Installing Pedro's Hi-Flo Air Intake 986 2.5L

[Lobo1186]

and pianohawk another mod I might add that is simple and cheap is to repaint your grill vents. I see from your pic they are faded a bit. so were mine. but I went in there took them off scraped them down and repainted them and now they are pure black and pretty as ever! just a suggesttion.

it makes your car look much younger!

[Pianohawk]

Good idea. I've thought once or twice about it but am not sure how to take the grills off or sand them. What kind/brand of black paint did you use?

[Lobo1186]

well unfortunately to get them out you need to remove the bumper honestly it doesnt take long at all. with the correct drivers maybe 5-6mins (maybe more the first time since you are trying to find all the screw points) after that they pop right out.

using a paint scraper or razor blade you need to scrape off the gray faded plastic. takes a little while but the preparation is key seeing as painting plastic is tricky. I used whatever satin black paint I had lieing around I think it was rotor paint LOL but I know bondo makes a satin black plastic paint. after that spray paint away let dry and put it and viola 100 times better looking.

the plus side is if you do need ur car daily and you want some extra time to prep you can just put the bumper on with the grills while you prep and paint also great benefit you can clean your radiators!

[Cloudsurfer]

While there may possibly (and I'll emphasize "possibly") be gains to be had in drivability from ditching the stock intake on a stock motor, I'm still going to stick by my original statement that if you want to do this, at least do it with automotive components, not plumbing department parts.

I've made plenty of air intakes on cars (including the one on my Boxster), and always used aluminum tubing (typically from Vibrant) and silicone couplers and elbows (typically from Samco).

On the topic of smoothness, the latest studies on fluid dynamics actually show that a slightly rough surface flows better than a perfectly smooth one, due to boundary layer separation.

[yimmy149]

Instead of painting the vents black, just order some vinyl dye. Much easier than scraping, and they will look like new when done. Then protect them with 303 aerospace.

-james

[Lobo1186]

Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer

While there may possibly (and I'll emphasize "possibly") be gains to be had in drivability from ditching the stock intake on a stock motor, I'm still going to stick by my original statement that if you want to do this, at least do it with automotive components, not plumbing department parts.

I've made plenty of air intakes on cars (including the one on my Boxster), and always used aluminum tubing (typically from Vibrant) and silicone couplers and elbows (typically from Samco).

On the topic of smoothness, the latest studies on fluid dynamics actually show that a slightly rough surface flows better than a perfectly smooth one, due to boundary layer separation.

to each his own I guess. similarly I had hand made cat bypass pipes made for my car for 40 dollars is it polished stainless? nope is it preferable? i suppose. it cost me 40 dollars instead of 300 from fabspeed so maybe theirs are better fabbed but in the end id rather pocket the 260 bux.

with this the pvc is easy to come by and easy to install and if there are limited to no gains as you say then so be it, but hey it sounds better than stock and is cheaper than buying aluminum and their parts.

and yimmy thanks for the advice on the vinyl dye and 303 (i got that stuff its great)

[Cloudsurfer]

Originally Posted by Lobo1186

to each his own I guess. similarly I had hand made cat bypass pipes made for my car for 40 dollars is it polished stainless? nope is it preferable? i suppose. it cost me 40 dollars instead of 300 from fabspeed so maybe theirs are better fabbed but in the end id rather pocket the 260 bux.

with this the pvc is easy to come by and easy to install and if there are limited to no gains as you say then so be it, but hey it sounds better than stock and is cheaper than buying aluminum and their parts.

and yimmy thanks for the advice on the vinyl dye and 303 (i got that stuff its great)

The Fabspeed are better. Why? Theirs are mandrel bent, yours are not. Nevermind stainless or polished, they simply flow better. Is the difference appreciable? I have no idea.

The beautiful thing about human nature is that what works for one of us may not work for the other. If you're happy, that's all that matters in the end.

[Lobo1186]

Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer

The Fabspeed are better. Why? Theirs are mandrel bent, yours are not. Nevermind stainless or polished, they simply flow better. Is the difference appreciable? I have no idea.

yes if we are talking about the same diameter pipe. however, If I get crush bent pipe of bigger radius it makes no difference as long as the decreased diameter of the bend is still as wide if not wider than the original outlet for the headers making the point for mandrel bent moot at best.

does that mean if you have the money to blow on some fabspeed test pipes you shouldnt? of course not! I understand you dont want to put parts that you think are inferior because their application isnt the same but in the end if it works it works if not it will be discarded in short order.

Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer

The beautiful thing about human nature is that what works for one of us may not work for the other. If you're happy, that's all that matters in the end.

amen