Stock airbox or "CAI"? Saab turbo challenge content

Hi All,

This question is in my build thread, but I'll also place it here for more eyeballs. Thread here.

I am building a 99 saab 9-3 for the challenge. I have upgraded the turbo from the stock garrett t25 to a viggen mitsubishi td04. Upgraded intercooler and entire exhaust system from the viggen as well. I will be updating my programming in the ECU too. My goal is highest power, not too worried about intake noise or engine bay looks. Budget hit is about $20 for this used CAI (pipe, shield, and cone filter) since I got it used in a package deal of other parts.

Here is the question - should I use this or the stock airbox?

I'm pretty sure the stock airbox can be modded a bit to have a bigger inlet, and will actually keep the intake charge cooler, however, I will also need to add a nipple somewhere to the stock airbox for the PCV line, and I really don't want that to drip on the paper filter.

I can't find the pics.. but when I had my GM900 SE Turbo, I cut a larger hole in the front of the stock box and let in some piping to bring up air from behind the bumper. It worked well and was nearly stock sounding

mad_machine wrote: I can't find the pics.. but when I had my GM900 SE Turbo, I cut a larger hole in the front of the stock box and let in some piping to bring up air from behind the bumper. It worked well and was nearly stock sounding

Similar to this? (that is a black plastic skinny funnel).

very similar, I led mine downwards into cooler out of the engine bay air

Many "CAI's" are not and many "Stock Intakes" are.

Stock will be better than that hot air intake unless you fix the shield so it sealed (against the hood too) and only draws in air from the fender,bumper, wherever. Even still stock might be better haha

When I had a 9-3og the thing to do was hack off the bottom of the airbox.

For my application that was good for 320whp.

I always hear stock is better that 99% of the CAIs on the market. Since you're on a budget I say hack the bottom of the stock air box if you really want to mod it.

Hungary Bill wrote: I always hear stock is better that 99% of the CAIs on the market.

I was going to say the very same thing. But I have no real experience to back it up.

I learned everything I know from these guys :

https://www.youtube.com/embed/xwNtjKT_1cA

My one and only experience with a CAI was on my old Hyundai Tiburon. I had am aluminum pipe that I ran down behind the fogs.. all I can tell you, is that after going down the road, if I put my hand on the tube, it would be much cooler than anything else in the car. Noticeably cooler.

But the sound, the sound was awesome!

All my other cars have had modified stock intakes.

Most SAABs have pretty good stock air intakes. IIRC, 9000 turbos could support well over 300 HP on a 100% stock airbox.

I would just open up the bottom of yours like others have said.

Thanks all. I'll try to swap out shortly and get some new pics. The stock airbox has an inlet tube that does probably a pretty good job of getting to cold air, and it has a rounded edge on the front similar to a velocity trumpet. But it is not that large in diameter.

I'll see what I can do to get it some extra air.