As per suggestion by a few member here, of which I do thank profusely, I bought an AEM Nopi edition CAI for my wife's Sunfire.

It has been installed today along with an E-bay strut brace.

The AEM has made it so I can accelerate nicely/ normally to speed without the same pedal effort as before.
The RPMs stayed at 2000-2500 when I pressed the pedal 5% down. I was amazed I only needed that little of effort to make a normal and not slow excelleration to 45mph out of my neighborhood.

I tried flooring it, and it is very nice as the engine now barks and it is apparent that the response is much better.
This is even more so true on the freeway.

All I know is, the pedal gets more response, the max output is better and it looks a lot nicer under the hood now.

The strut brace is pretty nice too. I have taken a couple corners to test it and it does not feel like I am pushed to the side of my seat as much. It is a lot better than what it was. I have driven an old Sunfire, and the body roll is pretty bad. It is the difference between and old 00 model Sunfire to an 03 that I feel in handling, which is pretty significant. That is the only way I can put it into terms.

All I need now is a 4-2-1 header, downpipe and HP tuners.

That is about as far as I want to go.

People with all the same mods including header and downpipe have dynoed their car and got 147 or so hp at the wheels. That equates to around 165hp at the motor. I wonder what the max hp will be after it is tuned.

I hear HP tuners can squeeze around 10hp out of a stock car, I do not know how much for one with max bolt-ons. I doubt it will raise the max hp over 170hp at the motor. I know it will create more power across the entire RPM range though.

Again, I am basing my numbers off of other Ecotec owners with the same mods of which they have dynoed their cars. If I get only 150hp at the wheels total, I will be happy still as this car is not for racing, it is to get to work.

I am hoping the CAI will get me to an even 30mpg average. I am really close to that number now, but this is a balance of freeway and inner city. I did get 37mpg on a 100% highway miles trip with the cruise set to 70mph.
That was when it was stock, I wonder if I could hit 38mpg?





2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

Um ok...congrats?

my question is why are people dick heads on here? The man is just writing his review on the aem cold air intake install on his car. as well as his future ideas for mods and such. anyways i was wondering when somebody was gonna write in on the aem kit. ive been debating between the aem kit and the k&n kit. as for the mods. i see with a good tune and the header you should be able to get damn near 170hp at the crank. good write up man!

Thank you Andrew H., much appreciated.

I drove the car again today, and I notice the car is starting to learn all the new air to fuel ratios because it is giving a large boost of excelleration that made me look twice at the speedo when I floored it at 15mph. It seriously took off like a V-6 3.0 version Eclipse!

I am extremely pleased with this intake, and it has not only impressed me when it first was installed, but it seems to be getting a lot better as the computer relearns! Now on the freeway it too has a lot more than before, I thought on the first day of driving the car home it really did very little on the high end, but the car is acting a lot different today.
Also note, today is hot as hell in Arizona and it still is pulling nice and hard even with the AC on!

I rate this intake a perfect 10, I can't imagine it getting better than this intake.

The K&N is sort of a short ram with a protective shield that probably gets most of the hot engine air out, but I doubt it gets 100% outside air like mine does. I have to take pics ASAP!

I actually worry about the transmission now, this car pulled so hard that my wife said she felt like she was plastered to her seat!!! I let her drive it and as a passenger it feels even more aggressive with a WOT. I truly was plastered to the passenger seat too. I am not used to a 4 banger that can put out this kind of torque.

Yes there are faster 4 bangers out there, but I have not owned one, well at least not an NA 4 banger.

I have been nothing but impressed with the 2.2 Ecotec and how well it reacts to mods. I have modded a 2m6, a 2m4, a Dodge Daytona 2.5 NA and a Geo Storm and none of them have reacted this well to bolt ons. That is why I bought a 2007 Cobalt 2.2 for myself. The 2.4 requires premium fuel and so does the 2.0 SC, also the insurance is high. I can get these 2.2s to a 0-60 in around 7.3 seconds easy enough, and that is as fast as I really want to go.

