Home made WAI

[AcMav]

I was wondering if anyone here has the experience to comment on a homemade WAI. I was looking into getting a CAI or a professional WAI but right now im strapped on cash and looking at some of the professional models I was wondering why can't I do that. The K and N 63 and 57 Model Cold Air Intakes are made out of Polyethylene, which has a significantly lower melting point than that of off the shelf PVC (110-120ish Compared to 212).

Can I not make this WAI Out of off the shelf PVC tubing from Home Depot possibly coupled with heat resistant coating (We used some heat resistant metal covering on the exhaust of our race car a couple years back I could scrounge up). Anyone see any problems? (Sensor mounting wouldn't be an issue).Thanks for your time guys!

[.:Kevin:.]

I went to autozone and got a piece if 3 inch exhaust pipe and made my own on both of my cars. They work just fine. I just need to do a little more "cleaning up" on the the one I just finished and it will look damn good. I'll get some pics of it if you want...it looks kinda crappy right now though.

[blindsnyper]

wai=warm air intake...right same as ram?

if im wrong please let me know

[audtatious]

Yes, WAI = Warm Air Intake. AKA: Short Ram

[AcMav]

Anyone care to comment on PVC vs. Exhaust tubing? I think PVC has a higher insulating value in comparison to the exhaust pipe, but it will melt easier. Does air also flow through the exhaust tubing with less resistance than the PVC? Any pros and cons here?

[rxm6]

Anyone care to comment on PVC vs. Exhaust tubing? I think PVC has a higher insulating value in comparison to the exhaust pipe, but it will melt easier. Does air also flow through the exhaust tubing with less resistance than the PVC? Any pros and cons here?

What you want, especially with max's and i30's, is to divert/reduce the warm air coming from the radiator as much as possible. This is extremely difficult to do considering the placement of the air pipe is directly behind the radiator and the intake is directly behind the battery. Generally, PVC and plastics will work better than metal at absorbing heat; however, from a performance standpoint, PVC is not the best material to use as it has all kinds of ridges and bumps that will affect air flow. Does it really matter? Yes and no. Your airflow might be disturbed and performance might not be what you expected, but you will have less heat being transfered to your already warm air. Here is a write-up I did a while back: zerothread?id=281291

[PBfrEAk]

I built one for my Maxima using the tubing that Advanced Auto sells. Its actually intake tubing...the cheap stuff they sell to make your own custom.

Its cheap and it works well. I only used three pieces of it, a rubber coupler and I bought a filter. The only problem I had was I forgot to hook up the IACV back into the intake. It was easy to do though.

I'll post pictures up either by the end of this week or beginning of next cause I'm at home for spring break for the week.

[AcMav]

Theres just a few questions i have.On my I30t the Air Intake branches off before it reaches the air box, one of the leads goes down below the battery to a box. I cannot seem to get a good view of this box and from what ive seen the FSM doesn't cover the intake. So what is this and do I need it?

What did you guys do with the breather for the crank case, Drill holes for the tubes? Also how did you mount your sensors?

Which way is best to point my Intake, Sideways towards the battery/side of the car, or Perpendicular to the engine, pointing towards the front. I'm weary about placing it down low because i'm scared of Hydralock.

Thanks Guys

[nj1sh]

if you decide to build it which is a very good idea in my opinion.... make sure you curve the pipes so the air flow goes in nice to the engine.

[rxm6]

Theres just a few questions i have.On my I30t the Air Intake branches off before it reaches the air box, one of the leads goes down below the battery to a box. I cannot seem to get a good view of this box and from what ive seen the FSM doesn't cover the intake. So what is this and do I need it? Thanks Guys

I have no clue what this really is. But I'm pretty certain its a drain for water that happens to find its way into the stock air setup. I just removed mine and put some industrial duct tape over it.

[Sentientbydesign]

I made one! I made one!



I know for a fact that irrigation piping won't work. My first version of the intake used sprinkler fittings (little gray ones) and it melted under the hood.

The pipe came from a civic in a junk yard, paid a guy too much for it, but you can get something comparable at Autozone or similar.

The real issue is finding piping that is thin enough so as not to restrict airflow AND the right OD (outer diameter). Also, measure all of the diameters. Throttle, air filter, pipe...etc. They won't all be the same and you'll probably need couplers.

Let me know if you have questions.

[jltibbs]

this is one of the better WAI's i have seen. take senti whatevers advice. most of them look like two bit hack jobs, his is clean.

---edit---

is that on your I30 thats for sale?

[Sentientbydesign]

Thanks JL!!!

Yeah. Actually, I need to remove that link from my sig. I just sold it day before yesterday.

The intake cost me around $120 including all of my failed attempts, paying too much for the Civic pipe and that AEM dry-flow.

The setup can probably be had for as low as $50 if you go with a cheap filter and pipe.

I used quik-steal to attach the vacuum hose connectors. Be sure that you give the pipe and the connectors a really rough surface or the bond won't hold. I'd also get some practice working with the quik-steal because it's a weird compound to work with.

