Hi, I am leaning toward the Black Plastic piped CAI from K&N, I am not stuck on getting this one and I am open to suggestions for other brands, I want it to function look good and fit well.

Also After I install it is there a cover that I can get to cover the spark plug wires and what not? after removing the Hemi Hat it may look a bit unfinished under there.

Is the CAI annoyingly loud? Is it worth it?

 

It is not worth it at all. It will be loud. The only reason I run them is because I like the sound. Sounds like the secondaries opening up on old 4 bbl carburetors. I buy the cheapest I can find. Usually from eBay or Amazon. A K&N, you are mostly paying for the name. You may gain a couple horses, but not enough to justify the cost of an expensive one. Arguments on this subject are plentiful. I'm speaking from personal experience. It's your truck and your money. IMO you're better off investing in a tuner.

 

I am getting a Super Chip tuner next month.

 

A CAI definitely won't hurt. Combine that with a tuner and a free flowing exhaust. Should be good for some ponies. I'd try to find a cheaper CAI first and see if you like it before dropping hundreds on a brand name. The term CAI is misleading unless it gets the filter completely out of the engine compartment. It's really more a Ram Air filter and sucks in hot engine compartment air.

 

You can find what's called "half covers". They usually come on the LX cars with Hemis. I used to have a set on mine. You can check over on the LX Forums in the classifieds section.

CAIs.......as said, K&Ns and such are all for the name. Me? I bought 3" PVC from Lowes, cut off the ends and beveled them, plastic welded them all together, sanded down the welds, put body filler on the welds, sanded them down, them primer and paint.

All in all, around 125 in materials. But I have a material thicker and better insulated than something from KN and in the end, cheaper. I do run a S&B filter on the end (same type filter as KN).

I've built several of these setups for other guys over the years. Everyone loved them. Most people who do their own will not do all this work and just glue theirs together with the joints. That works too but IMHO it looks like crap.

 

Do you have a Part Numb er for the half covers that I could buy new?

 

K&N only claim 8hp gain on a 3rd gen Hemi Ram. I use a Airaid MIT pipe with the stock air box and a drop-in K&N filter myself.

 

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