I just got my exhaust in and will be installing tomorrow afternoon and now it is time to look for the intake system and I am turning to you guys and listening to what you guys think is a good intake system. I know everyone says that K&N is the best but I am sure that there are comparable companies out there. So what is a good intake system that will not break the bank?

 

Homemade cowl snorkel. 25 bucks and half an hour.

 

K&N have no good intakes for XJs. They're very expensive and very ****.

If you want cold air do a cowl intake. DIY is good and cheap, or you can buy a commercial kit with chrome and an air filter that lets plenty of dust in and frees up the stock location.

dukie564 started a thread on here that's very popular. Tons of these threads around.

 

The Spectre kit is fine. Chrome - yes. Dust - no.

 

Until I see some scientific data that backs up the effectiveness of snake-oiled gauze filters - let alone an OE application for that type where reliability is a concern - I have a very hard time believing that such a tiny filter like the Spectre kit uses flows the same as OE while providing the same amount of filtration.

Hype: http://mymiata.paladinmicro.com/K&NComments.htm
Data: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

 

Take a look at http://shop.trailheadoffroad.ihostne...ctid=XJCI91-01 http://www.spectreperformance.com/in...tm-filter.html

 

I know the inline filters look good. But your filter is much more inclined to get dirty really fast. And also to get wet. If this is the route you choose I would suggest you buy a quality gauze filter. They will last forever and won't get ruined because of water.

As far as air flow goes there is no need for more flow than stock. And cold air intakes are a gimmick in my opinion.

You can't beat the stock airbox for protection. That is why my cowl runs off of it.

 

the air filter in my stock airbox has been in there for 16k miles and still isn't even discolored. that tells me it doesn't pull air from anywhere but the engine bay. the cowl setups look like a water problem waiting to happen.

 

They're not. The HVAC system pulls cold air from the cowl.

 

just a gimmick oh god

Yeah if that's your only mod it won't do much but if you've done all the basics to let your engine breathe easier it will make a difference

 

at the same rate of an engine ?

 

On the 4th blower setting? Likely more.

Regardless a bunch of skeptics on here did tests with their cowl intakes. Dumped a garden hose on max into the cowl and put the engine up to speed. Filter was dry! Using a flexy tube from the cowl to the cleaner helps with this as any other water gets stuck on the corrugation.

 

Are you porting the head? Going with larger valves. Maybe a stroker also? If so you your throttle body will be your next step in air flow.

I mean the stock air tube has what, one bend? How are you going to get straighter than that? Your air filter has plenty of breathing room.

 

I'm one of those guys who is really up in the air about an intake... I currently have a full 2.5 inch exhaust, high flow cat, 62mm throttle body, 703, injectors, and a few other things. I'm debating whether or not to buy an intake because I'm not sure if there really is any power to be had from it or it it's just smoke and mirrors.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/en...ing-true-lies/

In that article they mention an intake is good for 5-10hp (from their findings). How do you guys feel about that? Do you think there is any accuracy to it?

 

i run the THOR intake bc it would have cost me almost as much to make something look as nice, but i could just buy this kit instead of piecing tubes and couplings together. its nice, but im still not sure i'd recommend it. the filter is WAY huge, which is why i went with it over the spectre kit bc i dont think that filter is big enough (theres an equation for it somewhere... and desert guys have reported it gunking up with dirt/dust quickly).

anyway, that kit uses an oiled filter, but i dont plan on re-oiling it once it gets ready to be cleaned... i'll replace it with a nice no-oil filter.

back in the day i cut two 2 or 3" holes in the driver's side of the airbox for more air. noticed some noise difference, maybe faster throttle response... i dont remember, that was 6 or 7 years ago in my last jeep before i went to a cowl intake like in dukie's thread.