Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Carbon fiber cold air intake to stock airbox
Very positive, except I need to adjust the fit to the airbox for which I have read the solution in this forum.
I feel a small but definite improvement in power, especially at the higher rpm's. It just screams all the way to redline now where there was a little fall off before. I use a K & N drop in filter also. It looks great and the sound is only a little louder than stock. I wonder if a larger opening could be engineered in the airbox & a larger 'Randall' installed for more power? Or perhaps 2 openings in airbox & 2 'Randalls'?
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Carbon fiber cowl intake.
The intake is a beautiful piece. Installation was straight forward. Make sure to grind the rib off of the air cleaner box port to allow the intake to seat solidly. I didn't use the template. Instead, I fit the intake to the air cleaner box, marked the firewall, removed the intake, measured the flange, then marked the area to be cut out on the firewall. It worked for me. Cutting the firewall was slow with a Dremel. Be prepared to go through several cutting discs. I painted the bare edge and used the slit hose to dress up the opening. Make sure that you seat the intake on the air cleaner box to get a good fit and clearance to the reservoir. I also added some insulation to the side of the air cleaner box that faces the engine. I use a K&N air filter.
I'm very happy with the sound and performance improvement. The car feels like it has more oomph at highway speeds. Highly recommended.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
[6/22/2004] Reviewed by: Scott Bowman
Applicable to: '99 + 1.8 liter
Through the firewall cold air induction.
The instructions were adequate. The installation is relatively simple. When aligning the intake on the firewall, be sure that the Randall intake is flush with the firewall. Installation is a lot easier when you have a friendly neighbor with all the metal cutting tools (thanks Scott). This is my first performance enhancement, along with a K&N filter. The results ? Performance ? A noticeable (mild) improvement in acceleration, Sound ? A more throaty exhaust note from about 3000 RPM and continuing to redline.
I think this thing works! There is definitely a performance improvement, although it is hard to quantify. My next enhancement is a Flyin? Miata dual exhaust muffler. I?ll post my perceptions of this addition hopefully within the week.
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Last oil change, all the mechanics in the shop oohed and ahhed at this gorgeous piece of carbon fiber. Fit is perfect.
At 14BTDC, my '94 required 89 octane fuel over 60F and 91 octane over 80F to prevent pinging with the stock intake. Before it self destructed, my old JR CAI reduced the octane hunger by one grade at each temperature point. So far, the Randall tube has not pinged on 87 up to 85F, nor on 89 at 108F. I suspect the JR airbox suffered from sitting right behind the radiator. The Randall duct is cheaper, more effective, and far easier to install than the JR CAI. I expect it to be much more durable as well. More power? Seems so, or at least less loss of power in hot weather. I'm completely satisfied.
I'm using an OEM paper filter cartridge (because they pass the least dirt) and FM Duals and high-flow cat.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Cold Air Intake
The product works as advertised.
After shopping around and reading about cold air intakes, only the Randall Intake and the Jackson Racing seemed to truly fit what logic dictates makes a cold air induction intake (drawing air from outside the engine bay). All the other "cold air" intakes still draw their air from a heated environment. I really doubt a small piece of metal between the other intakes and the engine will make it cold, after all, heat is circulated by air, air will flow around most heat shields. Also, moving an intake a few extra inches farther will not reduce temperatures (K&N, Racing Beat, etc). Before installation of the Randall Intake, the plastic air box and tube would heat up like everything else in the engine. After installation of the Randall intake, the airbox and rest of the intake tube is noticeable cooler to the touch than before. The Randall intake was selected over the Jackson Racing intake because of price and ease of installation.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Carbon Fiber replacement snorkel for stock airbox. Pulls in cool air through a hole you cut in the firewall.
All I can say is wow! I should have done this a long time ago.
The product fit as described and was pretty easy to install. Cutting the firewall was no problem, but their paper template would not stick. At highway speeds my popo meter tells me I have the increase in horses that Flyin Miata promises. Mellow intake growl is nowhere near as annoying as some other intakes I have heard. Be sure to get a K&N air filter.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97
This is a carbon fiber piece that replaces the air inlet side of the filter box, drawing air from the cowl area (ambient) instead of from underhood (heated by motor)
Installation instructions were adequate, although they assume the installer does have some skills. The finish and fit of the product were outstanding, no problems at all. Cutting a hole in the firewall may not be for the timid, as well as making careful adjustments to the clutch line location. However, if one wanted to remove the product, the firewall hole could easily be covered with a piece of sheetmetal or plastic goods and be very acceptable. As other reviewers have commented, 'feel' is noticable in the upper ranges. Noise does not change much, but if you look at the physics of the product, not much change should occur, because most of the intake system stays in place. And I was not looking for noise, just results. My objective was to be able to continue running 14* timing on regular fuel, AC on, here in our hot/humid Fl summers. It appears the Randall will help that to happen.
