I have heard people say it is not worth the $$ for a 99 and up gt. Do you guys agree? How is the seat of the pants feeling after the install? Do you even notice it? Any loss in torque down in the low end? Look at my mods in my sig should I get a CAI ? Are the bbk's ok I know they look good!
It pretty much does nothing. I believe the only one that helps is the K&N FIPK. The plastic keeps the heat down which unlike mine (MAC CAI) is metal and gets hot as F***. I think it is more of a appearance mod. It is up to you if you think it is worth it or not.
CAI has been proven over and over and over to work on dynos. It has also proven NOT to work. Huh? I have seen anywhere from 0 - 25 rwhp gains from CAI depending on the car and the mods that it already has. The right CAI on a '03 Cobra can net over 20 hp for example. CAI can also cause some idle problems too and trouble with the MAF on fenderwall styles. Most would agree that they also look nice too.
Choose carfully when picking the one you want. If you are into looks, then get one that looks nice. If not, then don't. You can also make one yourself for cheap.
I was just looking under the hood a a guys '93 Stang....he is going low 9's with laughing gas and the motor is heavily modded. He uses CAI.
When it comes to "seat of the pants" feeling from bolt-ons giving 5 - 10 hp gains, that's a pretty good calibrated rump when folks say they can feel them. I think it's their wallet in their pants doing the talking, but it all adds up. I believe that the 99+ Mustangs are mostly limited at the exhaust and not the intake, but the right CAI with exhaust mods is a good match.
When I purchased my Bullitt used from the ford dealer, it came with a MAC. I did not like it since it put the inlet tube in a "bind". I ordered the Densecharger Full CAI, with the 95mm MAF bench flow tested for the Bullitt. It all came from Demolet at Densecharger. I found some SOTP increase in the low rpm range 1500-3000.
I cannot say how much someone with the stock airbox might pickup, but it was a noticeable difference from the mac. It looks pretty cool too, with the Carbon Fiber.
Total cost with the MAF 340.00, well worth it considering the MAF normally goes for 200.00+.
The K&N FIPK GEN 2 (rather than the GEN 1) seems to be the piece to have. It seals against the hood when closed. One of our StangNeters reported an 8 RWHP gain with just this mod...not bad for $200 bucks or so. RWHP for these mod motors typically does not come cheap.
I went with the Mac CAI ...simply for looks...the ol'GT needed a little more chrome under the hood. As everyone has said performance gains are minimal at best if any at all. Under acceralation, the sound is slightly different too..since the factory silincer is no longer there.
I would recommend it only as an "appearance" item.(Mac CAI that is)