Tried searching and found a couple threads but didn't really see what I was looking for.

I'm considering making my own intake but don't really know what I need to get without buying a bunch of PVC or something I don't need. Also how do the homemade ones compare to off the shelf ones as far as performance or fuel economy?

One thing I will say is I have no intention on making a snorkel. Seems like there a million homemade snorkels here but very few regular intakes.

 

Most are going to tell you intakes are useless and noise makers. I have no dyno knowledge of actual results.

 

Are you looking to make a cold air intake?

If this is the case, PVC is the cheapest way to go. I bought a 2ft piece from the Home Depot, and a filter that will attach to it AutoZone for about 20 or 30 bucks. However, I was making a snorkle. I did it this way because there is a quite a bit of wind preasure at the base of the windsheild (the cowl). I think that it forces more aiir into the air boxl, kind of like cowl induction. I did ditch the factory filter for a K&N filter to get more flow and blocked of the factory intake location.
If I am wrong on my thinking please let me know, I will not take offense.

 

If the intake is built right it makes a big difference, but you have to put the filter up near the radiator support and build a box for it to keep the hot air from the engine from entering the filter. This is why I put a snorkle on mine, it was easier with a lot less fab involved.

 

First and second setup I have. The cone filter I got from autozone and I made the inbetween pipe part out of a basket ball hoop pole and some small tubes from a bike frame that I drilled holes for and welded on. The cab induction snorkle is a rv septic hose from wallmart with a filter and top of a filter box from a 90 somethin pontiac sunfire. It goes down into the area behind the firewall under the wipers and over to the passenger side and threw the firewall, thats about how far Iv gotten. Not really a high flow sutup. May install for the hell of it one of those little electric fans that you put in your intake tube to suck air in.

 

now you can smoke with the windows up

 

So what diameter do I need? I like the simple PVC into a cone filter.

So I have it right, unless I fab up some sort of shield/air dam it's not really gonna do much as far as performance right?

 

I just found whatever pipe I had that would fit the stock air intake tube and the spectre air filter I got has rings for the inside to fit different size tubes. And it wont do alot unless you do have a sheild to block the heat but if the blocked off area takes air from inside the engine bay a sheild would basicly be pointless.