DIY directed air free and easy, no scoop needed

[drex1999]

To get the fresh, directed air to your CAI, you have to drop a few hundred bucks on a scoop and washer bottle to gain the 5 HP and torque. Pull the wheel, wheel well, cut, install, blah, blah, blah.

The scoops you buy deflect air from the bottom grill. That opening is 1 1/2 inches wide and depending on the scoop, the deflector reaches into that opening 5 or 6 inches. That gives you an air retrieval area of 7 1/2 to 9 square inches. That air is then directed upward towards your CAI air filter.

There is an opening at the front of your CAI air box by your rad that has at least the same square inch area but it is blocked off by plastic in front of your rad which is hard to get to...or is it?

In behind your top grill, you can see the plastic. Only some of it is beneficial to remove. The picture below will show you. I took a half inch drill bit and drilled 3 holes, 2 at the top and one at the bottom. I then took a drywall saw and cut between the holes. You could use a hacksaw blade but I used a drywall saw because of it's pointed blade for directional ease and handle. It cut like butter. The openings in the grill are large enough to easily join your cuts behind the grill openings at an angle. There is even more plastic in behind your cut out that helps direct the air into the air box.

The area of the plastic I cut out equaled 7 square inches and the whole job took less than an hour, even when taking my time.

"That's great, but does it work?" I took a few of those blue shop towels off the roll and covered the top of the air box. I then took an air hose and directed it at the front of the car which made the shop cloths on the air box jump and dance around, so yeah, it works. Also, the stock washer bottle that was deemed a hindrance because it blocked off the bottom now helps contain and direct this air into your filter. And it was all free. Meanwhile, when I opened up the DIY page to write this, a supplier had bumped a scoop/washer bottle page to the top. Go figure.

My tips are to hold your drill firmly so your bit doesn't pull forward too much when breaking through the plastic and to take notice of the position of your blade when cutting so you don't rub the back of your saw blade on your paint. If the piece of plastic you cut out drops into your new opening, just reach in through the newly opened air box to grab it. This job really is easy. If you want to go with a drywall saw like me and don't have one, any hardware store for 5 bucks. I'm certain a hacksaw blade would work though.

[Ryanbabz71]

Here is the cutout on the lower grill for my JRE scoop. It is not a 1-1/2" opening its much more than that. Wasn't hundreds of dollars either




Ryan

[Ryanbabz71]

Will your modification work on the heritage grille?


Ryan

[Eddiefuzz]

Thanks for the great info! I'm going to do this tomorrow?

[drex1999]

Here's what I can tell you Ryan. The opening in the stock bottom grill of a 2010 Camaro through which air can pass is 1 1/2 inches. I measured it all before I did this to see if I could get a comparable surface area. I have no idea what you can or can't do on other grills as I do not have them.

[AG1LE]

Originally Posted by Ryanbabz71

It is not a 1-1/2" opening its much more than that. Wasn't hundreds of dollars either

+1

[Tstorm180]

I have a 2011, and she's wrapped up for the winter, but rest assured, i will be checking this out come Spring.

[rozay]

Just went out and did it took me less than 30 min including removing the plastic to cut

Sent from Galaxy Note 4

[drex1999]

I don't hang around this site much so this is my last comment on this and I'll be on my way. I believe this turns what was detrimental restricted air box into an advantage over an open one.

With the stock washer bottle still installed, the only opening in the CAI air box was a small one between the bottle and the wheel well. My air hose test showed that air was being routed in as it was coming out the top of the air box. You only have to hold your hand out the window while driving to understand the amount of air force that will be coming in the front grill over a little air hose. Once that pressure enters the air box, it has only two places to go, into the filter or out the small opening. What I'm getting at is because the only other opening in the box isn't that big, I think this might slightly pressurize the air box at speed. That's something the scoop and small bottle couldn't do as it was opened up. Just a theory.

[cdb95z28]

Here are two pics to help everyone see which one drex1999 modified. These pics are with the grille/bumper cover removed. First one shows the baffle on my Camaro (unmodified). If you look closely at the baffle, I actually marked where I was planning on cutting an opening, very similar to how drex1999 did his. But I decided against it, for fear of excess water making its way to the air filter during heavy rain. This may or may not be an issue, but I will revisit this as I do not drive my Camaro in the rain voluntarily (not a daily driver). I am looking at making a trip to The Tail of the Dragon this summer, and would rather not test it out on a long trip.



This one shows looking behind an unmodified baffle towards my CAI (Z/28) opening. I placed a flashlight at the mouth of the intake to show where it is in relationship to the baffle:

[camguynj]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

Here are two pics to help everyone see which one drex1999 modified. These pics are with the grille/bumper cover removed. First one shows the baffle on my Camaro (unmodified). If you look closely at the baffle, I actually marked where I was planning on cutting an opening, very similar to how drex1999 did his. But I decided against it, for fear of excess water making its way to the air filter during heavy rain. This may or may not be an issue, but I will revisit this as I do not drive my Camaro in the rain voluntarily (not a daily driver). I am looking at making a trip to The Tail of the Dragon this summer, and would rather not test it out on a long trip.

Attachment 688027

This one shows looking behind an unmodified baffle towards my CAI (Z/28) opening. I placed a flashlight at the mouth of the intake to show where it is in relationship to the baffle:


Attachment 688028

Great pics, VERY helpful. Thanks for posting. You have a factory cai ?

[cdb95z28]

Z/28 CAI

[camguynj]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

Here are two pics to help everyone see which one drex1999 modified. These pics are with the grille/bumper cover removed. First one shows the baffle on my Camaro (unmodified). If you look closely at the baffle, I actually marked where I was planning on cutting an opening, very similar to how drex1999 did his. But I decided against it, for fear of excess water making its way to the air filter during heavy rain. This may or may not be an issue, but I will revisit this as I do not drive my Camaro in the rain voluntarily (not a daily driver). I am looking at making a trip to The Tail of the Dragon this summer, and would rather not test it out on a long trip.

Attachment 688027

This one shows looking behind an unmodified baffle towards my CAI (Z/28) opening. I placed a flashlight at the mouth of the intake to show where it is in relationship to the baffle:


Attachment 688028

I too share your concern about water getting to the filter when raining. What do you think about drilling say a dozen 1/4" or smaller holes into the baffle instead of cutting it out ?

[JessicasCamaro]

I'm intrigued by this as I have been contemplating the scoop... However, I too am concerned about water since my car is my DD. I wonder if a hydroshield would do the trick? I had one on the CAI on my previous car; served as inexpensive insurance/peace of mind