Camaro and Firebird: Air Intake Reviews and How-to

This article applies to the Camaro and Firebird (1990-2002).

The cold air intake is designed as a replacement for the regular air intake on the Camaro or the Firebird. It's designed to pull cold air from the outside of the engine compartment, and push it through to the engine, which increases its power. Most cold air intake kits come specifically for your car, and require very few adjustments to fit properly. If you want to take your car's performance to the next level, while spending even less money on fuel, read on to learn how to install a cold air intake kit.

How to Install Cold Air Intake

Step 1 – Disconnect battery

Disconnect the negative (black) battery terminal, then wrap it in a towel to avoid touching any metal and creating a spark.

Step 2 – Disconnect sensors

Disconnect both the mass air flow sensor and the air temperature sensor. You can accomplish that by pulling the tab outwards on the connector, then pulling it out.

Step 3 – Disconnect the air box lid

The lid is held in place by two plastic tabs on each side, and two metal clamps in the front. The metal clamps are as easy as pulling it to release. The plastic tabs require you to pry it up with your flat head screwdriver, then pulling the tabs out completely. Leave the lid in place after.

Step 4 – Remove air box lid

Before removing the air box lid, you have to loosen the worm clamp connecting the mass air flow tube to the throttle body. Once loosened, remove the whole lid, which will be all in one piece. Disconnect the mass air flow sensor from the lid, as it will go on the new kit.

Step 5 – Connect MAF to new kit

Make sure the worm clamp is in place on the new lid, then connect the MAF to the new lid. If you're having a hard time fitting it in place, use a heat gun to make the plastic a bit more flexible. Once the new mass is in place, tighten the worm screw on the clamp.

Step 6 – Install new lid in place

Install the new lid in place right up front, then tighten the clamp holding the mass to the throttle body. Connect the two sensors back in place, and install the two tabs holding the lid in place, then close the top metal clamps on the front.

Featured Video: How to Install SLP Lid

Cold Air Intake

A cold air intake kit will be responsible for making your Camaro or Firebird go faster, all while saving you gas. Before you go swiping your credit card around, the guide below will go over some of the most popular cold air intake brands. Read on to learn about the different brands, their strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, what they will cost you.

K&N

Price – $275

Finish – Aluminum

Fitment – Direct Fit

Power Gains – 5-10 HP

Sound – Medium

The K&N is by far the most reputable company in our guide today. This product is guaranteed to give you some extra power, better gas mileage, and a million-mile limited warranty. If you're looking for a company that stands behind their products, look no further. This easy-to-install kit has been known to install in less than two hours, with almost no issues. It's designed to replace your whole air intake system, not just part of it. You will notice an immediate change, with no need for tuning, in engine performance, as well as a far better throttle response. This kit is designed to absorb a lot more air than your factory air system, which means much better performance. The factory claims you will go 100,000 miles before needing any service, and when you do need service, it will be simple cleaning and oiling up to the filter, as the filter is reusable. Recommended if you're looking for a reputable company with a great warranty.

SLP Lid

Price – $100

Finish – Plastic

Fitment – Direct Fit

Power Gains – 12-20 HP

Sound – Medium

This 50-state-emission-legal product will increase your performance by up to 20 HP. When it comes to installation, nothing will be nearly as easy as this one. All you need to do is remove the old lid, and install the new one, along with a couple of tabs, clamps, and sensors. You can add a high performance air filter with this product, which claim to increase performance by five horsepower. This is designed to eliminate the restrictive flow of the stock lid and resonator. And since the resonator will be gone, expect a nice sound from your engine. The only issue customers have faced is fitting the lid on the old mass flow sensor. A lot of them claimed they had to use a heat gun to soften the plastic, as it is too tight. Overall, this product is the easiest to install and will add immediate value. Recommended if you're looking for better performance without spending too much money.

Volant

Price – $181

Finish – Stainless Steel

Fitment – Direct Fit

Power Gains – 5-10 HP

Sound – Low

This product has been praised for bettering the gas consumption more than performance. However, it still does add to your engine's performance. If you're looking for a vicious sound, look somewhere else. A lot of enthusiasts were disappointed in the sound; they claim it sounds like the factory system, which could be good if you want to keep your engine quiet while adding a little heat under your engine. Installation is rather simple with this product; they claim it takes one hour if you're good with your hands. The service/cleaning intervals for this filter is 40,000 miles, which is less than half of the K&N. A lot of buyers, however, claimed the instructions could have been better. This is considered a good addition to your car, especially for the money you will be spending. Recommended if you're looking for performance upgrade, without increasing the sound.

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