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  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • 2005 - 2009 Specific Tech

CAI Intake w/ tune gains optimistic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ucf11784
  • Start date Start date Jan 27, 2007

ucf11784

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Nov 8, 2006
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Jan 27, 2007
#1
  • Jan 27, 2007
  • #1
Hey guys I went to the track tonight and talked to 2 guys about the CAI intake and tune on their cars. One guy had a 07 GT/CS like mine but red and got the Brenspeed w/ C&L CAI and tune package. He said he noticed a minimal gain if any and didn't feel like it helped him at all. The other guy had a 2003 Mach 1 and bought a K&N CAI w/ a Predator tuner. He said that after Dynoing he picked up 6 RWHP. I am kind of concerned by this news because I am thinking about spending almost $800 on a C&L intake w/ Bama chips tune. I would hope for this much that I would be in the double digits in RWHP.
 

Rock36

Member
Jan 1, 2006
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Modesto, CA/Germany
Jan 27, 2007
#2
  • Jan 27, 2007
  • #2
A couple thoughts on this.

First the guy with GT/CS was only giving you a seat-of-the-pants review. Which should should only be taken with a grain of salt unless he has a dyno graph to back it up.

Some people are just more receptive to changes in a cars performance than others. Personally, I notice improvements from my mods, but I also become used to them very quickly and forget what the car used to feel like. For instance, my car is way faster than it was bone stock, but I am so used to it now that it feels like it did the day I first took it for a test drive. I am easily around 310-315 rwhp at this point.

The second comment I have, is on the guy who has a Mach 1 and only gained 6 rwhp. Well, we are talking about a SN95 Mach 1, not a S197 GT. Machs have an entirely different computer system, heads, intake, and are DOHC. From what I understand the N/A DOHCs didn't really respond all that well to minor mods like a CAI. They flow well to begin with.

Third, about half the gain from a CAI package on a S197 is from the tune. If all you do is tune your car, you can get about 10 rwhp from that alone. Then you add the CAI for about 10 more. Bamachips/Brenspeed mail order tune/CAI packages will put you at 285 rwhp, which is about 20-25 rwhp over stock.

So the bottom line is that you will end up in double digits in performance. I went with a JLT2 instead of the C&L mostly because of the cost, but the C&L looks great.
 

ucf11784

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Jan 27, 2007
#3
  • Jan 27, 2007
  • #3
Yeah I think the kid honestly wasn't feeling the gain because he was running 4 tenths faster than me with the intake/tune/axlebacks and I was consistent on the night. What you said about the Mach 1 sounds like what I have heard from some other people too and even he said they didn't like bolt ons very well.
 
M

mikes06gt

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Sep 9, 2006
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Jan 27, 2007
#4
  • Jan 27, 2007
  • #4
the 4 cam motors are pretty stout to begin with so i hope that is the case as i am putting my jlt2 ,cmcv's, and brenspeed tunes in next week...i will be extremely upset if the difference is not night and day...in fact you will probably see a 2006 tungsten gt for sale the following weekend if it is the case.
 

kooldawg6

mine works really well and can take a fair amount
Aug 31, 2006
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Central VA
Jan 27, 2007
#5
  • Jan 27, 2007
  • #5
I just installed the WMS CAI and SCT X-CAL 2 with the custom tunes from Brenspeed yesterday. WOW what a difference!!!!! Mine is the automatic. and now instead of just a few chirps off the line and smooth shifts in all gears, (with TCS on mind you) it will spin the tires quite a bit and when it slams into 2nd it will get loose and the TCS dash light blinks like crazy. It feels as if it has a BUNCH more pull down low off the line. I haven't had my car dynoed stock, but I see where Hypertech dynoed an '06 automatic and got 258 HP @ 5400 RPM and 263 LB-TQ @ 4700 RPM. I plan on getting mine dynoed to see what I'm at. I have read where the wms with no tune nets about 20 RWHP. I would say you SHOULD notice a gain after the CAI and tune combo. I see now why people say they have to relearn how to drive the car.
 
W

Warlok

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Oct 11, 2006
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Jan 27, 2007
#6
  • Jan 27, 2007
  • #6
Forget what they say

ucf11784 said:
Hey guys I went to the track tonight and talked to 2 guys about the CAI intake and tune on their cars. One guy had a 07 GT/CS like mine but red and got the Brenspeed w/ C&L CAI and tune package. He said he noticed a minimal gain if any and didn't feel like it helped him at all. The other guy had a 2003 Mach 1 and bought a K&N CAI w/ a Predator tuner. He said that after Dynoing he picked up 6 RWHP. I am kind of concerned by this news because I am thinking about spending almost $800 on a C&L intake w/ Bama chips tune. I would hope for this much that I would be in the double digits in RWHP.
Click to expand...

