CAI/Tune...or...Gears?

Sparty92 · Mar 12, 2010

So I'm thinking if I get a tax refund this year, I might need to put it into the Mustang.

This post should resemble a "poll" but I don't know how to post one....soooooo...

If you could afford ONE mod this year, would it be a CAI/Tune, or gears? There are conditions for each. Read below, then please answer!

If you said "CAI/Tune":
1. Would you get something like an American Muscle/Bamachips CAI/Tune (or any tuner) package?

2. Would you have your local, well-respected Mustang tuner load his tunes into the tuner you buy from him?

3. Would you have Livernois Motorsports use a Ford programmer and custom dyno tune your car? (I believe is the only way they do it). You wouldn't get a tuner out of the deal....as they use Ford's programmer. But, your tune would be specific to YOUR car.

If you said "Gears!":
1. 3.73
2. 4.10

I have 3.55s in the car now. It's a stick car (naturally). It's a daily driven/year round Michigan car. It does not go to the track, but it does see Woodward Avenue almost every day (at some point). (Note: Woodward was/is considered the unofficial proving grounds for all Big 3 Muscle cars of past/present.)

I'm looking for the best bang for the buck, and the most "fun-to-drive" factor.

Eventually, I will have BOTH mods on the car, but I can only afford one at this time.

Thank you for your comments/suggestions!

racerraj · Mar 13, 2010

I think that is a great question. But, I think the tune will need to come first. The tuner will allow you to correct the speedometer for the changes to the gear ratio. It'd silly to pay to have that fixed, then later buy a tuner that could have done it.

That said, I think for a nearly stock car, I'd go with Bama/Bren/whoever.

Gears, I'd go with the 4.10. On my old 88 I went from 3.08 to 3.55, wasn't as big a change as I expected and it didn't really affect gas mileage by much. So on my 06 I will go from the 3.55 to 4.10's when cash permits. And I drive 80 miles a day.

'08GTcaRED · Mar 13, 2010

I would say CAI/Tune. Especially if you buy from someone that will upgrade your tune for nominal or no extra charge. Yes it's not a specific dyno tune, but the main name tuners are getting amazing results nowadays with our gen Mustangs from email tunes! And in the future you can get that custom dyno tune when you put something else on her and in the meantime you will have a handheld tuner that you can use to change all the variables contained therein.

Gears are also a really good choice and 4.10s have been shown to only reduce mpgs like 2-3 tops and since you already have 3.55s probably less. Gears are cheaper and if you can live with the speedo being off for a while then go for that.

So if it were me: CAI/Tune

Sparty92 · Mar 13, 2010

I know it's a great question! LOL....but I can't decide on the answer yet.

Livernois Motorsports...when installing gears, will change your speedo for you, if I recall. I talked to those guys when I was at Autorama in Detroit a few weeks ago.

I just paid $40 to fill my tank with 89 octane yesterday. I'm aware of rising gas prices and wonder if perhaps the tuner might be a good idea, since you can run 87 (gasp!) if you need to. I've been running 89 for the past couple years because the car just runs better at higher RPMs than on 87.

Keep the comments coming!

Sparty92 · Mar 13, 2010

'08GTcaRED said:
I would say CAI/Tune. Especially if you buy from someone that will upgrade your tune for nominal or no extra charge. Yes it's not a specific dyno tune, but the main name tuners are getting amazing results nowadays with our gen Mustangs from email tunes! And in the future you can get that custom dyno tune when you put something else on her and in the meantime you will have a handheld tuner that you can use to change all the variables contained therein.

Gears are also a really good choice and 4.10s have been shown to only reduce mpgs like 2-3 tops and since you already have 3.55s probably less. Gears are cheaper and if you can live with the speedo being off for a while then go for that.

So if it were me: CAI/Tune

With a CAI on a stock car, real HP gains are what, 20-25HP? Same with TQ...?

Would those gains REALLY put a smile on your face, or help you out at the stoplight? Or would gears be the all-around grin?

I have seen 31mpg on the highway with my car (on a trip). I've read that 4.10s on a stick car, will raise RPMs (at 70mph) about 250RPM. That's not enough (?) to really kill MPG by much, if any at all. Of course, if you drive around town like a maniac, I'm sure you'll burn more.

