Cold air kit is it worth it?

Jester67 · Oct 29, 2007

Sorry if this has been covered before. I did a search and could not find what I was looking for. My brother just bought a 2002 GT 5speed and wanted to know if the cold air kits where worth the money the car has a K&N filter in it now. He was also asking about a throttle body change. I work on classics and all this in new to me but I am sure you guys can point me in the right direction.

scupking · Oct 29, 2007

Some people say they are worth it other say they are not. I say every little bit helps. I would go with the K&N FIPK Gen II kit and go with a 75mm throttle body and plenum. Also does he have anything else planed for the car?

Crzyhrse · Oct 29, 2007

Most people will say their a waste, but about 95% of people have them. You'll only gain afew RWHP, but they do a better job of making your engine bay look better, and getting some of that factory black plastic crap out of there.

mity2 · Oct 29, 2007

waste of money IMO.
If he feel he MUST change it, I'd just replace it with C&L tube, and dropp K&N and call it the day. It look much better that way anyhow.

propellerhead · Oct 29, 2007

It's all about your definition of "worth it". A CAI is mostly a 'feel good' or 'looks good' mod than a horsepower mod. If you judge it in terms of looks or personal satisfaction from doing a mod, then it's worth it. If you judge it by the $/hp method, then there are other mods you should do first.

Many people that laugh at a CAI mod probably have the grill delete mod. Ask them how many horsepower that mod gave them.

the98stang · Oct 29, 2007

Dollar per HP, they are worthless. For example:

CAI's produce 5whp MAX and they cost $200 easily. So $200/5whp= $40 per whp.

Compare that to nitrous, which might cost $800, for a 100whp gain (for the stock short block). $800/100= $8 per whp.

As you can see, the difference in price-for-power is huge. So if you want your engine bay to look better, I guess go for it. Just don't expect much HP gain, or seat-of-the-pants feel.

Flghtmstr1 · Oct 29, 2007

What about cars that are already modified? Do CAIs offer more than 5rwhp on cars that already have tb/plenum, exhaust, tune, etc?

2002tbstang · Oct 29, 2007

Contrary to whats normally done to mustangs I started off with the intake stuff first. I got the 75mm accufab throttle body and plenum combo and I felt a very noticeable difference in the breathing up top and after that I got a used AEM bruteforce intake for cheap and I felt that less than the tb+plenum but now even with everything else I have they have been good mods and would do them again.

SilverBullet00 · Oct 29, 2007

I actually took my CIA off my car and sold it, and put the stock setup back on. When I took it off my car drove slightly slower due to the extra weight of the money in my pocket.....

CobraRed_96_GT · Oct 29, 2007

Flghtmstr1 said:
What about cars that are already modified? Do CAIs offer more than 5rwhp on cars that already have tb/plenum, exhaust, tune, etc?

a car w/ full bolts on's MAY see 5rwhp. Let's remember almost all of these intakes are made from metal, so as your engine heats up so do they. Doesn't matter if they were sucking the air out of an ice box the tube is still 160 degrees - while the stock plastic one doesn't heat sink like this. Most if not all the gains you see are from the new better flowing filter - so stick with that unless engine appearance is a factor.

hotdog71 · Oct 29, 2007

Hi,

You might gain a few ponnies but it really looks good and many forget about the change in sound with the CAI.

At least when I did my BBK 75mm TB/Plenum combo with K&N FIPK IIGen it sounded good with my then stock 2" 1/4' H with FlowMaster 40's
but I have since fitted full Bassani 2" 1/2' with X pipe and now it's sounds a little like NASCAR

If you have the cash and want to do it then go for it, it's not going to hurt anything that's for sure.

IMO: as for the rwhp/per $$ I don't think comparing a major mode like NOS to CAI is fair really, it would be like comparing NOS to a Blower, the blower would win hands down based on availibilty of rwhp/per $$ per/secs.

Trail of Dead · Oct 29, 2007

Aside from my Flowmaster 40's my CAI is the only mod i have done to my '99 GT. It had the stocker on there when I got it and I bought one of those cheapies ($50 plus shipping off eBay) and installed it and immediately noticed a difference in sound and just a small fraction in performance....nothing noteworthy though. It is constructed alot like my cousins BBK on his GT so I figured I'd buy the cheapie for $50 versus $200 for a BBK. I'd get one over again they look real nice and help the "throaty" sound out! Good Luck!

BlackenedSVT · Oct 29, 2007

If its not a JTL intake, its not worth buying.

IF you go with anything, go with their stuff IMO

GettinThere · Oct 30, 2007

Jester67 said:
My brother just bought a 2002 GT 5speed and wanted to know if the cold air kits where worth the money the car has a K&N filter in it now.

See below.

CobraRed_96_GT said:
Most if not all the gains you see are from the new better flowing filter...

the98stang · Oct 30, 2007

hotdog71 said:
IMO: as for the rwhp/per $$ I don't think comparing a major mode like NOS to CAI is fair really, it would be like comparing NOS to a Blower, the blower would win hands down based on availibilty of rwhp/per $$ per/secs.

How is it not fair? Isn't the ultimate goal for drag racers to gain horsepower by spending the least amount of money? I feel sorry for people wasting their money on N/A setups....it all comes down power adders if you want real HP gain. That's my opinion .

Tanner

CobraRed_96_GT · Oct 30, 2007

GettinThere said:
See below.

thanks for freshening up my grammar too

mustangkid05 · Oct 30, 2007

i did notice a nice kick when i installed mine, imo its worth it......buy a cheap one from ebay like 70$ shipped

the98stang · Oct 31, 2007

mustangkid05 said:
i did notice a nice kick when i installed mine, imo its worth it......buy a cheap one from ebay like 70$ shipped

Ya if have to buy one just get one from ebay. You will see the same gains with that one compared to K&N/Mac/BBK etc.

GettinThere · Oct 31, 2007

CobraRed_96_GT said:
thanks for freshening up my grammar too

not problem.

astronut1885 · Oct 31, 2007

I'm a fan of them. They do clean up the engine bay, they smooth the air tract, and if you get one like mine, they don't heat up the air like a metal one will. I bought a Roush one. It's black plastic, relocates the filter to the fenderwell for cooler air, and looks sweet. There's a better exhaust note, and a slightly snappier throttle response with it, but again, that's probably more the nice big filter in the fenderwell. I plan on adding a blower in the spring, so a nice, smooth, high flow capable intake tract was a must. I would stay away from the metal ones unless you're looking more for bling than bang. If you want a little of both, try a JLT or a Roush like mine.

Cold air kit is it worth it?

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I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.

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