Cold Air Intake

[CREWZIN]

PTBruiser,
Sorry to give you the bad news on any of the aftermarket cold air filter packages but, I've added them to all of my cars (Vette, Saturn, PT) and they don't give you the kick-in-the-butt kind of response you may be looking for. What they do give you is a heck of a nice ram-induction type of "noise" (sounds like rushing air in a hollow tube) which makes the car seem faster, but you can't really tell. All the manufacturer's claim anywhere from 5-15hp increase but maybe that will add .01 to a quarter mile time, but then again you won't "feel" anything. The biggest "kick" I've received without spending a fortune is a 'chip' for the computer. ASE makes one for the PT (you can find them under the home page of ptcruiserlinks.com).
Other things to try (along with the filter) in a good exhaust system.
I was once told by an old racer, an engine is an "air-pump", the faster you can get air into an engine and the faster you can exhaust that air, the faster you'll go. That's wht turbo's and superchargers make so much power.
Good luck.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

CREWZIN

[wildfire]

I have to disagree somewhat with Cruizn. We have been in racing and custom cars for 42 years. Hypertech makes "seat of the pants" improvements in most everything we have tried.

For the PT improvement, here's our educated suggestions:

1. Drop in K & N filter - adds 3-4 dyno'ed horsepower.
2. OR APC Intimidator ram air - adds 6-8 horsepower.
3 OR K & N 57-1515 ram air adds 8-9 dyno'ed horsepower.
4. Bassani dual exhaust - adds 8-11 horsepower.
5. JBA header - adds 3-4 horsepower.
6. Jet Power Programmer adds 18-21 horsepower.

We are getting a genuine 28+ horsepower with our power package.

When we install a Whipple, we add another 50+ horsepower.
We are specifications nuts that have been car people for over 40 years. If its been invented, we've tried it. We refuse to sell anything that we wouldn't use on our cars.
NEVER, NEVER, EVER UNDERSOLD!

raceandstreet.com

W.A. Rea

[CREWZIN]

WILDFIRE,

I know you have great products (I was at Niagra falls and got the carbon fiber taillights and the Stull lake pipes) but the original question from PTBruiser was about ONLY adding the aftermarket intake.
If only the intake is added, then my answer to him still stands true...no noticeable seat-of-the-pants pickup will be seen, only heard from the rush of the air through the intake. I can't argue that 28+ horse power will give a boost...but the air package alone won't add enough to do it.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

CREWZIN

[cruiserjim]

I have modified my intake system with a home-made set-up: I removed the factory airbox top, installed a K&N RU-0620 filter using a curved tailpipe section connecting to the factory rubber manifold intake. I ran a 2" air duct from the left brake intake opening in the lower grille area to the lower factory air box intake (cut off the flare). I took some old thick mattress-pad topper foam rubber material (about 1 1/2" thick) and fitted it around the sides of the factory airbox bottom and left it tall enough to reach (and bend under) the inside of the hood when closed. I then ran a second 2" air duct from the left center grille area (next to and in front of the radiator) up to the air box, running this duct through the foam material. I covered the lower ends of the ducts with screening, and trimmed some of the factory plastic material at the brake duct and left wheel-well areas as necessary. I also glued the top end of the air duct hose where it went through the foam. Results? I have NOT put gauges/meters, etc. on the system, but there definitly is an improvement in response and acceleration. Also, I have noted an increase of 1-2 miles per gallon, much to my surprise. The foam was simply an attempt to quiet down the increased noise resulting from the removal of the factory air intake box top. I LIKE IT, and it didn't cost a bunch, either!!!!

Cruiserjim

Edited by - cruiserjim on 09/06/2001 19:07:30

[jimskiddz]

quote:
6. Jet Power Programmer adds 18-21 horsepower.

I don't know where you got your "education" but getting 28+ hp from the PT Cruiser without adding some kind of forced induction is, (to be kind), ludicrous. And 18-21 hp just from a chip?

Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

Have some respect for your audience here. Most PT owners that I have met at the meet & greets and other events are professional people with more than a little bit of gray matter upstairs.

If you want us to believe this bag of BS, you had better post some independent dyno results for each performance product addition along with one for your "power package". Maybe then we could all take you a little bit seriously!

[Grouch]

I put K & N FIPK kit and Bassani exhuast witch i got from Wildfire. In a drag race. useing my 98 Sebring V6 as a baseline the PT gained 5 to 6 car lengths over stock. Any way you cut it that takes more horsepower.Did Hurt low and midrange.The chip will help that.The ASE chip you Have to send them your computer. The Jet chip is a pass thru unit So you can turn it on and off. Both say you should use high test gas.By the way I am a old drag racer.

Edited by - grouch on 10/18/2001 09:43:57

[CRUZIN NW]

What are your thoughts on this topic, Jody? I noticed that you went from a cold-air induction setup to a ram-air induction setup. You also have a header and dual exhaust. These are the only modifications I would ever consider for my own PT. A supercharger would be great if they didn't cost four grand. They definatley increase performance by a whopping 50hp..and..more importantly, increase torque. As it stands now my PT cruises effortlessly at 80mph..and does 100 in fourth gear,for gosh sakes. As long as I drive it somewhat aggresively and wind it up over 4,000 rpm, I'm content with the power output. My only dissapointment is in low-end torque, which these engines truly lack. Do these induction and exhaust mods actually give it some missing torque? Seems to me, these modifications couldn't help but increase horsepower..but I know pure horespower alone doesn't neccessarily translate to increased torque...even a turbo needs time to spool up. I don't want to spend the piles of money just for induction noise and louder exhaust.

[chilipepperxxx]

I would like to reply to the chip thing. While I don't if this is true for the PT Cruiser, I own a 2001 VW Golf TDi and know that a chip will add approximately 26 hp to the stock 90 hp. It will also add about 30-40 ft/lb of torque. Don't underestimate chips. They are truly amazing. The difference you feel between stock and chipped is night and day.

2001 PT LTD...Bassani Exhaust, JBA Header, Zenon bumper covers & spoiler, APC tails, E&G Vert. billet grille, 18" wheels, T1-S, Eibach kit, tint, Trenz billet trim pieces, hand-painted exterior striping
Coming soon...CAI, Whipple Supercharger...

[DOOMID]

CREWZIN, what year is your corvette??? If it is a C5 then an intake system is definitely one of the best bolt on performance mods by far, i do not agree that cold air intake system do nothing for the car, i just put teh injen on my cruiser and it screams, awesome sound and very noticeable increase in power. As for the corvette intake system, you could get close to 20 rwhp with a good system, I have a Haltech Tric bottom breather on my C5 and it was one of the best and most important mods. Not trying to start anything, but I feel your statements were inaccurate. So my vote is yes, an intake system is a good mod for just about any application. Again, soory if you took offense, i meant none Crewzin

2002 Black Limited 5speed PT Cruiser
Other Vehicle:
2001 Mag Red/Oak Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 6speed,
340RWHP,352RWTQ

[CREWZIN]

Doomid, No offense taken. To each his own. My Vette is a C4 and when I lived in Maryland I drag raced it with my club 4/5 times a year. The cold air intake might have made more noise but the 1/4 mile time slip proved to me that just adding that system didn't improve my times. Not until I added a stag two chip and performance exhaust did i notice a kick-in-the-pants improvement. I don't race the PT, but the cold air intake alone doesn't make a heck of a lot difference. Now that I've added a 3" mandril bent Pacesetter exhaust system, there is a slight improvement in the upper end of the rev range.

CREWZIN