Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

I was thinking the other day about buying a cheap eBay CAI and JB Welding the BOV flange on it. Then after the CAI, using some 2.5" radiator-like hose stuff to go to the IC and from the IC to the turbo itself. This way it's really cheap, it works great, and still looks awesome under the hood. You wouldn't see any of the piping other than the CAI which would like nice. I dunno...anyone doing this?

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

Show me a picture! So i can tell more!

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

if you can figure out how to get the piping from the intercooler to the CAI it wills ave $$

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

I have seen it done a number of times, not a bad idea to save money

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-00...37595038QQrdZ1
That's the one I was looking at. It's a 3"...is that to big? I just need to know if JB Weld would hold the BOV flange on really good and if some 2"-2.5" radiator type hose would be good to use after that to route it to the IC and turbo. I mean I think it would look great under the hood and I don't see why it wouldn't perform well....just tell me what you guys think.

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

well...? lol

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

seems like it would work. iv seen boost pipes that were plastic, rubber, aluminum. the only problem is that at high boost it might fly off easily.

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

i have used cai pipes before although i recomend finding the smallest diameter pipe possible so you dont have to buy transition couplings. personally i think a cai makes for better looking charge piping under the hood for far less money. as far as radiator hoses go to your local auto parts place and take a look at the dodge cummins radiator hoses. hell they might even let you look through the hoses to find the right size.

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

Im gonna make sure I have them together really well. Is 3" to big for that top part though?

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

Dude there is only 3 mins left on it! Are u go-n to use it on a turbo? Any way go ahead and try it!

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

3" Don't think it would be to big!

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

So did you bid on it?

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

Damn, nuh uh man. I wasn't home to bid on it. Im sure they have another up now. So 3" isn't to big for sure? And do they make 3" radiator hose? I looked at Advanced Auto Parts and they didn't have any hoses big enough that weren't precut for other cars. Im going to check at Napa and see what they have. Think the radiator hose will work good? It's used on stock GST's...

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

Dude it might! You will probaly just have to take your chances!

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

****, I think I will. I mean even if I don't use radiator hose...I'll still have a huge part of the charge piping out of the way.

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

personally i think getting a CAI for charge piping would be a waste of money. sure if you already have a CAI its worth it...but its prolly cheaper to get 3 ft of mandrel bent piping at various angles than to get a namebrand CAI.

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

Im not talking about a name brand CAI. Im talking about one of those cheap ones off of eBay. The one Im talking about is only 30 bucks shipped. I don't think I'll find some prebent charge piping that is that long and that's bent that perfect and clean for my car for under that lol. I've talked to a few people lately and a few of them have done this and said it worked great.

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

find someone to weld the flange on instead of using jb weld, things tend to break at the worst possible time, so welding that would be one less thing to worry about

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

http://search.ebay.com/mandrel-bend_...ageNameZRC0024

http://search.ebay.com/mandrel-pipin...ageNameZRC0023

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

Those are priced pretty good but the CAI still comes with more piping and it's already set up for my car and comes with clamps and hey, I'll have an extra filter sitting around as well. Those bends aren't much cheaper than the CAI and I'll get more piping and it's already bent for my car. And I did plan on having the flange welded on now. There's welding shop right next to my g/f's house that I might can get to do that for free since it's so small or a job. Im just going to buy an aluminum flange since the CAI is aluminum.

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

3 inch is probably gonna be to big, try to get something around 2-2.25in

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

I don't understand how it can be to big. Im not trying to argue b/c Im a newb w/ boost but I just don't understand. Especially if the rest of the piping will be smaller in diameter. Seems like it would be all compacked through the whole system unstil it got to the CAI part and then it could just open up and flow freely. Does it cause lag or something...? That's the only 1 piece CAI for my car on eBay for that price. It's nice too...but if 3"s is to big then please explain why. Thanks

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

compressed air isnt as compressed in 3 inch piping

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

my bov is JB Welded and its on there real good. Whoever did it did a damn good job, i got my kit used........

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

yeah you "could go with 3 inch" but you probably will have a lot of top end and not a whole lot of bottom end....

i mean top pro 4cylinders have like 3.5 inch and those things are putting down 1400+hp

RE: Anyone using CAI's for charge piping?
 

I bought it. Im just waiting now. And I looked at my old intake tonight that I also got from eBay and Im sure it's thick enough to actually weld the flange too. It's a little thicker than a nickel. And the whole charge piping set up won't be 3". Only that part of it will be which is right before it enters the TB. The rest of it will be 2.5". I also have a 42/48 T3 which isn't that big so top end is good. I should still get some good torque just because it's kind of a smaller turbo. Thanks for all of your input though guys...