My first attempt included irrigation piping and quick dry epoxy. It worked great for a day or so until the 100+ degree heat coupled with the engine heat melted the piping and expoxy and left me stranded at a stop light lol.

I'm happy to give more info if anyone is interested. The sound is super mean and throttle response was improved. I can't say that there was any real power gains, but it feels like it.

[AcMav]

Yeah as of now im planning on using PVC, just because of the ease of use and cost benefits. I'm planning on borrowing some Heat wrap from work to try to keep from having a meltdown like you did I'm just looking for that sweet growl from the engine like when I get to borrow my mom's G.

[jltibbs]

Spectre has plenty of universal parts that might make it easier, too.

[Sentientbydesign]

I would sincerely advise against the PVC.

Your friends will ask you to pop the hood and... you'll get laughed at forever.

Reminds me of the time I stuck a plunger end connected to some exhaust flex pipe and ran it from the end of my intake to under the car.

The tire shop saw it and laughed at me for a good 10 mins.

Just get an intake tube with a 22 1/2 or 45 degree bend. You'll need a hack saw and the correct sized drill bits. DON'T try using a dremel to cut the holes. It wasn't worth it.

[MaximA32]

Theres just a few questions i have.On my I30t the Air Intake branches off before it reaches the air box, one of the leads goes down below the battery to a box. I cannot seem to get a good view of this box and from what ive seen the FSM doesn't cover the intake. So what is this and do I need it?

That is just random intake stuff. I took it off of my Maxima. Just makes no sense as to why it's there.

I'm weary about placing it down low because i'm scared of Hydralock.

It takes a whole lot of water to hydrolock an engine. You would basically have to drive it underwater in order for it to hydrolock.

[Sentientbydesign]

From my understanding, that chamber below the battery is there to deaden sound. And also restrict airflow (unintentionally).

Do a search in the Max/I30 forum for hydrolock. The subject has been covered extensively and the general concensus is that it require quite a bit of water to do it.

[PBfrEAk]

Alright...finally got around to posting a pic of mine.

Now I know my car is a 3rd gen...but essentially you'll do the same thing but with probably less pieces than I did.



I used my stock rubber boot from my manifold to the 1st piece. Then three pieces I bought from auto zone (totaling 30 some bucks). Then I used a spectra rubber coupler to couple the elbow to the MAF sensor. Then I drilled out the rivets in my stock air box and used the brass piece to connect the free (read shyty) K&N filter.

It works good, although when its real cold I need to rev it a little to get it warmed up at 1st or it stalls...but other than that...I'm happy.

oh and I know I know...I need to clean it up...

[Sentientbydesign]

I would kill the rubber thing. That's one of the main reasons I built my WAI.

That and the stupid box with the vacuum hoses coming out of it.

[PBfrEAk]

Yea I know...I've been meaning to buy another spectre piece but I just haven't...and what box?

You mean my IACV???

[Sentientbydesign]

No, this one:



See the "box" just to the left of the MAF tube? That's what I was trying to get rid of.

[PBfrEAk]

OHHHHH....what the hell is that?!?!?! lol

[rxm6]

OHHHHH....what the hell is that?!?!?! lol

Gets rid of the whistling sound that people have without it.

[PBfrEAk]

Ahh....I see. I'm assuming that is sort of like what the 3rd gens have on our stock intake...the little chamber underneath the actually plastic pipe.

[Sentientbydesign]

No, on the 4th gens, we have the "box" and the little chamber underneat as well.

The Nissan engineers wanted it to be REALLY quiet lol.

[PBfrEAk]

Wow...apparently!!!

\\thread jack

Now here is a question for you...since you've done your intake...have you had any problems with it starting in cold weather.

When I start mine in colder weather (like, under 40) for the 1st time its fires up and dies. To keep it running I have to give it a little throttle for about 20 seconds.

Any thoughts?

//end jack

[rxm6]

Wow...apparently!!!

\\thread jack

Now here is a question for you...since you've done your intake...have you had any problems with it starting in cold weather.

When I start mine in colder weather (like, under 40) for the 1st time its fires up and dies. To keep it running I have to give it a little throttle for about 20 seconds.

Any thoughts?

//end jack

mine does that too....sometimes. I just let it run like a muscle car for a few seconds enjoying the sound. Then everything evens out. I have a feeling I need to clean my intake and runners, but I've put off the runners because I'm going to get mevi

[Sentientbydesign]

No problems on my end. I would check your intake for leaks. I did have a problem with it when I used the epoxy. The vacuum hoses fell off and didn't provide pressure and that killed the engine.

Also, check your filter. Maybe the denser air (colder) is having problems traveling through the dirt particles?

[PBfrEAk]

Well I think I took care of my only leak.

But the denser air theory makes sense. The filter I have on there now is a K&N one I got for free from my brothers friend. So how clean it is I don't know.

Well it's been on my list to buy anyway so I'll just bump that up to number one.

AEM Dryflow here I come!!