If U Upgrade Exhaust Must U Upgrade Intake

[scruffboy]

I posted this as part of another thread, but maybe nobody's reading it. I could really use some help on this. Here's what I posted:

I bought the Magnaflow with the 2 1/2 inch dia. pipes because this summer I would like to install header with 2 1/2 inch cat back exhaust. If I do this, do I have to make corresponding changes to the intake system? The guy at the shop showed me this shiny "open air" intake, but if I hook it up to the same throttle body, what good does it do? Also, what about the computer, which I know nothing about. The last car I worked on for speed was a 69 Camaro, and I just threw on a Holly highrise manifold, 4 barrel carb, and a set of black jack headers. Man, that small block 350 chevy roared. But hey, those were the good ol' days, right! Maybe I should just stay stock, I don't know, but I would like to have a project for the summer.

Sincerely and with lots of gratitude to all,

James in NJ

[SupraMan1784]

as you probably know upgrading the intake will bring more air into the intake manifold...thus more air into the cylinders, when upgrading the exhaust...you dont need to upgrade the intake...its not necessary, but it will open up the flow of air through the motor allowing it to breathe a lot easier even though its hooked to the same throttle body, the good intakes are usually designed to speed up the flow of air into the manifold...and as a result u get more air, depending on if you get a short ram or a cold air will depend on the kind of air feeding into your motor, cold air intakes draw air just like a stock intake but it lowers the temp slightly as it travels through the piping into the motor, where as a short ram feeds air at surrounding temps or maybe a little warmer, but it feeds teh air at a faster rate...hopefully this makes sense

[scruffboy]

Okay, I get it that I don't have to upgrade the intake (although it would probably be good), but if I just do the exhaust, do you have to adjust computer settings or anything like that, as I know nothing about car computers. I sit at a PC all day, but have no idea what they do in cars. Will I need to do anything in that department?

Thanks,

James

[SupraMan1784]

if you just change the exhaust you do not have to do anything to the comp as it will not affect any reading...well maybe egt and the o2 sensor but thats probably it and an intake is beneficial

[mrnickleye]

Whatever you do...don't just put a pipe and K&N air filter. You NEED to get the air from out in front of the radiator. I see so many cars coming in for a smog that have the filter sitting right there under the hood, sucking HOT underhood air into the motor.
The colder the air going in, the more HPs you'll get.

[scruffboy]

The guy at the speed shop who showed me the nice shiny intake tube with K&N Filter called it a cold air intake. What does that mean? It looks like it would just sit under the hood like you said, suckin in all that hot engine compartment air. But unlike the old days, when you could put a hood scoop on the top of your carb., I don't see how else you get the air to the throttle body. My stock air filter system is encased in plastic and sits behind the radiator like you said. What I'm tryin to say is, that is the way it was designed, and I don't see any other place to put the damn thing. So how do you Supra folks get around this mess?

Sincerely,

James in NJ

[SupraMan1784]

cold air intakes usually dont get air from inside the compartment...they are usually routed to the wheel wells and as a result they get the ambient air from outside

[lifesnotfair]

Then, as a result, don't you run the chance of, when going through some water, getting it into the filter? (if it's set up to end in the wheel well) ?..

[SupraMan1784]

yea...thats one of the risks

[kwnate]

Just get a K&N FIPK. It replaces the stock filter and plastic box... You must use the stock AFM which the guy at the speed shop probably has no Idea about. Cold air intakes... not worth it imo.