i own a 1996 d16y7 automatic. unfortunately, i have no money for a new car so i'll be sticking with this for a few more years. until then i've decided the following IHE build. just need a 2nd opinion before i go out and shop for parts.

AEM CAI
DC Sports 4-1 header (planning to buy it from ebay)
Magnaflow hi-flo cat
Greddy Evo2 catback exhaust system

i was also thinking, would the CAI be ok with 1 feet of snowfall? snowed pretty hard this winter....

 

as long as you have your splash guard over the CAI area youll be fine. but if in doubt go SRI. or if your lowered or plan on lowering might as well stick with a SRI.


sounds like a decent plan....

 

what about those waterproof covers you put over the filter but still allows it to breathe properly ? injen hydro sheild .

 

not worth it IMO.... if the filter just gets splashed its not a big deal.. motor might run alittle crappy like water in the gas but it wont hurt anything unless you dunk the filter in a deep puddle.

 

If you go with the CAI ,AEM has a bypass valve for the CAI so you dont suck up any water. You just need to cut you intake to install. Check out AEMs site for the bypass valve.

 

does AEM sell splash guards? i don't think i saw any on their website. btw, the 4-1 DC Sports header off ebay is only for manual transmission. are there any 4-1 headers from another brand?

 

just get a cheap CAI or SRI off ebay and switch out the filter with an AEM or K&N. I would just get a SRI cause you will get about the same gains and a more throttle response. Dont get the bypass valve, its a waste of money and will cancel out the small extra hp a CAI will give you. But other than that your plan looks good. O wait, do you live in california? if not get a megan racing 4-1 header. Way cheaper and works just as well. If you live in california you wont pass smog tho. Good choice on the cat back, check out the Apexi WS2 exhaust too.

 

no i live in vancouver,canada. we have something called "aircare" which we need to visit every 4 years or so. i might consider the megan 4-1. would the 4-1 megan fit automatic as well? i know the DC sports 4-1 is only for manual transmission.

 

Why do you want a 4-1 for the street? I dont think megan makes a 4-1 I could be wrong though. A 4-2-1 header gives you gains in the low to mid rpm range. On a street car this is where you want your power. A 4-1 gives gains in the mid to high rpm range, great if you are running your car at 5-9k most of the time. Besides our little d motors lack power in the low to mid rpm range a 4-2-1 helps with that. Yes the megan 4-2-1 will fit the auto tans but to put any header on your car youe need to do the EX exhaust swap. Read the sticky at the top of the IHE thread page. I will be adding to this soon for the swap on my HX.