I want to add a cold air intake to my 2000 and I was wondering if there really are substantial HP gains and if so which one should I choose?

 

yes there are gains especially with a heat sheild. i just got the cheap stuff from autozone and for the filter, breather, and a ten dollar silver tube thing it was 45 bucks. but you should get the stainless steel mesh thing because it looks sweet.

 

so your saying that spending $300+ on a system would be a waste? i just don't know that spending $80 on a K&N filter would be worth it.

 

Unless you relocate the air intake to the outside (from under the hood), all you have is a hot (under hood) air intake, similar to the factory unit. Limited gains, if any. Probably just more dirt entering the engine.

 

I am in the process of moving my intake to the otherside of the engine, away from the header

and I have been contemplating putting a heat shield between the header and the intake manifold

Im sure it would make at least a small difference

 

yea a three hundred dollar thing will not give you any better performance. and instead of putting it outside the hood where the elements will get on and in it, just create a heat shield and if you really want to you can get a velocity tube and find somewhere to pull the cold air from. but those things look ugly on an xj and im still trying to find a sweet way to grab the cold air.

 

CAI is a good start.
this is just my opinion. having put on all the bolt-ons imaginable on my XJ, i can honestly say that i would do it again. it is very true that you will see very mere results from each bolt-on, if any. but step by step they have made my engine run so much smoother. you will probably not gain what you're hoping, but the engine running better and the torque curve staying a lot more constant is a good enough of an achievement for me. just don't expect to beat ferraris with a little cold air intake. and also a cold air intake is kinda pointless unless you're gonna put on headers, high flow cat and muffler. if you're not gonna do those, just get a K&N filter.
AGAIN, i'm not trying to down your plans and be rude like some other people in this forum, but just don't expect the world to change because you spent $300.00 on some parts.

 

get a snorkle ultimate coldair intake

 

I would love to put a snorkel on. I checked at quadratec and they are about $500 any other options? I have seen some guys that have homemade ones some look good others look like crap.

 

i wanna see the homemade snorkels you think look good. almost everyone i see looks like crap

 

look up an airflow snorkel theyre about $350 and theyll work with aftermarket fenderflares