fwi vs cai
-
coldflood
- SLE Member

- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:29 pm
- Year and Trim: 1997 SE 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
- Location: Chi-town burbs
fwi vs cai
is there already a thread or sticky for the series I L27?
- willwren
- Retired Admin

- Posts: 65489
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 11:07 pm
- Year and Trim: .
93 SSEi
95 SLE (SC)
97 Buick LeSabre - Location: Oregon WCBF'04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11 Survivor
- Contact:
Re: fwi vs cai
Please don't post Performance topics in the mechanical sections. I'll move your topic for you.
Please click on the TECHINFO link at the top of the page. There are 3 articles that relate to your question. Frankly, an FWI is a waste of money for little gain on the old L27, and a CAI is the wrong direction, most HURT performance.
Please click on the TECHINFO link at the top of the page. There are 3 articles that relate to your question. Frankly, an FWI is a waste of money for little gain on the old L27, and a CAI is the wrong direction, most HURT performance.

Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers
-
01bonneSC
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 4938
- Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
- Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo - Location: Sycamore, IL
Re: fwi vs cai
So this isn't on your 97?
-
coldflood
- SLE Member

- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:29 pm
- Year and Trim: 1997 SE 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
- Location: Chi-town burbs
Re: fwi vs cai
no it is, is that not the L27 please correct me if I'm wrong.
-
01bonneSC
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 4938
- Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
- Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo - Location: Sycamore, IL
Re: fwi vs cai
Should be the Series II L36...
-
coldflood
- SLE Member

- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:29 pm
- Year and Trim: 1997 SE 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
- Location: Chi-town burbs
Re: fwi vs cai
ok it problably is then the engine code is (k) idk
-
01bonneSC
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 4938
- Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
- Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo - Location: Sycamore, IL
Re: fwi vs cai
Yup that's the L36. Do search for fwi and L36. There's a couple out there. The cheapest thong to do would be to gut your airbox and do a K&N insert filter. Probably your best option.
-
coldflood
- SLE Member

- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:29 pm
- Year and Trim: 1997 SE 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
- Location: Chi-town burbs
Re: fwi vs cai
yeah i broke the piece of plastic on the front that connects it to the upper tie bar though
is there a fast fix my gas mileage is killing me
-
01bonneSC
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 4938
- Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
- Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo - Location: Sycamore, IL
Re: fwi vs cai
Pics of said area?
-
coldflood
- SLE Member

- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:29 pm
- Year and Trim: 1997 SE 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
- Location: Chi-town burbs
Re: fwi vs cai
is just two fasteners the screw into the bar that the radiator/fanshroud connect to
-
coldflood
- SLE Member

- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:29 pm
- Year and Trim: 1997 SE 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
- Location: Chi-town burbs
Re: fwi vs cai
think i might zip tie it if i get desperate
Re: fwi vs cai
That should not affect your gas mileage. Something else is wrong if your gas mileage sucks.
What is your gas mileage (average)?
I have an air filter box, it has already been modified though (gutted and inlet opened up). PM me if your interested, 30$ shipped. I can post a pic if you would like to see it.
What is your gas mileage (average)?
I have an air filter box, it has already been modified though (gutted and inlet opened up). PM me if your interested, 30$ shipped. I can post a pic if you would like to see it.
-
coldflood
- SLE Member

- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:29 pm
- Year and Trim: 1997 SE 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
- Location: Chi-town burbs
Re: fwi vs cai
well you would think taking the ram air off would decrease volumetric efficiency but thats just a guess. I might be interested i'd have to wait until I get paid though I'm kind of strapped right now with court fines.
Re: fwi vs cai
Thats not a ram air tube. Its purpose is for sound control and limiting air into the motor.
This is why guys (me to) try the gutted air box mod first. Then most of us want more and end up getting the Intense FWI kit. With the front snout cut off the air box you'll hear the "sucking" sound very clearly when first started, but it quiets down soon after.
You could always hit up a junkyard when everything is taken care of later.
This is why guys (me to) try the gutted air box mod first. Then most of us want more and end up getting the Intense FWI kit. With the front snout cut off the air box you'll hear the "sucking" sound very clearly when first started, but it quiets down soon after.
You could always hit up a junkyard when everything is taken care of later.
-
01bonneSC
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 4938
- Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
- Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo - Location: Sycamore, IL
Re: fwi vs cai
Ram air? On what? Where?
- willwren
- Retired Admin

- Posts: 65489
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 11:07 pm
- Year and Trim: .
93 SSEi
95 SLE (SC)
97 Buick LeSabre - Location: Oregon WCBF'04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11 Survivor
- Contact:
Re: fwi vs cai
Ram air is a proven MYTH below 125mph. Remove that term from your vocabulary, and lets get back on topic.

Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers
-
coldflood
- SLE Member

- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:29 pm
- Year and Trim: 1997 SE 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
- Location: Chi-town burbs
Re: fwi vs cai
Intense's FWI for the L36 says its only for years 98 and up was there a significant change in 98? When was the new body style introduced?
-
Speedin Demon77
- SLE Member

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:32 pm
- Year and Trim: 2000 SSEi
- Location: Northern Illinois
Re: fwi vs cai
The intense is the best and only one to get. I hear that all day long. Just curious. Heat from the engine compartment is bad. But the fwi is open to the engine bay below the frame so its not truly getting only fresh air unless you block off the area below the frame rail. So why is this never mentioned? Once your driving its not an issue? If thats the case the only time heat from the engine bay is truly an issue is when your not moving. Which is a temporary issue fixed as soon as you get moving again. So wouldnt common sense still say a cai completely eliminating heat from the engine bay would still be best? My 2 cents. Have fun 
- willwren
- Retired Admin

- Posts: 65489
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 11:07 pm
- Year and Trim: .
93 SSEi
95 SLE (SC)
97 Buick LeSabre - Location: Oregon WCBF'04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11 Survivor
- Contact:
Re: fwi vs cai
Hey, if you're not moving, why do you care about performance?
It's about where you pull the air from when it matters. A CAI is actually a HAI, and pulls air from the engine bay. An FWI does not.
It's about where you pull the air from when it matters. A CAI is actually a HAI, and pulls air from the engine bay. An FWI does not.

Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers
-
Speedin Demon77
- SLE Member

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:32 pm
- Year and Trim: 2000 SSEi
- Location: Northern Illinois
Re: fwi vs cai
??? If the fwi is open to the engine bay down low that would be hot air. Cai get air directly from outside if done properly, similair to ram air. How would that be hot?



