How to Custom Make a Cold Air Intake

Cold air intakes add horsepower by increasing the amount of cold air delivered to the engine, which increases the combustion and fuel economy of the car. On average, cold air intakes are said to increase the horsepower of your car by around 10 rear-wheel horses. Installing a pre-fabricated cold air intake system is quite easy, however, building a custom cold air intake system is also possible.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Welder
• Copper piping
• Metal L-brackets
• Sheet metal screws

1. Remove the air box mounting band attaching the air box to your intake, disconnect the mounting straps holding the air box itself in the engine compartment, and remove it.

2. Use the copper tubing to mimic the route that you anticipate your cold air intake to take through the engine compartment. Bend the tubing in the places where your intake will need to be bent and cut the tubing off when you reach the location of your air filter.

3. Visit a custom exhaust building shop and have them bend a length of 3-inch stainless steel exhaust pipe to match your copper tubing. Slide the new intake tube into place on the intake and secure in place with an air filter mounting strap.

4. Slide the air filter onto the open end of the intake tube and secure its mounting strap. Mount the cold air filter to the engine compartment's firewall using some of the L-brackets and sheet metal screws.

Tips & Warnings

• As this system is much freer flowing than your old intake, check the filter regularly for clogs and excess dust.

References

• Video: Installing Cold Air Intake Systems

Resources

• Autozone: Cold Air Filter Parts and Accessories

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