Cold Air Inductions install and review

[ZL W0N]

I received my Cold Air Inductions intake system for my ZL1 and installed it earlier today. First impressions on the package was great. Everything was packaged and protected, bubble-wrapped, plastic wrapped, especially the air box, and the cone filter was in its own box. It also comes with instructions on how to remove the stock system and install the new system, and has color pictures.

Once I started removing the stock intake, everything came out smoothly. The only thing I had trouble with was removing the crankcase breather tube from the stock rubber intake elbow. The directions tell you to remove the clamp and pull out the crankcase tube. Unfortunately the end of the tube is flanged and is pretty much impossible to pull out. I ended up cutting the rubber elbow just to get the tube out. Just be careful not to break the crankcase tube.

The second problem I ran into was getting the hoses situated right, so the new intake elbow and MAF housing fits right. The new air box is a tight fit, which is good performance wise, but makes it a pain to seat properly. Once seated, I had to reinstall the elbow and MAF housing, unlike the directions that stated installing the elbow and MAF housing before the air box.

The MAF housing fits very tight into the intake elbow. So tight, that you won't be able to move it once it's set, so be sure the MAF housing is completely inside the elbow like the pictures indicate. Also, I chose to reinsert the MAF sensor into the housing before installing the cone filter, because you don't have enough wiring slack to put the sensor in properly once it's in the upright position, unlike the directions that state to reinsert the MAF sensor last.

The cone was also a very tight fit, but it juuust fits.

If you have a deep socket wrench, I suggest leaving everything a little loose, so you can adjust it and get it all in place before tightening. If you do not have a deep socket wrench, like me, you'll have to get the air box as close as you can to where it will be and tighten it down. If not, you won't be able to get an adjustable wrench in there once the cone filter is on.

After getting everything installed and tightened, I placed the glass lid on the box. The directions say to leave everything loose so the lid goes on easier, but I needed to push in from the cone in order to seat everything right while I was tightening. The lid was a little hard at first, but it has a good, tight seal. Another thing that the directions don't state, is to make sure the rubber rim of the lid is seated under the rubber strip on the engine bay, not on top.

The directions were good, I liked the pictures, but a lot of steps were ass-backwards.

The performance review has been nothing but great. I noticed an immediate change in engine and supercharger tone. It sounds great! I only drove the car for an hour or so, but I got no codes or errors, and the engine seems to run smoothly.

With the exception of the directions, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a great intake. One thing that caught my attention was their insulated air box and MAF housing, and the fact that they've tested these and dyno'ed them with the hood closed, in real world conditions. Their average hp increase was 20, and torque was 19. After all, who drives with their hood open anyways?

Let me know what you guys think. If you have any other questions, let me know!

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

It looks great, I am glad t hear that you are happy with the CAI, thank you for choosing Cold Air Inductions Inc., we really appreciate your business and support!

Installation for the ZL1 set-up has some tighter tolerances than the other kits we offer, so it can take a little more time to install it. We have actually found where the MAF wiring for some of the ZL1's is routed differently than others, hence why in your case you may have had to do things in a slightly different order than the installation instructions suggested. Hopefully that makes sense.

How do you like the increased volume of the "Supercharger Whine", that's typically our ZL1 customers favorite thing about adding our CAI, other than the additional power of course!

Thanks!!

[ZL W0N]

Originally Posted by Sales @ CAI Inc

It looks great, I am glad t hear that you are happy with the CAI, thank you for choosing Cold Air Inductions Inc., we really appreciate your business and support!

Installation for the ZL1 set-up has some tighter tolerances than the other kits we offer, so it can take a little more time to install it. We have actually found where the MAF wiring for some of the ZL1's is routed differently than others, hence why in your case you may have had to do things in a slightly different order than the installation instructions suggested. Hopefully that makes sense.

How do you like the increased volume of the "Supercharger Whine", that's typically our ZL1 customers favorite thing about adding our CAI, other than the additional power of course!

Thanks!!

The supercharger whine sounds so much better! I eventually do want to get it tuned, once I install more mods, in order to fully take advantage of it.

