C&L or K&N???

The Solski said:

Yep

Here is just one example

http://forums.bradbarnett.net/index.php?showtopic=40131

Search some forums, you'll see.

It's pretty well known that Ford did a pretty good job on the 05 in regards to the exhaust system.
Not a whole lot of power is to be had by going aftermarket like in previous Mustangs. Most people change out the exhaust looking for that right sound.

Now when someone goes with a power adder such as NO2, supercharger, turbo, cam/heads etc. Headers, off road pipes and the like will contribute more power, but not so much with a stock motor with bolt-ons.

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That dyno run, are those full length headers or shorty?

I know that Ford did improve the exhaust system a bit and that it's a reason for the 300bhp rating. However, the stock air intake does not seem to be a big restrictor either (the paper filter maybe).

I still think that there are better benefits to be had with other mods worth around $600 (going from the above prices).

-springs do nothing for power

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Springs may do nothing for power, but I honestly think they'd make a better difference. A cai may make the car a little bit more responsive, but springs can either decrease your 1/4 time or have you enjoy the corners more (plus better looks).

-control arms & relocation brackets allow you to hook up the rear's better which will make you quicker but does not add power.

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With a 300bhp car, I rather improve the already given power through traction and be faster taking off.

-4.10's will allow the driver to get through their gears quicker allow the car to accelerate faster, but again do nothing for overall power.

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You are right. However, I would bet that a stock GT with 4.10's would be faster in the 1/4 then a stock GT with a cai/tune.

-Yes, NO2 adds power but a lot of people aren't ready to go that route right away. Give him time.

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Patience....a few simple boltons such as cai/tune + catback = a nos system + tune moneywise (I'm roughly guessing but I don't think I'm far off). So he can save his money for a little while and then add something that would give proven power.


Lastly, I personally think that CAIs are a ripoff. Companies may charge you up to $200 for a piece of plastic and some filter. I have not manufactured CAIs for a living, but considering all costs (r&d/material/labor/overhead/) companies are way overcharging people (all years of Stangs).

Ernad said:

Lastly, I personally think that CAIs are a ripoff. Companies may charge you up to $200 for a piece of plastic and some filter. I have not manufactured CAIs for a living, but considering all costs (r&d/material/labor/overhead/) companies are way overcharging people (all years of Stangs).

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Probably too true, but, unfortunately, I think that's true of a ton of AM stuff (thinking specifically of the $30 camber bolts I just picked up).

Ernad said:

Honestly, I personally think that CAIs are a ripoff. Companies may charge you up to $200 for a piece of plastic and some filter. I have not manufactured CAIs for a living, but considering all costs (r&d/material/labor/overhead/) companies are way overcharging people (all years of Stangs).

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You're probably right, the cost for the materials to make some of the CAI's out there probably isn't that much, but then again they got to make a profit. Plus a lot more technology goes into these CAI's than most would think.

Here's a link to another mustang site where a guy actually made his own CAI and made posts everystep of the way. It some good reading for those who think a intake consists of just a inlet pipe with a filter attached to the end of it. Oh, and in the end I think the guy ends up spending more $ fabricating his own.
http://forums.bradbarnett.net/index.php?showtopic=19422&hl=

You posed some valid points regarding 4.10's vs. CAI and which would actually contribute to lower ET's. It'd be close and I think the 4.10's would be more benificial in that respect, but not by much.

As for the cost of a NO2 kit, you gotta remember that your going to need to upgrade your sparkplugs and the tunning for a NO2 kit is way more in depth than that of just a CAI and dyno hours are not cheap. They just don't make canned NO2 tunes like they do for intakes and the rest of the bolt on mods.

Springs do increase the cars handling ablilities, but only when you add all the other undercarriage goodies. Shocks, swaybars yada yada yada. Springs alone will not do the job themselves. I know this off a fist hand experience. My wallet wishes the springs alonge did the job but as it turns out that isn't the case.

The Solski said:

Ernad

-Yes, NO2 adds power but a lot of people aren't ready to go that route right away. Give him time.

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Wait.. I thought bottles are for babys. lil 4 bangers use them allot.