Cheap Ebay Intake

[jfanaselle]

Has anyone actually tried the cheap short ram intake that's available on ebay? I was just looking for comments... good or bad. I've decided to try one out just for giggles since it's only about $50 and I happened to receive a $50 ebay gift card for Christmas.

I've been eyeballing them for awhile, and every once in awhile someone actually buys one. I'm 99% certain that at least one or two of those buyers are on this forum.

Save the comments regarding Short Ram vs. CAI and how short rams are actually worse for the car, etc. for another day. I'm well aware of the various benefits and drawbacks to each style. I'm looking for specific comments regarding this particular item.

My plan is to try it out, and if it's garbage I'll throw it away or send it back. I'm not looking for horsepower gains, just that throaty intake sound when I step on it. Then, when I have another spare $60 or so, I'll pick up a nice K&N cone filter for it.

Here's the actual intake:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW

[NOreasonY]

hey man i say go for it.....you'll be a pioneer for all.. a lot of ppl have been wondering about it. short rams are good for that nice sound and better throttle response if anything so it works for me...

[generic808]

Hey, why not?! I actually did the same thing with my old S13; I bought a universal filter head, throttle body adapter plate, hose, and clamps and rigged it myself. A homemade intake just for the kicks of it. I say do it! What's $50 anyway?

[themadscientist]

why? do you hope for a performance gain or just like it's looks over the stock air box?

[generic808]

He just wants that throaty intake sound when he steps on it.

[jfanaselle]

Well I won the auction and it's on the way. I'll let everyone know how it works out once it's installed. I'll probably do a write-up for installation since it likely doesn't come with instructions.

[generic808]

Just wondering if it comes with a throttle body adapter plate? The listing didn't say anything about one and the pic just shows the head, pipe, and hose. I guess you could always buy a clamp to fit it on if it doesn't come with one.

[jfanaselle]

My guess is that the picture wasn't the actual item for sale. I think that was a generic pic of an intake for an Acura RSX or Honda Civic. The seller will allow me to return it if necessary, which I plan to if it's a piece of crap.

That's why I was asking if anyone else on here had tried it... I wanted to know if it wasn't going to fit right, require modification, etc. But I guess it's my turn to experiment and be the pioneer, which I certainly don't mind doing.

[sigjam]

If you are talking about the bling lights air intake on Ebay, it is nice. I've had mine on a few months with no problems on install. It came with the rubber adaptor boot, clamps, cone filter, bling stickers, and a free hat. Sounds great, but not alot of change in performance. You need that cold fresh air for performance, but if all you want is the sound then you are in luck.

[jfanaselle]

Good news... the intake has arrived! It arrived very fast - some of the fastest shipping I've ever seen from an ebay seller (I didn't pay for it until Saturday morning and it's a holiday weekend!).

The bad news is that it doesn't look like it'll work. See the pics below. One pic is the stock airbox setup, and the other is what came in the box. There were no instructions or anything, so it seems to be a "universal" type intake.

There is no spot in the intake pipe for the MAF sensor, and there is nowhere for the little intake return hose area to hook up (the plastic parts closest to the throttle body on the stock picture).

Looks like I'll be sending it back to the seller. So if you're interested in this intake, save your money.

[generic808]

You could always rig it to work. As far as the MAF sensor is concerned, I know a lot of guys with universal's who wedge the sensor between one of creases in the filter. You could also buy some tubing (I believe 3/4" or 1") to run to your crankcase breather box from your local automotive or hardware store. So not all hope is lost. Give it a shot and if you can't work it, send it back.

[jfanaselle]

If I was going to rig it like that, I'd just go buy some irrigation pipe from Home Depot and a cheap filter and silicon sleve from pep boys. I'd rather do that because it would cost $25 instead of $50.

I don't think the MAF would do well unless it could actually measure how much air was moving into the throttle body. Isn't that how the vehicle decides how much fuel to deliver? If I pushed it into the filter element, the filter would suck up air all the way around and there would be alot more air than what the sensor thinks.

[jfanaselle]

If you are talking about the bling lights air intake on Ebay, it is nice. I've had mine on a few months with no problems on install. It came with the rubber adaptor boot, clamps, cone filter, bling stickers, and a free hat. Sounds great, but not alot of change in performance. You need that cold fresh air for performance, but if all you want is the sound then you are in luck.

Sorry Sigjam; I didn't even notice your post before I posted my pics. How did you get it to work? Did you just bypass the MAF sensor all together? Could you post up a pic?

[blindsnyper]

i noticed you have 2 wires coming off your positive battery terminal, im guessing the red one is to your amp, whats the blue one for

[jfanaselle]

That's for another amp. I ran the 4 gauge red wire all the way into the hatch for my Class D amp and Capacitor, and I ran the 8 gauge red wire under the driver's seat for my smaller 2 channel amp which is powering the highs.

[hammer_tim]

So ---- is it a buy? Easy install or will it need to be rigged?

I assume that it wouldn't be worth it for the enhanced HP but may be worth it for the sound.

I know that Mike got his going / Joe - did you ever get yours installed?


Modified by hammer_tim at 9:21 PM 1/5/2008

[jfanaselle]

No I haven't. I actually emailed the seller and told him I was sending it back. He recommended that I use a tool or a knife to cut a small "X" shape in the silicone piece that attaches the intake pipe to the throttle body and push the MAF sensor into it.

I'm sure it would work, and that's how Sigjam probably installed it, but I don't really want to use it this way. I'm going to send it back to the seller tomorrow and I've already made arrangements to buy an AEM CAI from another member on the forum here.

However, for anyone looking for that "throaty" sound, it looks like you could definately make it work by installing it the way mentioned above. But to be honest, you can simply buy a pipe with a small 45 degree manderal bend, a silicon sleeve for the throttle body and a filter and rig one yourself. All of these parts at pep boys or on ebay would probably cost you half as much.

[hammer_tim]

Alright - sweet - thanks for your input.