My concern is that 1st gear will be over so quick...making all sorts of cool sound but only going 25mph before I shift. Is that the case? Is 1st gear really worthless, or will overall driving be ok...but just quicker to shift?

'08GTcaRED · Mar 13, 2010

Actually Sparty I just put CAI because that's what you asked. Honestly I have just a tune and it has definitely felt better. CAIs are nice and all, but with the dust and dirt I have around here I like my engine clean thank you... Check this out: Why is cotton gauze a BAD material? | R2C Performance ... World-Class HIgh-Performance Intake Systems & Filters

Now I am not saying their product is any better, just thought it was an interesting read. Nevertheless my car is stock in that department. So yes gears will get you places in a hurry and like you said, you are going to do both eventually, just which is first. Good luck deciding!

88Koupe · Mar 13, 2010

Tough decision for a fox body car and I would prob do gears, but for these cars it is an easy decision. Bamachips/American Muscle--you will be happy!

Doug tuned my car and with a CAI and his tune it picked up 8 tenths and 6 mph thru the qtr.

Sparty92 · Mar 13, 2010

I've read online about some peeps switching to a non-oiled filter...interesting article.

Do you have that CAI? I was thinking of the C&L street CAI, myself...but it comes with (like most do)...a K&N-style oiled filter. I think.

I guess to summarize my overall question would be this:
"Which mod will be most noticeable from 0-100?"

Thanks!

Sparty92 · Mar 13, 2010

88Koupe said:
Tough decision for a fox body car and I would prob do gears, but for these cars it is an easy decision. Bamachips/American Muscle--you will be happy!

Doug tuned my car and with a CAI and his tune it picked up 8 tenths and 6 mph thru the qtr.

Well...I don't make it to the strip with this car, so I'm not really thinking about the numbers at 100+ mph. I'm looking more for street performance...30-80mph kind of stuff.

When you say that Doug tuned your car...are you saying he emailed you a tune, or he strapped your car to a dyno and did a custom tune? Is your car "stock" or do you have other mods?

racerraj · Mar 14, 2010

Another thing to consider... With gears, highway mileage will go down. Around town shouldn't be affected. With a tune highway mileage will go up. Around town just depends on how you drive, it can go up or down.

alec231236 · Mar 15, 2010

racerraj said:
With a tune highway mileage will go up. Around town just depends on how you drive, it can go up or down.

Chances are, like in my case, with the extra power, you will be stepping on it more and mpgs will go down. Highway, around town, whatever. Just something to keep in mind.

But I vote for CAI/Tune. It seems to be the starting ground as far as mods go and the difference is very noticeable. Especially if you go with a higher octane tune.

88Koupe · Mar 15, 2010

Sparty92 said:
Well...I don't make it to the strip with this car, so I'm not really thinking about the numbers at 100+ mph. I'm looking more for street performance...30-80mph kind of stuff.

When you say that Doug tuned your car...are you saying he emailed you a tune, or he strapped your car to a dyno and did a custom tune? Is your car "stock" or do you have other mods?

My car is stock with the CAI. I do have flowmasters and it is lowered with eibachs and ford racing shocks and struts but they mean nothing for what we are talking about. He emailed me the tune.

I do not run at the strip but maybe two or three times a year. Last year we went to Bristol once and to Mustang Week at Darlington. What I can tell you is that the tune is incredible. The feel of the gas pedal is so different it is not believable. I change back to stock when my car goes to the dealer and cannot wait to get home and change it back, simply not as fun to drive for the 10 miles home.

Gears will get you into higher rpms and keep you there. There is no comparison between a car that is stock at high rpms and a car with a Doug tune in it at the same rpm. Also, one of the tunes included in the pak is a torque tune. Sounds like for your driving the torque tune may be what you would like. It feels better through the RPM range, but will not perform nearly as well at higher rpms.

I understand that you do not race and 100+ is not your goal but in my opinion that doesnt matter. I may be wrong and it would not be the first time, but I love my tune and have 3:55 gears. Will never change the gears.

Big Large · Mar 15, 2010

I'm doing gears first only because my buddy is a mechanic at a ford dealership and I'm getting 4.10s installed for just the cost of the bearing kit. So 75bucks for gears was a better choice for me than 600 for intake and tuner

ViperNuge · Mar 16, 2010

CAI and tune via bama or brenspeed etc..... It'll be a whole new vehicle.

patrick

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