I agree with speed demon generally but he cant buy the intake just for the test....cuz if the result if negligible...he cant return it...or can he??
The 1997 Civic VTI has, i believe the D16Y8 engine...you dont need any tests or all that crap....if you are buying a brand name like AEM...they have done all the testing for you. Check their website for dyno results of how much gain u can get....
I have a D16Y7 Civic running on an AEM short ram intake. You will loose some power at lower RPM but cold air setups are known to give you some gain at higher RPM level.
In summary...intakes make more sound than performance. The difference is performance is barely noticeable. The engine life stays the same and you may notice some fuel efficiency but nothing noticeable...