So I got my car up and running last night, and I'm hell bent on doing some simple mods. It may be an Esi, but I want it to look and sound nice goddammit.

I scored a cheap Short Ram Intake off ebay (about five minutes ago) which can be seen here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.m748&item=130578817362&viewitem=&_trkparms=clkid%3D2895082600954058858

I'm aware the stock filter will be a POS and the HP increase claims are likely horse sh!t. But everything I've read said a cheap pipe is fine, so long as you throw a good K&N or AEM filter on it. What size filter should I be looking for, has anyone here done this?

Also, I've been doing some reading on eBay Cheapo stainless steel cat back exhaust systems and most people seem to agree they're a good bang for your buck. Does anyone have a recommended seller or a specific one I should consider? any personal experience with this?

All the intake you just bought will do is replace your stock rubber pipe to your intake. What you want is to get that filter out of the engine bay so you can suck some cold air.

It will help flow a little better, and give you some better sound, add a bit of bling under the hood, but once the engine bay heats up, it's going to be just as effective as your factory setup.

As for the Ebay exhaust, they do work.

Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Pick 2.

For the air filter I would wait until you have the pipe. Attach it to the car then take some measurements. Then go to the kandn.com (if you want a k&n filter) and "search for filters by dimensions". Once you figure out what filter you want contact ziggy.

Ziggy also has cheap exhaust systems, https://www.rtmracing.com/xcart/home.php?cat=1554
When I installed the 3" I had to do a few mods, but unless you plan on adding a turbo 2.5" will be fine.

I've got a write up of the mods if you want I can email it to you.

Can ziggy beat K&N's price online?

and I know that he's a loved member of the forums here, but that exhaust (https://www.rtmracing.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17797&cat=1554&page=1)
looks to be the same as the $120 one's I'm finding on eBay, almost identical description too.

Any reason why I should consider RTM instead of an eBay hottie?

When I was looking for exhausts on ebay the $120 exhausts usually had $100-$150 on top of that to ship it, plus border fees/duty. Making them around the same price.

You would have to talk to ziggy/paul at RTM about pricing on the air filter.

Yeah, in most cases you're right. The shipping on those can be BRUTAL. However there are a few that seem to work out.

for example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-9...arts_Accessories&hash=item519aeed0d6

Shipping is only $50. So that works out to about $165 if I BIN it. Not sure about duty though.

The same guys sell a CAI for like $20 more. I believe it's fitted to show up behind the fog light hole. However I'm too scared off by the possibility of Hydrolock, too much slush for too many months of the year, don't want to constantly be cleaning icey sh!t off the filter.

Ya, you can POSSIBLY do better on Ebay than my pricing, so I guess the question is do you want to gamble, or would you prefer to know up front what it is going to cost you?

The reason my stuff is more expensive than the ebay stuff is that I have already included the inbound shipping and the duties.

I can ship to you pretty reasonably (and QUICKLY)and you will know EXACTLY what it is costing you when you place the order.
With the Ebay stuff, you could still get a bill in the mail from UPS a month after the stuff arrives...

A lot of guys start out buying from Ebay until they get burned once or twice, and then switch to me

Ziggy is awesome. great products and service. Currently placing an order.

Something to consider for sure Ziggy, and I will seriously do so. Money is an issue for me as I'm sure it is for many, so I'll have to weigh the pros and cons and see if I'm willing to gamble on having one shipped in from the states. Though I've no doubt your shop is a fantastic one. Everyone here seems to wholeheartedly agree on that.

I did another quick look today and saw a Header + Cat Back combo for around the same price point:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-96-97-98-99-ECLIPSE-HEADER-CATBACK-EXHAUST-MUFFLER-/360394848781?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1995|Make%3AMitsubishi|Model%3AEclipse&hash=item53e934fa0d

Do you import a Header + Catback combo? Has anyone tried one of these kits?

I don't have that kit, don't think my supplier carries it. Pretty sure I have a header and downpipe, and the catback I have on my site, but that price is ridiculously cheap, I could never match that..

All just depends what they are going to charge you for brokerage, but might still be a good deal anyways....

