I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for but with cold air intakes, isn't a piece of pipe a piece of pipe? Why is the $250 K&N better than the $35 ebay model. Filter quality aside, that I understand but why couldn't I buy the cheap aluminum pipe from ebay and then put a K&N filter on it?

I agree with JJ, however I would go one step further and route an air inlet from the grill to the factory box for additional cold air. TJKJ2002 was able to route an air inlet that scooped up cold air from under the ARB front bumper. Once I get a front bumper, I will take a similar approach as TJKJ2002 did. I think most everyone agrees that additional air in addition to the factory air box is the way to go. And of course the AMSOIL drop in is the icing on the cake. It flows good and keeps the dirt out!

You should ask the seller where exactly does it draw in that cold air from??
The K&N filter is subpar at best for filtering though it will flow well. You would be much better off w/ a dry style filter like the Amsoil Ea series and my opinion is that the factory air box flows just fine for the 3.7L w/ a Amsoil Ea series drop in filter for about $45 shipped. Save your money for better mods that will actually show a real performance improvement.
(better muffler, gears, full syn lubes, etc.) You will get a mixed bunch of opinions on here but I think most agree that the stck air box w/ a good filter flows just fine and draws air in from a cooler source than the underhood located air tube intakes that are Hardly "cold-air".

BTW, WELCOME!!!

I agree with JJ, however I would go one step further and route an air inlet from the grill to the factory box for additional cold air. TJKJ2002 was able to route an air inlet that scooped up cold air from under the ARB front bumper. Once I get a front bumper, I will take a similar approach as TJKJ2002 did. I think most everyone agrees that additional air in addition to the factory air box is the way to go. And of course the AMSOIL drop in is the icing on the cake. It flows good and keeps the dirt out!

That was in my box of questions as well.. the "cold air intakes" pull the air from the engine bay where as the stock scoops it from the front of the hood. Seems to me that the stock intake would provide cooler air. Is it really just the throatier sound and the cooler look under the hood that these things provide. On the K&N site, it gave stats for improved performance at 5400+ RPMs, I almost never go over 2500 rpms so it seems that it would provide no benefit in the way of actual performance, correct?
And thanks for the welcome... been reading for quite a while, just starting to post on here. Love the advice and real world experience of everybody... and the Pics of course.

Take it from someone who has used the ebay "Cold air Intake". Don't bother with them, it a piece of crap. Just get a quality drop-in like a Amsoil. You'll wont regret it later. Trust me.

Dont you have to worry about getting water in if you rout the air down to the bumper? What I really want (in no way need of course but since when did that matter) is the snorkel that Ive seen on here. Im still stock for now, just changed my tires to 245 70 16 Firestone Destination ATs.. Money is short so Im hopin that I save up enough in the next year to get me a lift. Would love to have that 6" lift of Jeepin by Al's.. Maybe he needs another stock KJ to test on I'd drove from maryland to PA for that...