I put the Brenspeed 93 octane tune on my 07 GT a month after I bought it, and six months later its still impressive to me and every one who rides in it. I dont know what the problem is with the guys GT/CS and a 03 mach one is no contest with an 07 GT any way.

Get the SCT Xcal2 and the Brenspeed tune. Run the highest octane gas you have where you live and tune for it. With the C&L intake, you will gain right at 30 horsepower. Not 6 or no help at all. This is a promise, not a brag, nor line of crap.
In fact the instant you start the car after tuning up, the throttle responce will be crisp and quick to rev.

Point it down a straight away, and let it eat! Then ask those guys if they were towing a trailer or something.
 

cowtown

Founding Member
Nov 4, 2001
228
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16
Victoria, BC Canada
Jan 28, 2007
#7
  • Jan 28, 2007
  • #7
I did before and after with my C&L & Diablo combo running 87 octane and I saw 2.5 tenths and nearly 3MPH in the quarter. That's real results.
 

Rock36

Member
Jan 1, 2006
76
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6
Modesto, CA/Germany
Jan 28, 2007
#8
  • Jan 28, 2007
  • #8
Like I mentioned before, I unfortunately adapt to my car too quickly for my enjoyment.

I never had to relearn to drive the car, even after I installed the 4.10s. It is just a curse that keeps me buying more go fast parts.
 
T

thump_rrr

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Jan 28, 2007
#9
  • Jan 28, 2007
  • #9
Here is a cut and paste from one of my earlier posts.

3 runs were done with each configuration.
1/2 hour cool down time between runs.
The MPH is always high at that track by 2.5-3 mph.

I actually did back to back to back testing.
Stock VS. 93 Octane Diablosport Canned tune VS. C&L Street Kit and 93 Octane Diablosport C&L Canned tune.

The results were

Stock intake and stock tune 2.094 60ft. 13.757 @ 102.630 mph.
Stock intake and Diablo tune 2.041 60ft. 13.535 @ 104.577 mph.
C&L Intake and Diablo 93 octane tune 1.954 60ft. 13.274 @ 107.453 mph.

The car went on to run 12.95 @ 103 on the brakes with BFG Drag Radials later the same day during eliminations.
 

ucf11784

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Nov 8, 2006
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Jan 28, 2007
#10
  • Jan 28, 2007
  • #10
Wow those are good times. I trapped 100 and 101 respectively with the axlebacks. You used street tires? I dropped the psi in my tires down to about 25 psi to run and that didn't seem to do any good for the traction, but I heard that street tires just aren't soft enough for it to make a difference. I am not sure what else to do I slipped out on the clutch from 2000 rpms (lost w/ spin), shifted into second (w/ some spin) even chirped going into third. I am not sure what was my fault and what was the tracks fault though because the track had a total of 4 cars sling fluid all over it that night.
 

cLeAnRaCiNgLdR

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
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Jan 29, 2007
#11
  • Jan 29, 2007
  • #11
My C&L w/93 octane Brenspeed tune gave me an additional 27rwhp and 24trq... I gained about 4/10's in the quarter and my trap speed was bumped 4mph. I'll recommend that to anyone, Brent is the man!
 
P

Pro Mod

Member
Nov 16, 2005
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Wharton, WV
Jan 29, 2007
#12
  • Jan 29, 2007
  • #12
The cai/tuner combo is still the single best mod I've done to my car.
 

modular81

New Member
Apr 29, 2005
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Indiana
Jan 30, 2007
#13
  • Jan 30, 2007
  • #13
If you are looking for a increase in hp and performance, then cai/tuner is where you should start. The JLT2 and C&L Street intake with a 93 octane tune from any of the big three tuners will get you a minimum of 25rwhp. These results have been proven by many people. I would spend 500-600 dollars all day long for those kind of results.
 
X

XStanger

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Sep 1, 2002
383
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Jan 31, 2007
#14
  • Jan 31, 2007
  • #14
From the moment I installed the jlt/sct combo I noticed an incredible difference, so I don't know what the guy is talking about.

There is zero lag time when touching the throttle, and it pulled noticably harder throughout the rpms.

Agree with someone above, it is by far the best mod I have done to the car.
 
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