Also, though, watch out for the feedback. 98.3% is NOT a very good score. I personally won't deal with anyone uner 99%. This guy has 11 negatives and 11 neutrals in the past month....of course, he also has 1100 positives in the last month...but 22 unsatisfied customers in a month I don't find acceptable.

I'm entirely new to modding vehicles of any sort, what sort of difference or gains would I get by going with a header + catback as opposed to just the catback?

And yes the price is REALLY attractive, the fine print on that particular one says the headers are ceramic not Stainless, but there are other similar auctions with stainless headers too. Might have to go this route based purely on bang for the buck. If I find another one with stainless headers, I'll keep an eye on feedback.

If you are going to get stainless on ebay make sure you don't wrap them, the weld will more then likely blow as mine did.

The wrapping is to allow for better heat distribution correct? I've seen photos of it done but hadn't intended to do it myself, wanted the look of the stainless in the engine bay anyways.

Edit: Did some reading, the wraps are designed to keep heat IN, in hopes of increased performance, but the exhaust heat levels that the headers can withstand is exceeded when wrapped, and often times damage is caused. Knowing this, I would DEFINITELY not be wrapping mine.

Source:http://www.centuryperformance.com/exhaust-header-heat-wraps-do-not-use-spg-138.html

I also have a short ram intake on my car, though it's a Lancer the result is the same, Ryan L. is correct, the heat in the engine bay will just end up in the motor, on my car, the stock intake is much like the Evo, where the airbox has a ram air snorkel that draws air from the gap between the hood and the grille. So i'm convinced a short ram intake is actually worse for performance. What i ended up doing was adding more aluminum piping from my short ram, down behind the bumper, but make sure your splash guards are on, and don't submerge it.

with this "cold air intake" setup, i shaved .2 seconds off my best 1/4 mile, and increased my top speed by 2 mph. Not a significant increase, but between the two, it's clear which is better. Cold air intake sounds better too.

Did a google search and found this:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1191381

It's a pretty good read.

Personlly, I like the idea of wrapping my i/c piping. It doesn't necessarily keep the heat "in". More keeping the under hood temps "out".

As much as that makes sense for a CAI, it doesn't make much sense for a SRI does it? The engine bay air will still heat up, even if the pipe doesn't. That's the air the filter will be sucking in regardless.

And thanks to the advice of Ju, I'll be running an AEM Dryflow as opposed a K&N filter.

What about fabbing up an aluminum "cold air box"?

Every little bit helps. The air moving under the hood won't be as hot as the heat soaked pipe you are running it through. Get the air from a cold place and put it through a wrapped pipe. Or make it blung. Up to you

So I've emailed the seller in regards to the Header + Catback kit, asking the diameter of the pipe because it wasn't listed in the item details. I'm curious if it's 2.5" or 3" or what have you. This is what I got:

Dear chromizone,

We are sorry it is the aftermarket product and we don't know the exact dimension.

- 4caroption


Useful huh? They couldn't crack one open and see? Ask one of their previous buyers? call China and say "Hey! How big is that pipe?"

Oh the joys of eBay

So here we go, got it started. First piece arrived in the mail so I got it opened up and installed. In true eBay cheapo fashion, it didn't QUITE fit, so I had to bust out the hack saw and cut about an 1" off the intake pipe and 1/2" off the rubber sleeve.

A bit annoying, but the local car shop quoted me $199.99 for an AEM intake, and this cost me $45. A bit of tweaking, I can handle.

Before:


Out of focus After shot:

And I know there was some discussion (Ryan,Rob,Garrett) about going with a CAI and ditching the SRI idea, but I'd already purchased it when I started the thread, so I might change it eventually but it's staying for now. That filter will be beefed up though.

Looks good. I cann't tell from the picture how close the intake is to the battery. If it is really close or touching keep an eye on it. Mine was really close and started rubbing with the engine movment.

oh and nice washer fluid cap.

It's TIGHT to the battery. Wouldn't even fit until I cut it to size. So I'll try and keep an eye on it...and yeah, I need a washer cap. Anyone have one kicking about?

You don't necessarily need to order a whole new setup, just 1 coupler and a pipe would make it a cold air intake, just find out the couple and the angle of the pipe needed.

You can contact Jaime Loo at info@motorforce.ca, he may have some n/a systems around.

Chances are, for an n/a system, you will have a 2.5" exhaust.