both exhaust's by removing the factory resonator. Nice sound, not to loud but noticable and it breathes better.