Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
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From: Cypress, California
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 369 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Nine Bolt
Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
On the last dyno run my KPA was getting down into the 97-98 range around 6500rpm. With my new intake system in the works I figure it might get worse and have decided to head things off at the pass. I decided to go with a 4" system this time around versus the 3.5" system I had before.
One of the keys to the whole thing is the Velocity of Sound Podram Bellmouth designed to fit into a 6" K&N air-filter. I believe they use them on 4" turbo installations. You can see part of it at the air filter. The rest is just one 30 degree aluminum 4" bend and one 90 degree aluminum 4" bend all 16 gauge. Also the 4" silicone couplings. Pretty straight forward.
I will take the bends in tomorrow and have them welded up. There should not be any air restrictions with this setup. I will post up a picture of the bellmouth tomorrow. Also I am going to have the inside coated with a ceramic heat barrier and the outside with a black heat dispersent. Here is a picture from today.
One of the keys to the whole thing is the Velocity of Sound Podram Bellmouth designed to fit into a 6" K&N air-filter. I believe they use them on 4" turbo installations. You can see part of it at the air filter. The rest is just one 30 degree aluminum 4" bend and one 90 degree aluminum 4" bend all 16 gauge. Also the 4" silicone couplings. Pretty straight forward.
I will take the bends in tomorrow and have them welded up. There should not be any air restrictions with this setup. I will post up a picture of the bellmouth tomorrow. Also I am going to have the inside coated with a ceramic heat barrier and the outside with a black heat dispersent. Here is a picture from today.
Last edited by 1989GTATransAm; May 19, 2011 at 08:36 PM.
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From: Cypress, California
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 369 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Nine Bolt
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
Here are a couple of pictures of the Velocity of Sound Prodham velocity stack. This is one of the main reasons for going this route. It provides a very nice transition from the air filter to the 4" air intake duct.
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From: Brooklyn, New York
Car: 1989 Mystery Firebird
Engine: 350 FIRST TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
pretty neat.... this for maf or sd?
if it is for maf willing to build another for sale to me....?
if it is for maf willing to build another for sale to me....?
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
Looks good, i'm building some 4" intakes for my setup too. Just havent worked to hard on completing it.
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From: Cypress, California
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 369 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Nine Bolt
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
It is a speed density(sd) setup. Got the two tubes welded up today and the tubing is over getting a ceramic coated heat barrier on the inside and a black heat dispersent coating on the outside. Gots to keep the air cold. 
This is a very nice unit and I am very happy with it.

This is a very nice unit and I am very happy with it.
Last edited by 1989GTATransAm; Apr 27, 2011 at 07:25 PM.
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Thread Starter
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From: Cypress, California
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 369 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Nine Bolt
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
I have completed the installation. 4" tube with a thermal barrier coating on the inside and a thermal dispersent coating on the outside. Car is now all ready for the Los Angeles Invasion. I think I have finally found the setup I have been looking for. Kind of tight passing the AC compressor but just enough room. Here are a couple of pictures.
Last edited by 1989GTATransAm; May 19, 2011 at 08:33 PM.
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From: Hinesville, GA USA
Car: '86 IROC-Z/'94 Z28
Engine: 350 LT1/382 LT1
Transmission: 4L60-E/T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.45/3.42 (soon 4.10)
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
Nice! I plan on welding mine up when I finally am able to ditch the 165 and step up to the 0411 to go 4" all the way through.
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From: Cypress, California
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 369 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Nine Bolt
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
"to go 4" all the way through"
As long as the air filter is large enough you can be sure there will be no air restrictions with a 4" system.
As long as the air filter is large enough you can be sure there will be no air restrictions with a 4" system.
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From: Toronto
Car: '88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
Just curious, what you are using to supply cold air to that spot? I have an open element filter in the same spot and will be using the front vents on the hood for a cold air source.
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From: Cypress, California
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 369 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Nine Bolt
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
"what you are using to supply cold air to that spot?"
Interesting that you should ask. I just came back from the garage after having installed some foam rubber I had to help isolate that area from the engine bay heat. There are two 2" openings in the front of the filter plus numerous smaller ones. There is a 2 3/4" opening on the bottom plus some smaller ones. There is one large opening in the fender well that will supply a lot of the cold air. I also have some foam rubber mounted to the underside of the hood that is left over from the previous setup. Hopefully all that will pretty well cut off any hot air from around the motor.
I was visualising opening up the area above the headlight as shown in the picture I will post. Maybe cover with some screen? That would also supply some cold air especially when the car is moving. Here are pictures from the area and I believe the fenderwell area opening can be seen.
Interesting that you should ask. I just came back from the garage after having installed some foam rubber I had to help isolate that area from the engine bay heat. There are two 2" openings in the front of the filter plus numerous smaller ones. There is a 2 3/4" opening on the bottom plus some smaller ones. There is one large opening in the fender well that will supply a lot of the cold air. I also have some foam rubber mounted to the underside of the hood that is left over from the previous setup. Hopefully all that will pretty well cut off any hot air from around the motor.
I was visualising opening up the area above the headlight as shown in the picture I will post. Maybe cover with some screen? That would also supply some cold air especially when the car is moving. Here are pictures from the area and I believe the fenderwell area opening can be seen.
Last edited by 1989GTATransAm; May 19, 2011 at 07:13 PM.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
I'll be doing the same thing on my setup in 4" but I have the battery tray area cut out on both sides and will have filters down in front of the tires.
Looks good Allen!
Looks good Allen!
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From: Toronto
Car: '88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
That headlight idea is intrigueing. I might have to try that if I get my hands on another one of those plastic pices.
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From: Cypress, California
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 369 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Nine Bolt
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
Hi Orr. I think two 4" tubes with the proper air filter would be enough to supply all the air you would need for your twin turbo set up.
Regarding the area above the headlight, while not and overly large area I think it would help even if it only passed 300cfm of air.
Regarding the area above the headlight, while not and overly large area I think it would help even if it only passed 300cfm of air.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,895
Likes: 429
From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
4" flows ALOT of air. I think your motor is gonna like it
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From: Cypress, California
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 369 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Nine Bolt
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
An interesting thing happened at the dyno the past Saturday. While Dyno Don was experimenting with his exhaust system he also did some back to back runs with his air intake sytem on and off. He runs a 3.5" air intake with a nice K&N air filter.
Well, with the cold air intake removed he picked up something like 5rwhp. So this tells me that when one is approaching 500 horsepower at the motor one might want to consider checking out their cold air intake system to make sure it is not a hindrance. A 4" would do the trick for sure if you have the room for one.
Well, with the cold air intake removed he picked up something like 5rwhp. So this tells me that when one is approaching 500 horsepower at the motor one might want to consider checking out their cold air intake system to make sure it is not a hindrance. A 4" would do the trick for sure if you have the room for one.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Latest 4 Inch Cold Air Intake CAI
"Most" cold air kits dont really work on the dyno. They use hi psi air at speed to make them really work. Which is why "most" engines will pick up power without the cold air hooked up while on the dyno.
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