like the title says, I'm even contemplating on asking a buddy of mine thats a major wiz with an exaust pipe bending machine because I find it very difficult in shelling out $175-$203 (plus shipping) when I look at the close up pics at these CAI, they seem to be mostly mandrel 90 degree elbows and 45 degree elbows, I dont know I even put off a apex down pipe for the very same reason because if you look at the pic its pretty much a straight pipe with a flex tube towards the front and as far as the o2 sims thats another story
any imput from anybody would be great.

 

**** sounds good to me man , if I had a friend that had the access to the aluminum tubing and a bender I would give it a shot !

 

I built my own custom downpipe for my MSP. It was fairly straightforward, but took several days as I wanted to verify that all of my measurments would help after welding. the DP worked beautifully. I've not tried the intake, but I've gone as far as using PVC to make a temporary intake for trackday. it was so hot outside that everyones car was retarding the timing and killing performance. My buddy and I went to the LOWES across the street and bought a bunch of PVC bends and piping and made a quick CAI. It did the trick. I was up and running like it was 80* outside. it was a little over 102* at the time.

 

where does one get those nice rubber grommets that slip on to these pipes(CAI)? I know home depot has some but they are god afauwl ugly and are like 1/2 thick. I think I'm gonna try it thru my bud at the exaust shop for these things after all I was impressed by these headers he made from sractch for a 65 Bonnie with a 421 SD all he did was use 2 inch primaries and bent them real nice and bought 3 inch collectors and the part that acualy bolts up to the head. I think for some reason or another that headers were tough to come by for that particular car

 

I saw some @ the autozone today !

 

go for it i have made many intakes for many cars out of exhaust pipe with a mandrel bender saved hundreds of dollars

 

i think the reason that they mark up the price on those cai's is that they bend them in a way that you get a smooth airflow into your intake manifold. some intakes like the AEM V2 give a mild supercharger effect by creating a slight vaccume in the intake. unfourtanately, as far as i know , that intake isnt available for the protege yet.