.....for a Firebird with the air filter housing on the driver's side? I'm doing a TPI swap and want to keep the battery on the passenger side as it originally came. So I now need a CAI that will take in air on the driver side. The only thing I've come up with so far is that I could probably use an LT1 elbow which would get me pointed in the right direction but not too sure about clearance since it's not as long as the OE elbow. I also think that I can mount the filter housing properly on that side as well so maybe just finding a suitable pipe from the elbow to the filter. Another thing, where can I find/buy the silicon/neoprene hose that I see a lot of the turbo guys use for connecting hoses and pipes? Any thoughts?

 

Well, there are quite a few articles on this site about CAI's. But I would use an Impala SS elbow, as you said. And use some sheet aluminum roll it and bead, then weld it. Then just use an open element air filter. Or you can just get the cone style filter directly on the Throttle body, I've seen alot of people do this, the only downside is that the air surrounding the engine is hotter. But its a no hassle intake, but if your gonna go the trouble of making a custom CAI, I would check out the custom ram air on this site in the tech articles, its cool comes down and hugs the bottom of the car.

 

Yep do a search on cold air intakes. You will see what others have done including the LT1 elbow. Lots of information available.

 

After doing a bit of looking I'm pretty sure that I'll have to stick with the OE layout as the upper radiator hose would be in the way.

 

Try to avoid an Impala or other B-car elbow, since the have an extra hole in them for a resonator box. Go with an F-body LT1 elbow or get a custom one:

Intake Hoses, IntakeTubing, and Intake Clamps

 

this isn't the best pic but its LT1 Elblow from Trick flow. and the section from the MAF to the fitlter is also from an LT1 forr ebay

 

What do you guys think about this one?
Not too bad for the price.
I wonder how it would compare to my SLP CAI.


eBay Motors: PONTIAC TRANS AM GTA 5.0 5.7 V8 TPI/FI AIR INTAKE 88 89 (item 160002110651 end time Jun-29-06 16:45:46 PDT)

 

thats the 2nd half of the setup I have in the above pic....

 

Trick setup !! I havent seen many CAI's for the camaros aside from SLP's and its like $250. What I did in mine was, behind the foglights I built a custom box that directed the air up into the air cleaner, and I also gutted the boxes. It was fairly easy and cheap, because I got most of the parts for the box at home depot

 

Think it's more effective at getting more air than the SLP?
Obviously the SLP gets nice cold air from the fender well, but it seems like maybe it doesn't get enough being closed in like that.
This ebay one comes with a heat shield thing as well if you want.
Seems like with that straightpipe it would be less restrictive too than the factory plumbing.

 

Well the thing is, I dont think there is a whole lot of air flow in that fender well and the way my setup is, its very smoothed out and the most restrictive part is the 90* turn once it enters the Y-shaped air cleaner. I think my setup is pretty effective, Id like to get some pics on here. The only thing that could make my setup better would be if I removed my foglights to let some more air in.

 

Here is mine, 3" mandrell bent pipe, Had to relocate battery but i still need to get rid of factory intake elbow. Dose anyone sell a LT1 elbow with no sensor hole in it? I'll either go that route or just use a silocone coupler.

 

Looks nice man.

 

Do you think a heat shield to deflect the heat from under the bay and the radiator is necessary?

 

I dont think that its a huge deal but I would get one, it cant hurt.