Hi guys I have a question. I have been following the threads about making your own CAI and have seen the great pics you guys posted of what the box looks like. I have the MSP CAI and it's another one with a clear lexan box. Mine didn't come with a heat shield. According to the website it was supposed to come with one (I have emailed 3800 performance but haven't heard back yet). If I were to make my own heat shield, what material should I use?
http://www.3800performance.com/Merch...roduct_Count=3

 

i would use .040" or .050" thick sheet aluminum. it dissipates heat well, it's easy to bend, looks good, and won't rust. and without a doubt, make it an insulated box with at least 1/2" thick adhesive backed high density foam or 1/2" fiberglass insulation with the shiny foil stuff on the outstide of it.

 

According to that site it's made of polycarbonate, so isn't it already deflecting the heat???

Do you have numbers that your IATs are high?

 

No I think everything is working OK, I'm just not happy with the box itself cause it's so darn hard to remove the lid to get to the filter. IDK maybe I'm just making up excuses because I'm not happy with the box and should have gone Wizaired. I do have some tax money coming to me......
I have to stop this right now cause this is the 2nd CAI I have had in 1 year and I really don't want to shoot for 3 boxes LOL!!!!

 

So the Lexan/Plexiglass material is better than the material used in Wizaired or CAI so it doesn't require heat shield material?

 

You should have just listened in the beginning when we said get the wizaired :P

 

Ya stupid me

 

so far the one im building is coming along great. polycarbonate is easy to work with and extremely durable. and for some of us to shell out 200 bucks for a plastic box with a tube in it is a bit steep lol. no offense to zzp but they are pretty easy (and cheap) to make. i have like fifty bucks in mine rite now

 

Ya but I suck at building things LOL!!! In Jr high I had to take shop class - whew that spice rack really didn't work out too well. I have no idea how I got a passing grade! When I was in art school I HATED sculpture class. I had nightmares about that class.

 

lol well its not horribly hard if ya wanna get ur hands dirty a bit. i mean all mine is is a few pieces of polycarbonate. some pipe insulation. a very little bit of high temp silicone. and some paint and ingenuity. if u put your mind to it you can do it. 3 years ago i knew NOTHING WHATSOEVER about engines or cars in general. but just from playing on forums and hangin around friends who knew some stuff, all that kinda stayed. and it helps. just give it some time to build your archive up