CAI

Slipk911 · Oct 3, 2006

what cold air intake would you guys recommend for a 2000 v6? A friend of mine told me that they don't really make a great difference on mustangs... any suggestions?

AP1995V6 · Oct 4, 2006

Save about $80, and just buy a K&N air filter.

Unless you just absolutely want the "bling"

Adverse2Change · Oct 4, 2006

Smart friend. The cheapest ones you can find, assuming you are going to get one regardless of our advice, can be found on eBay. AmericanMuscle also offers a similar one for $75 with free shipping. It comes with everything you need, but from experience you may need some longer vacuum hose and clamps (get about 1' of 1/2" vacuum hose and clamps).

IslandBlueStang · Oct 4, 2006

I greatly disagree with these two responses.

I just bought a K and N air Cold Air Intake kit, it seems to be the best, so you pay for the best. I had just a K and N filter before, but the factory air housing and box is very resricted, so you dont get the full potential of your filter. You will see how rescricted the air housing is on the factory once you take yours apart. It is one of the more expensive kits but the tube to your throttle body is plastic instead of metal. Most cheaper kits have metal housing throughout. The difference is in air temp. Metal retains and heats up much more quickly then plastic. The K and N kit uses plastic which repells and dissipates heat well therefore cooler air = better performance.

I acheived better top end horse power, but the sound is what the money is worth. The kit claims 7-9 horse power at 4800rpms.

I have a 2002 Mustang and I spent the money but I am very happy with the results. Oh and the kit is very easy to put together, only taking 30mins and very user friendly.

If you have anymore questions just ask me, I would be glad to help

Thats my 2 cents.

AP1995V6 · Oct 4, 2006

If you want to fork out that kind of dough for negligible power gains, go for it. Again, the biggest difference between the cold air kits and the stock air intake is the filter. The stock tube is plastic so that eliminates any negligible heating of the air as it passes through the filter to the engine.

It's true that the stock box is more restrictive, but just because you stick the filter in any open area doesn't mean your engine is going to suck in more air. You just get a little better throttle response.

I have just a K&N filter and have experienced the better throttle response. And I only got it because it's reusable.

IslandBlueStang · Oct 4, 2006

I disagree

If you actually took your stock air box apart on a 99 to 2004 mustang you would see that the tube faces away from the direction of that the vehicle moves in. If that isnt bad, I dont know what is.

Secondly the factory puts on these air boxes to eliminate sound. Most people that buy a v6 do not want loud engine or throttle sounds. Therefore it impedes performance over sound quality.

Just putting on a K and N air filter does nothing put saves you money in changing your air filter every once and awhile.

Having a kit with a filter sitting in the engine bay with a heat shield straight through to the throttle body is going to be better, more efficient, and of course more power. All of this because you are getting colder air, and more of it quicker, meaning better response.

It isnt just about sucking in more air, its about the quality of that air as well, meaning colder air with a kit = better performance.

02ponypackage · Oct 4, 2006

the air box in the 99-04 just straight out blows...theres a tiny little opening allowing air to get in which with a better filter pulling more air still has to force through that small opening you may get more then stock but why not a bigger pipe anyways...you can always check ebay for a used MAC or K&N setup for cheap or buy a new CAI a little bit of looks and extra air is what your buying thats all

AP1995V6 · Oct 4, 2006

Like I've said, all "gains" from CAI kits are negligible. The air temperatures vary slightly. The direction of the elbow doesn't really matter since outside air is still circulating in the fender well. If you're talking about ram air, I seriously doubt anything crammed inside a fender is going to have any ram effect about it.

And putting in a K&N filter does offer just as much negligible performance as the overpriced CAI kits. It's a less restrictive material compared to something like a fram air filter.

The heat shield doesn't matter. You are comparing a CAI made of plastic to the stock tubing made of plastic.

So the only advantage is to stick a more open box so that you can get better throttle response. The engine isn't going to suck in any more air than it already is; unless you have a cam or ported heads or the like.

Again, this is based on my experience with a 95, and the air box is about halfway open, if you remove the air silencer.

Bottom line... 5hp isn't worth a couple hundred bucks especially when a K&N filter does just as much and costs a lot less.

Adverse2Change · Oct 4, 2006

IslandBlueStang said:
I greatly disagree with these two responses.

I just bought a K and N air Cold Air Intake kit, it seems to be the best, so you pay for the best....

I acheived better top end horse power, but the sound is what the money is worth. The kit claims 7-9 horse power at 4800rpms.

You paid for the name. We all know what these kits "claim." I'm personally scepticle about these claims, until I see some real before and after dyno numbers (not put out by the company). Paying $200+ for a CAI may predispose you to believe what the box says....

IslandBlueStang · Oct 5, 2006

Adverse2Change said:
You paid for the name. We all know what these kits "claim." I'm personally scepticle about these claims, until I see some real before and after dyno numbers (not put out by the company). Paying $200+ for a CAI may predispose you to believe what the box says....

This is why I said the "kit claims." All I know is that I have better throttle response and I better top end. I can feel and hear the difference, there is no doubt about that. Whether the difference is 5 or 10 horse power, no one can tell but I have a faster, better sounding, more responsive V6 after this kit. Im happy with dishing out a little more money to K an N because they have been selling filters and intake technology for 40+ years. I have a K and N rep near home, and I did my research and this CAI was the best.

I was skepticle too at first, but now I am not. It is a great bolt on mod.

Give Me TP · Oct 5, 2006

K&N FIPK II with true dual exhaust ftw

AP1995V6 · Oct 5, 2006

You really don't gain anything. The reason you "gain" more top end is because the stock air filter basically chokes the engine at high rpms. You're getting what you should have gotten in the first place.

Adverse2Change · Oct 5, 2006

IslandBlueStang said:
This is why I said the "kit claims." All I know is that I have better throttle response and I better top end. I can feel and hear the difference, there is no doubt about that. Whether the difference is 5 or 10 horse power, no one can tell but I have a faster, better sounding, more responsive V6 after this kit. Im happy with dishing out a little more money to K an N because they have been selling filters and intake technology for 40+ years. I have a K and N rep near home, and I did my research and this CAI was the best.

I was skepticle too at first, but now I am not. It is a great bolt on mod.

I'm glad you're happy!

CAI

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