No, I am not heading for the track, but I am stomping many Honduhs with a smile and making other people wonder wtf happened as they fall behind. No I am not racing RSXs, or Trans Ams but I could equal a Lancer Ralliart from 2005 once I get a header.

All these gadgets just make our daily driver econo boxes a little more fun.


2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

yeah if you could get some pics of the intake i would appriciate it man. the pictures i have seen of the aem kit for some reason to me looking at the pictures it looks very restrictive right at where it clamps to the throtle body. the k&n kit looks like a much more smooth transition from the intake tube to the tb. can you get some close ups of the tb end of the intake. what are your opinions of it?

The part that connects to the tb doesn't look restrictive to me, it looks like they were going for air velocity rather than the big tub of idle air sitting in front of the tb like the stock intake. It works and works soooo f'ing good that I guarantee that you will absolutely positively love the AEM. The K&N looks good but I have seen hp comparisons and it does not put out as much.

Look at the GM performance intake for the Cobalt, it reminds me a lot like the K&N version where it is a short stack with a protective shield rather than getting down in there where the outside air is. It wants to draw that fresh air out of the hole left by you removing the stock intake. The GM performance intake dynoed only a 2hp gain!!!!!!!!!!!!!! An owner of that same intake went ahead and made a hood scoop right over the filter and the output jumped up past 10hp. He did dyno it, and it was amazing the difference he saw just by letting in the cold air.

I am betting with the hood close and all that hot air leeches into that shielded area and lowers the output drastically.
I have also heard most short rams will make you loose hp!!!

All the owners of the short rams forget they dyno their SRIs with the hood open and a huge fan blowing in.
If they closed their hood and let the inside of the engine bay heat up then dyno the SRI, they would see some drastically different numbers.

The AEM intake has obviously been made with a lot of research and development. They could have made the connection to the tb differently, and they have their reasons for choosing this design. I will say that I am beyond happy with the end result. This feels like more than a 10hp gain. The reason I say this is, supposedly a catback exhaust with a high flow muffler will give a hair over 10hp gain, and this intake feels like at least the same increase I got from doing just the catback exhaust.

I will have pics by Friday, I may have to e-mail them to you.


2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

Very nice review. Thanks for putting in the time to write it up


-Aaron
www.TurboTechRacing.com

Performance Parts For Cavalier, Sunfire, Cobalts and More!!!

No problem and thanks for that!

I will be buying an AEM for my Cobalt too!

Hey Aaron, I am curious about this product and tempted to buy, but I need to know some things...
http://www.turbotechracing.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=5070

Does this fit onto the top strut towers or is it installed on the bottom of the car? Front, middle, back?

I want even more handling enhancement. The strut brace added some nice cornering stability, and for my wife, I want that car to ride like it is on rails especially since she is usually carting around my 8 month son. What prompted the need was one day on the freeway, she dodged a chair and the car did not handle as stable as I wanted it to. She dodged the chair, but the sway made me worry she could have spun the car if it was a little more excessive. I have seen it happen twice in my life to other people, both times they were lucky to dodge every car on the freeway as they spun out at 70mph and careened off the road.




2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

This thread makes my head hurt. I may elaborate more if somone does not beat me to it. I am at work and don't have the time now.



FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!

It has been proven that on our cars that there is no difference in gains between WAI and CAI. You chould have gotten the same results with a ebay WAI and a K&N filter.

I have watched people dyno the WAI, they have the hood open and that huge fan blowing.
Not a realistic test.
Colder air produces more power, it is proven.
I draw all outside air whereas the WAI sucks in engine compartment air that is a lot hotter.

You can say I am full of it if you want, but I will never buy a WAI/ SRI.

I have seen people dyno the WAI with the hood close and recorded a couple hp loss.


2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

On OUR cars, J-bodies.

[quote+From the sticky]Bolt Ons

The basic boltons are Intakes and Exhaust. That’s usually the first things that are done with cars. Easiest to do, gains are low to moderate. This pretty much goes for ALL boltons.

Intakes I’ve had quite a few, which are normally called WAI;s and CAI’s (warm air and cold air) but the real names for them are long ram intake aka CAI and short ram intake WAI.

