I have a 1994 Ford Probe 2.5L engine, and have been doing some research on Cold air intakes. I have looked at KN , Kamakazee and Ingen. I realize there‘s only so much power I can get out of a CAI, but for under $200 what‘s my best choice? I don‘t know the difference in brands and would appreciate someones personal experience if not professional, I‘m more concerned about being able to take off a little faster than; getting a faster speed (granted that would be awesome too!). (I prefer not to purchase cheap ebay brand) Thanks!
The cold air intake that comes standard on your Probe is the best for it. Aftermarket CAIs are relics of the 1960s and 1970s, when most cars took in hot air from above the engine. I don't know of a single car made since 1990 that does not have a cold air intake.
Tin coated sheets, called tin plate, is getting difficult to find but some is available for specialty interior ceiling panels. Try starting your search at a drywall supply wholesaler. Copper sheets are available from specialty roofing supply wholesalers as thy are about the only places that use copper sheet anymore. Also, sheet metal suppliers like Wilkinson, Russelsteel, or Encore may be able to help you. Metal can be punched with standard punches with a hammer if a piece of lumber (like a 2x4) is placed underneath. Most sheet metal workers use a Whitney No.5 Jr. hand punch for heavier sheets. This may work for your needs. Check Princess Auto for a knock off. House of tools or Ecco Htg. supply may carry them as well. Ecco Htg. may be able to help you with your metal supply search.
There's a great shop in Orillia Ont that sells sheet copper to artists, but sorry the name escapes me. try a google search or better yet Canada411 for sheet metal + your city and see what comes up. Good fortune in your search!
First, someone else report that Jessie Leonard troll. Now, CAI kits are just gimmicks 99% of the time. Almost every kit on the market doesn't suck in cold air at all. Your original intake sucks in cold air. Most of these aftermarket CAI kits suck in hot air from the engine compartment even those with the useless token heat shield. Hot is bad for performance. Cold air is good for performance. So why they design them like that is a matter of being cheaper to develop a kit that is more universal and has less RD to make a model specific kit. It also makes the CAI kit cheaper if it doesn't come with tubing and parts to pull the air in from a cold air source rather than the hot engine compartment like virtually all CAI kits do. Any gain you receive from less restriction from the CAI is nullified by the hot air it's pulling in. A lot of those kits also use metal tubing which transfers even more heat to the intake air charge. Plastic is ALWAYS the best material to use when it comes to intake tubing and any kit that uses metal is inferior. What you need to look for is a kit that is made out of plastic and more importantly pulls the air from the fender like the original or from high on the radiator support where water and debris doesn't get sucked in. Roush is the only kit I've seen that does a CAI the right way but I don't think they make a kit for the Probe. If you can't find a proper kit then my suggestion is what most other people will suggest: buy a KN for your stock air box.