The instructions do mention 'dressing' the firewall opening with a dremel or file, then painting. I took the time to use two coats of primer with a brush and allow to dry (fan assisted) I then took a length of vacumm hose with an ID about the thickness of the firewall material, and split it on one side. Then I used this to 'trim' the sheetmetal, fitting it around the inside of the hole. It covers the less than perfect edges, makes a nice fit point for the Randall to rest against (instead of against the firewall) In addition when you look from the cowl side, the opening now has a nice OEM appearance. I also took the time to remove all the fragments from the cutting work (don't need stuff there to rust) and clean the areas exposed by having the various parts removed. Even with all the extra attention to detail and paint drying time, total install time from hood up to all tools put away was only 2 hours.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Cold air induction through the cowl
Since moving to Tucson I had been having knock problems during the warmer months; i.e., most of the year. I chose the Randall cowl induction unit because it costs a lost less than the Jackson CAI and sucks in air that most definitely not heated by the engine. The install was simple and the instructions were adequate. First time out with the new carbon fiber tube the high temp for the day was a 111 degrees F. The hot wind burned my face but I had no knocking under WOT and the growl at 4000+ rpm was nice. No extra noise at <4000 rpms. I am very pleased with the product and look forward to going back to regular gasoline and advance timing.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
A system that brings in cold air at pressure ( when moving) from the cowl area at the base of the windshield.
I found this product to work very well. It does not hinder the torque under 4000 RPM like some other intakes can, and over 4000 rpm is when you can really feel the difference. The car has a Jackson air filter, Borla, and the timing is set to 14 degrees. I think you can't get the full benefit from the randall without the other mods to move air in and exhaust out. The quality is very good and so was the price, $115 from Flying Miata.
With this product the car pulls very good throughout the RPM range. I liked it so much i put one on my wife's Miata also. So I did buy it again when i had the chance!
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
The Cowl Cold Air Induction (CCAI) is basicly a carbon fiber tube that directs air from the cowl of the car (base of the windshield) to the air box (stock). The CCAI came in the mail with instructions that you could down load from the internet and a paper template for you to cut the hole in the firewall. What I have already 1990 1.6L Miata with 15 degree advancement, freeflow cat, cat-back exhaust, K&N drop in filter, under-drive crank pulley.
I'm really surprised that I'm the first person to post a review on this product seeing as though there has been numerous posting about it on the forum. If you want more information about this product, do a "search" for "cowl" in the Power Mod section of the forum. If you don't mind cutting a hole in your firewall, this is a great system for the price. I would definitely recommend it
Installation was done by a local bodyshop for $40, but the instructions look easy enough to do yourself if you have the time and equipment (I had neither). From my previous experience with intake mods, the CCAI works very well. Acceleration felt better throughout the powerband and it helped cure my Miata's hesistation problem. My butt dyno tells me it should be worth about 2-3 hp. I'm pretty most of the performance gains are from the fact that there was colder air going into the intake, not from the "ram air" effect (not enough pressure). I would recommend purchasing a drop in K&N air filter for optimal performance. After installing the CCAI, I didn't notice any change in noise level with the top up or down. After driving in the rain several times, I didn't noticed any water ingress. Every once in awhile I'll find small pieces of leaves in the air box, but I found leaves in the air box with the stock intake as well.
Not an installed item
Applicable to '90 - '97
Cowl induction system which draws air in cold air in from windshield area through drop in K&N filter. Utilizes carbon fiber which is known for it's heat resistance, light weight, and durability.
It has flawless craftmanship, perfect fit (with some mods to the airbox inlet) and great appearance under the hood. Complete installation instructions and template for cutting the firewall accompany the CI and are easy to follow.
There are a couple tricks to installing the CI. First, don't just loosen teh bolts that hold the airbox down, remove them and shift it forward. This allows you a bit more room to work.
Along with shifting the airbox forward, I found that there is a small 1 inch long raised "lip" on the airbox inlet where the CI WILL NOT GO OVER. The fit is so precise on the CI that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get the opening of the CI over this lip. Easy fix = use a dremel to file off the lip and the CI will slide right on (still a bit tight). And you do not have to worry about it coming off since it is held in place once you re-bolt the airbox.
The final step is to just push the airbox back in place, the CI is snug against the firewall, place the bolts back in their respective spots and tighten.
I can feel a difference above 4000 RPM and the car sounds a bit throatier. Maybe there are a couple extra ponies there, but I can't really be positive. However, it looks REALLY cool under the hood.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
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