Short rams are usually more abundant, and from proof they run pretty much similar to long rams. A bit more quicker throttle response can be seen due to a shorter path and less bends to travel through.

Long rams are a bit more rare and are usually mounted down in the fender. Also another note, there are people always referring to “true CAI’s”…don’t know where the term came from, but the only difference between a TRUE CAI and a CAI conversion from a WAI, if the fact that parts came with the alleged “TRUE CAI” all in one package. The filters are all mounted in the same exact area, and the pipes travel the same path. Sometimes they charge you more for the name TRUE CAI depending on where you go. J

Now, The reason I am leaving them to long or short rather than Warm or Cold, is that from measuring with a temp sender and gauge. There was a difference between the two of 4 degrees. Also another bit of note, it wa ian lacey or matt teske, one of the two dynoed a WAI at 9 hp, aem just dynoed one of their CAI’s at 8.6 hp. So does that mean WAI;s are better? No. they have just as many downsides as a CAI. Some people think the heat is extremely bad under the car, which is a myth, cause when the car is in motion air circulates under the hood. So basically you get the same air temp as a CAI.

With a CAI, the filter is mounted low, and in the summer time or sunny days we all know heat absorbs into the ground, and then…heat rises. The lower you have the filter, its still gonna take in warmer air. And also, COLD AIR, is normally what you read. However, use a bit of logic. The air is cold in the winter time, but in the summer, its hot outside. The air your intake takes in is only relative to the air temp outside. Sure dynos say this and that, but you also have to realize, they are in usually controlled environments, and also what a car gains on one car, can differ with the same part on another car. Meaning, I can dyno an intake on my car and gain 8 hp, take it off and give it to you and you may gain 10hp. Hell dynoeing a car outside and inside can make a differnce. The cooler it is the better the car runs.

There are plenty of companies to buy from. A lot of people swear by this and that, and that’s personal choice. Doesn’t exactly mean something is better, and there DEFINITELY isn’t a BEST. If any one claims that theirs is the best simply ask have you tried all the other intakes available? 9 times out of 10, prob not. I stopped after the rksport CAI, mantapart CAI, rsm WAI, mantapart WAI, and about 5 other self made intakes… there really wasn’t much difference in temp nor performance. Yea I wasted money, but I wanted to see what was all the hype. Back then intakes were around 200$ now they bump into the 300$ range. Some can justify it, I can’t. it’s a metal pipe with a filter on the end. Keep in mind every company out there has made a public printed claim that there intake is the best, or gives the most gains


I cant find the comparison thread, oh well.

Quote:

Some people think the heat is extremely bad under the car, which is a myth, cause when the car is in motion air circulates under the hood. So basically you get the same air temp as a CAI.

The difference was miniscule in hp output, and it didn't show how they dynoed it.

The thread says the heat of the road rises and is assuming is just as hot as the engine bay, and I know that is not correct especially when a car is in motion.

At a standstill this would be a better comparison to make.
I know the engine heat is hotter as the coolant alone is around 200 degrees.
I have never dealt with weather that hot.

The SRI has claimed the length and less bends helps, but there is also the phenomenon of velocity.
I do not have scientists at hand right now to make the calculations, but I am betting that one may give a better response at one area of the RPM band than the other if the temperatures 'were' equal.

I live in Arizona and don't worry about hydrolock. Even when it rains, I have the splash shield on, and wont let the car go into standing water. I can also buy the hydrolock prevention part from AEM if I was worried.

The CAI IMHO is perfect for Arizona, maybe not in other places though were it constantly rains heavily.
I can also make this intake a SRI if needed, but I doubt I will need to.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.


2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

I forgot to mention that in all the intake threads I have read before I decided on this one, I weighed and balanced the questionable overall quality of the E-bay intakes. They seem to work, but people have said the metallurgy was in question and as such can warp over time. I got this AEM for $139.99 shipped, which was the most I wanted to spend, but I feel I got a better overall product longevity and design wise. But that is just my opinion. I am happy with the end result, in fact I am elated. If this is only a 8 hp or so gain, the DC Sports 4:2:1 header claims 10- 16 hp, and that will be insane. I am guessing I would probably get a 13 or so hp gain from the header for having all other bolt-ons. If I have a cam and some porting, then maybe it would benefit by 16hp, but that seems like a big claim by the manufacturer.

