Time for an air filter anyway and was considering a K&N drop in for ~$50. I'd like to have a CAI but don't really want to pay ~$250+. Any good deals in between? I considered just getting a cheapo ~$80 CAI from some no name on EBAY and just putting a K&N on it. I know the filters are junk but does the piping really matter that much? Anyone tried this or know of some good deals right now?

Thanks,

GTS2K

 

you are going to make zero power gains by trying to find a cheap intake. maybe if you are really lucky and buy an expensive snorkle or full cai and do some cutting you could keep the car from losing power. i'd stick with stock if i was you. or do some more homework before buying anything. theres lots of info about intakes around this site.

 

just keep the stock.

 

Intakes can be thought of in two ways - they can be "performance" intakes or they can be "cold air" intakes or both. The S2000 OEM intake is already a "performance" one. Honda did a pretty good job on it. Unfortunately, it's a "hot air" intake. If you're miserly, then you can turn it into a CAI for 5 bucks. It doesn't look pretty, but it works:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=70356
You can also insulate the airbox and intake tube for even better outcome:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...095&hl=insulate

As for the filter, you can go with a K&N or JR to give a bit better flow and thus, a tiny gain. However, whenever you get more flow, you decrease filtering. Which is more important to you?

 

XVIPER,

Thank you for providing the link to Zeniac's thread highlighting my recent insulation project. Other than not having the radiator covered, what do you think of the work?

So far the results have been quite satisfying. While I've never been a miser with any of my cars, this alternative seems to be a very good inexpensive way to improve the consistency of the motor's performance by significantly reducing the intake air temps. I've spent hundreds of dollars in the past on the industry's "best" intakes and can't say that I've "felt" $200+ value.

Terry

 

You did a much nicer job of it than I did when I conducted my temp recording experiments. I used the same stuff you used on the airbox "apendix" but on ALL the airbox and intake tube to the TB. The stuff you used on airbox itself will be good for reflecting heat. I just don't know how much insulating capacity that material has.
I don't know if you've ever seen my two big threads from about two years ago where I measured the air temp at various places, including a reading just in front of the TB. By installing a radmat alone, I could get the intake air temp to within 5 to 7 degrees of ambient. Then by insulating the airbox, I got within about 3 degrees. When I insulated the intake tube, I got it to near ambient. The interesting result was that after sitting at a light in the heat, the air temp rose much slower than before and not nearly as high and then once under way, the temps came down a lot faster than before. If you were to sit at a light in the heat and elevated the idle with the throttle to about 2000 rpm, the intake temps hardly moved.
For me, it was purely an experiment, so once I got my data, I replaced the OEM box with an AEM. Even the AEM benefitted from insulation with the foiled bubble wrap. Of course, I have a supercharger with an intercooler now, so air temp is not such an issue for me anymore.

 

Look in the "For Sale" forum for a used AEM CAI. I picked up an AEM CAI v1 for 50 bucks. Best horsepower-per-dollar mod I've done so far.

 

I have an aem CAI for sale. Red and in good condition. $100 plus shipping

 

CAI's come with hydro-lock for free for select customers

 

lol... i guess i'm gettin even hotter temps by running without the airbox cover