The only problem I have come across, is that the cone slipped off of the MAF housing the other day and I had to re-install it and tighten it down. I may not have tightened it down enough when I first installed it. I'm going to keep checking it periodically and see if it stays. The elbow coming off the TB, doesn't line up exactly with the air box, so I had to push it into place in order to put on the cone. The air box fits perfectly, so I know that's not the problem. We'll see what happens the next time I drive it.

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by ZL W0N

The supercharger whine sounds so much better! I eventually do want to get it tuned, once I install more mods, in order to fully take advantage of it.

That's honestly the #1 compliment that we get from ZL1 owners with our CAI, they LOVE the audible difference in the Supercharger whine! Sounds like you got it resolved by tightening up the connection on the filter

[DDoug]

While people watching at the St. Ignace car show back in June, every 5 minutes guys were pointing out my CAI intake to their buddies. Not sure why, as plenty of the Camaros there (in the club) have CAI's intake, but it doesn't go unnoticed.

I like the clean, finished, under glass look and, of course, the sound.

I also learned not to park next to a Transformers edition Camaro as little kids lose their mind when they see it.

Lots of munchkins and baby carts around my pride and joy! D'oh!

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by DDoug

While people watching at the St. Ignace car show back in June, every 5 minutes guys were pointing out my CAI intake to their buddies. Not sure why, as plenty of the Camaros there (in the club) have CAI's intake, but it doesn't go unnoticed.

I like the clean, finished, under glass look and, of course, the sound.

I also learned not to park next to a Transformers edition Camaro as little kids lose their mind when they see it.

Lots of munchkins and baby carts around my pride and joy! D'oh!

Haha that had me laughing about parking next to a Transformers Edition, I never thought of that but it makes perfect sense!

Glad to hear that your CAI is getting a lot of looks and that you are so happy with it, that really means a lot to us!!

[el ess A]

Hey. I park my ZL1 with CAI (chrome like version) next to a Transformers Edition every night!

But yeah, the kids go friggin' crazy. Especially like to fugg with them with the remote start. heh heh

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by el ess A

Hey. I park my ZL1 with CAI (chrome like version) next to a Transformers Edition every night!

But yeah, the kids go friggin' crazy. Especially like to fugg with them with the remote start. heh heh

HAHA that's great!! Thanks for choosing CAI Inc.! That transformers edition would look great with a textured black CAI from us

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by el ess A

Hey. I park my ZL1 with CAI (chrome like version) next to a Transformers Edition every night!

But yeah, the kids go friggin' crazy. Especially like to fugg with them with the remote start. heh heh

We don't have many pics of our Near Chrome ZL1 CAI installed, mind posting a few for us to checkout?

We may even want to use them in a few of our advertisements

[el ess A]

Per request...ZL1 CAI with chromelike finish.

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by el ess A

Per request...ZL1 CAI with chromelike finish.

Looking good!! Thanks for posting those, we rarely see pics of the Near Chrome version on the ZL1 for some reason. Mind if we use these pics a few other places?? Thanks again for posting, and for choosing Cold Air Inductions Inc.!

[DarthZL1]

I just ordered mine today. Excited to get it! Anybody have any tips on painting the plexiglass top? Wanna paint it to match the engine cover. And I'm by far not an expert at painting....

(I want to paint the frame around the plexiglass, not the glass)

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by DarthZL1

I just ordered mine today. Excited to get it! Anybody have any tips on painting the plexiglass top? Wanna paint it to match the engine cover. And I'm by far not an expert at painting....

(I want to paint the frame around the plexiglass, not the glass)

Bring it to a pro, I'm no paint expert either so I would rather let someone else deal with it

Thank you for choosing Cold Air Inductions Inc., and make sure to post some installed pics when you have them!

[ZED SLED]

Originally Posted by DarthZL1

I just ordered mine today. Excited to get it! Anybody have any tips on painting the plexiglass top? Wanna paint it to match the engine cover. And I'm by far not an expert at painting....

(I want to paint the frame around the plexiglass, not the glass)

I had a custom paint shop do mine. The plexiglass is also paint. My kit is the black powder coat. He just he sanded it down, primed and painted. Like Bill said, if you're no expert, you'll probably be happier if you took it to someone who is.