I also think a lot of the manufacturers blatantly lie about their numbers, and the WAI/ SRI is of the products I really have heavy suspicions on their claims.


2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

Mike85220 wrote:No problem and thanks for that!

I will be buying an AEM for my Cobalt too!

Hey Aaron, I am curious about this product and tempted to buy, but I need to know some things...
http://www.turbotechracing.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=5070

Does this fit onto the top strut towers or is it installed on the bottom of the car? Front, middle, back?

I want even more handling enhancement. The strut brace added some nice cornering stability, and for my wife, I want that car to ride like it is on rails especially since she is usually carting around my 8 month son. What prompted the need was one day on the freeway, she dodged a chair and the car did not handle as stable as I wanted it to. She dodged the chair, but the sway made me worry she could have spun the car if it was a little more excessive. I have seen it happen twice in my life to other people, both times they were lucky to dodge every car on the freeway as they spun out at 70mph and careened off the road.

Installs on the front subframe (which is under the engine) Very nice part and adds a lot of support.


-Aaron
www.TurboTechRacing.com

Performance Parts For Cavalier, Sunfire, Cobalts and More!!!

Mike85220 wrote:No problem and thanks for that!

I will be buying an AEM for my Cobalt too!

Hey Aaron, I am curious about this product and tempted to buy, but I need to know some things...
http://www.turbotechracing.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=5070

Does this fit onto the top strut towers or is it installed on the bottom of the car? Front, middle, back?

I want even more handling enhancement. The strut brace added some nice cornering stability, and for my wife, I want that car to ride like it is on rails especially since she is usually carting around my 8 month son. What prompted the need was one day on the freeway, she dodged a chair and the car did not handle as stable as I wanted it to. She dodged the chair, but the sway made me worry she could have spun the car if it was a little more excessive. I have seen it happen twice in my life to other people, both times they were lucky to dodge every car on the freeway as they spun out at 70mph and careened off the road.

Not an expert by any means but the situation you are describing sounds like an oversteer issue. I would recommend rear strut tower bar and tie bar to keep the back end planted some more, or at least make it predictable if it does break loose.


==============================================================

Yes, noob, the search button is for you...

Just because a manufacturer says it will gain x amount of power, don't hope for that. Modifications tend to work in tandem with eachother. If you believe that a header will get you 16 hp because they said so, first of all that definately won't be hp at the wheels and secondly go buy a turbonator because they apparently net you big time hp and mpg's and thirdly that doesn't mean 16hp across the entire power band so the hp claims mods make don't always mean you will be going faster. I'm glad you like your intake and I know they fit well and are of good construction. If you only paid about $140 shipped for a new AEM intake thats a good price and i can see it being worth it but really it's not much if any better than any other intake out there. Short ram or CAI, you've got aluminum tube getting heat soaked. In a short ram the air goes a shorter distance but starts out a tad hotter, little less heat soak but also less cooling from inside the intake tube from the air starting hotter. The CAI has to travel through more hot piping for longer times but the air starts out a little cooler. In the end you will have almost identical temps when you hit the engine. So what's the real difference between the two? Short ram will give you better throttle response, cheaper price, easier install, and no worry about hydrolock.

And I don't know what you mean by being "plastered" into your seat. If you want to try the $100 bill on the dash trick in your almost stock j-body i'd be happy to give it a try

Anyway, congratulations on getting an intake!


----------------------------
<<<<<2003 Sunfire Sedan>>>>>

I do know at the www.cobaltss.net the short ram intake from GM Performance only had a 3hp gain, and it comes with the little heat shield.
It was dynoed, and without the shield I am sure the gains would be less. That is on a Cobalt, and under the hood the only difference is the intake goes towards the right side fender (if in driver's seat).

