Comptech CAI vs. Cantrell AIS / Downforce

[lithiumus]

I have not dyno'd each of them yet but I had the Cantrell AIS and sold it for the Comptech CAI. The seller provided the Comptech without the lower intake scoop so I ended up returning it as the missing part from Comptech would have cost too much and never really testing it out.

There is some confusion with the 2 and I wanted to clear it up or at least have someone help clear up the differences between the 2.

The Cantrell / Downforce is a simple scoop that matches perfectly to the side intake port and channels the air through the side of the firewall and directly into the OEM intake box.

The Comptech unit replaces the lower portion of the OEM intake box (and optionally the OEM intake box lid) and includes a lower scoop as well. The big difference between the 2 is that the comptech air box actually feeds through the inner engine area and out into space in between (upper wheel well). At first glance, the physical hole (portion that connects the scoop to the airbox) is 50%+ bigger than the Cantrell / Downforce (top end of scoop).

Comnparison pics to follow...

This is where my information gets hazy as I have never seen the lower Comptech scoop, but I understand that it uses the wheel well guard to help channel the air and uses a lot of the inner space to achieve this. The lower scoop requires the fuel tank pipe to be disconnected to install as it uses all the space around it. This can be seen from the pictures of the lower scoop.

Both the Cantrell/Downforce and Comptech show similar numbers in RWHP improvements. Gains are conservative in general for the NSX CAI so the question is,

Is it worth $1,000 for maybe 1 HP gain + Carbon Fibre over the much cheaper Cantrell AIS and even cheaper Downforce?

 

[4AU4LIFE]

Is it worth $1,000 for maybe 1 HP gain + Carbon Fibre over the much cheaper Cantrell AIS and even cheaper Downforce?

Do you really need to ask that??? :biggrin:

 

[SNDSOUL]

We've had this discussion before, but never the less, the Comptech lower portion does not function as well as the CAI b/c it does not attach to the inlet scoop on the side of the car. The Comptech piece is just a larger opening to suck air in where as the CAI can actually benifet from the ram air effect. The Comptech box, however is a very nice piece to decorate your engine bay with the top portion and it does give the intake a very nice growl when combined with the CAI. Your gains will mostly come from changing the filter. Dont buy the UNI filter, they do not filter as well as the K&N. This is just My opinion and is only based on My experience with said intake. Take it for what it is worth.

 

[lithiumus]

 

[lithiumus]

We've had this discussion before, but never the less, the Comptech lower portion does not function as well as the CAI b/c it does not attach to the inlet scoop on the side of the car.

Correct, the lower portion does not attach to the side intake inlet but there is another piece which is the "lower scoop" that somehow enters the equation but I have not seen it installed and don't know if it connects up to the side inlet or not...

 

[Osiris_x11]

filter-madness...

We've had this discussion before, but never the less, the Comptech lower portion does not function as well as the CAI b/c it does not attach to the inlet scoop on the side of the car. The Comptech piece is just a larger opening to suck air in where as the CAI can actually benifet from the ram air effect. The Comptech box, however is a very nice piece to decorate your engine bay with the top portion and it does give the intake a very nice growl when combined with the CAI. Your gains will mostly come from changing the filter. Dont buy the UNI filter, they do not filter as well as the K&N. This is just My opinion and is only based on My experience with said intake. Take it for what it is worth.

I think agree w/ this. I swapped my K&N drop-in filter for the Uni-filter... and I was disappointed for diminished intake sound and apparently no seat-of-the-pants feel as well. And the irony is that I preferred the K&N w/ the stock intake-tube over the Uni-filter w/ the the air induction-scoop!?! I'm considering going back to the K&N drop-in filter mated w/ the air induction-scoop. :redface:

I'm not so sure if dyno'ing TWICE w/ (2) different air-filters is worth the time, costs, hastle?!? Though, I am planning a dyno within a month or so to compare the stock NA1 NSX ECU (270bhp) vs. a NA1 NSX-R ECU (280bhp).

 

[nis350]

Re: filter-madness...

I think agree w/ this. I swapped my K&N drop-in filter for the Uni-filter... and I was disappointed for diminished intake sound and apparently no seat-of-the-pants feel as well. And the irony is that I preferred the K&N w/ the stock intake-tube over the Uni-filter w/ the the air induction-scoop!?! I'm considering going back to the K&N drop-in filter mated w/ the air induction-scoop. :redface:

I'm not so sure if dyno'ing TWICE w/ (2) different air-filters is worth the time, costs, hastle?!? Though, I am planning a dyno within a month or so to compare the stock NA1 NSX ECU (270bhp) vs. a NA1 NSX-R ECU (280bhp).

Did you say that the K&N/OEM is louder than the UNI/AIS?

I was under the impression that the new UNI-filter is dual stage and filter better....

 

[Osiris_x11]

not much parity otherwise...

Did you say that the K&N/OEM is louder than the UNI/AIS?

I was under the impression that the new UNI-filter is dual stage and filter better....

Yes, the K&N drop-in filter & OEM intake-tube is louder than the Uni-filter element and AIS (ie. pre-VTEC rpm ranges). This is relevent to flow.

However, I have to reiterate... this is from my NSX, my ears, my perceptions! But I'm usually sound w/ my senses, so to speak... :biggrin:

As far as filtration, there's alot of data out there on the K&N drop-in filter, Uni-filter element, and others. For best protection, OEM is assumed to be the best in terms of filtration.

 

[Onsoku]

Re: not much parity otherwise...

Yes, the K&N drop-in filter & OEM intake-tube is louder than the Uni-filter element and AIS (ie. pre-VTEC rpm ranges). This is relevent to flow.

However, I have to reiterate... this is from my NSX, my ears, my perceptions! But I'm usually sound w/ my senses, so to speak... :biggrin:

As far as filtration, there's alot of data out there on the K&N drop-in filter, Uni-filter element, and others. For best protection, OEM is assumed to be the best in terms of filtration.

Where can you buy the drop in K&N, and the new Uni?