It seems that the majority of us FI guys run the intercooler out pipe up through the hole where a CAI would normally mount in the frame on the driver's side.
While I was sitting there realizing that when my IC pipe gets here, I'm gonna have to dent the crap out of it with a hammer in order to connect it to the MAF (in the stock location on the pressure side) and clear the ABS system and the hood.
I wondered if the Moroso or K&N style plastic CAI tube would be able to withstand 18psi pressure. Obviously the SLP style could withstand it since it is steel, but then you can't deal with the 2 air filter setup.

Unfortunately I sold my Moroso CAI a few months ago, but if I could have reused that tube, it would have saved me a piece of aluminum intercooler pipe expense and the hassle of making it fit right.

Do you guys think this is something which could work? It's one last custom pipe to be built and most people usually already have a CAI before they jump into an FI build so it would be convenient.

 

what size pipe are you using.....I have 3: on my car and it clears the ABS box with no issues

 

Oh, well I also am using 3" so I guess maybe I won't have any problems then! I forgot the CAIs were 3.5" up around that area. But I still wonder if the plastic CAI can handle boost....

 

I'm going to say this is probably a bad idea. The reason I say this is because ATI's plastic inlet tube connecting the air filter to the blower is made of about the same density plastic as the CAI. I have personally witnessed guys cracking the plastic inlet tubes at only 11-12#'s of boost. If you are planning on running 18#'s of boost, I would say you probably stand a good chance of cracking the plastic CAI.

If it wasn't for the plastic not holding it up, it would probably be a good idea. I'd say the best of both worlds would be to have a weld shop custom fab the intercooler pipe to fit up to the MAF.