The guy who dynoed his car was upset and put on a functional hood scoop to get more outside air.
The next dyno gave him a lot better numbers.
Outside air seems to win out over velocity or shorter pipes.

Truthfully it does not matter to me, I am not in the shopping mode and made my purchase.

I will try the cash on the dash trick and see if it works. I am sure it will, I never had that good of pull out of this car but it was not just ok for a 4 banger but it felt like my old IROC Z 305HO being floored. The standard 305s were blah as I did have an 86 Trans Am with one and it was slower than the 03 Sunfire and Cobalt 2.2. My 305 high output was pretty nice and it had an upgraded 4 barrel carb and drop in K&N, of which I bought it that way, I never modded it.


2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

Don't forget to take the seatbelt off. I wouldn't want the belt lock engaging and you not being able to move because of that and then saying how hard your intake plastered you into the seat.


----------------------------
<<<<<2003 Sunfire Sedan>>>>>

Don't forget to brush after all your sweets...


2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

This is such a redundnt thread..newbs will never listen..an intake is an intake...if you want to get technical you think your all mighty cold air is actually colder air..you dont think the "hot" air from the ngine bay isnt going to heat the intake and the "cold" air comming through it..give it a rest its an intake be happy with the 3 hp you gained and call it a day.

Quote:

newbs will never listen

So is that why you aren't listening?

Here is a CAI comparison, 3hp my ass:

http://www.eurotuner.com/techarticles/0411et_intake_comparison/abd_racing_aem.html

The test was done on a car with 162.2hp and 161.7lbs torque which is as close as I can find to show the effects of a CAI on a dyno.

Here is a dyno of a Sunfire with Ecotec that has about the same mods as mine:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7994072920412328660&q=Sunfire+intake+dyno&ei=17yXSOCDCIOm4QKIj5CZBQ&hl=en

The mods are:

AEM CAI, Lightened Crank Pulley and Full Magnaflow Stainless Exhaust less the resonator.

Output at the wheels: 142.6 bhp and 143.1 lb-ft that equates to around 162hp and 163lbs torque at the motor.
Those numbers are supported by many others with almost the same mods listed here by Cobalt, Cavalier and Sunfire owners.

Then I look to another comparable output car (169.9 hp and 163.4 lb-ft after the intake install) and it shows how the WAI fares:

http://www.turbomagazine.com/tech/0206tur_aem_short_ram_intake/index.html

A 7.8 hp and 6.9 lb-ft of torque and the dyno clearly shows it only in the upper RPM band giving the gains while at the low it gave maybe 2 hp here and lost .5hp there and mostly was "the same" all the way up to max output where there finally registered a gain.

I believe Euro Tuner and Turbo Magazine over "an intake is an intake, enjoy the 3hp", whatever...







2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

what i don't understand from people on here is this...

he's bought the product, he's happy with it. who cares if a wai or cai gets better gains.

personally, i have the aem intake on my car as well. it's a great piece and fitment is superb. if somebody asked, i'd recommend it just the same. whether it's because the car feels more peppy or because the directions are straight foward and the fitment is good, there is no need to give him a hard time. he's happy with his purchase...

jesus i hate this place sometimes...

High five to you strat81, I agree that sometimes it seems like there are people on the forum that are here to attack or degrade others almost like their choices were the best and all else are retards or noobs for not doing the same. I did A LOT of research, questioning and pricing before buying this intake.

The name is reputable, the gains were acknowledged by a few real independant dynos and not AEM, and it is of quality and not a cobbled up looking kit.

I have a question for you strat81, I just filled up the Sunfire today and it was 24.5mpg, I usually get 27.6-28.7mpg depending on the kind of driving and whether I use the freeway more or less.

I never have had such a low MPG, I am wondering if the computer being reset after the install and relearning is culprit.

Thanks man!


2003 Sunfire with 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler, 2 1/4 piping, 2 1/2 inch resonator, a 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter, 2 1/4 inch down-pipe, a ported LSJ manifold, E-bay strut brace, and an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition.

most likely it's due to you laying into it more to hear the sound of the engine...

after you've had it a bit, your mileage should go back up.