Help me settle this arguement

[GT02MG]

I might be wrong and my friend might be right or vice versa....
Basically im adding a K&N filter and removing the air silencer and expecting not much but a little extra power for the cheap price I only paid for the filter.
My friend bought the steeda CAI and some people are telling us that the CAI doesnt make any power and the setup I have would do the same thing but at not even a fraction of the cost of the steeda unit...ive read many times how useless CAIs on 2v cars are so I was wondering if just my filter / removed silencer combo was just as effective as expensive CAI units

 

[DTNODYA]

From the mass consensus of what I have read on this forum, most people say that removing the silencer and replacing the stock filter with a K&N is about the same as any CAI. So, in other words, not much of a difference maybe 1-2 hp max (my opinion)


Edited:

I don't exactly understand why though ..... I would think that a smooth pipe would flow air better than that rubber thing ... people will say that the rubber deal is not very restrictive .. I would like to see some dyno results of stock - to - aftermarket CAI.

 

[SigmaPride]

Go with the K&N drop in if you want to save money. You'd be much better off spending money elsewhere. HP difference is not the issue as the stock intake really isn't bad. If you had a 4v then you would see more gains, but you don't.

If you just want to spend money and get some better looks then get a plastic intake system. I wouldn't get one that bends into the fenderwell either, but that is my opinion.

 

[ilbehaved]

i went with the stock air box with a tru flow c&l pipe.

 

[hotmustang331]

A steeda CAI will make more power than a K&N. Is it worth the money? Probably not, unless you wanting everylast HP out of your car, or you have done all the other boltons. I personally reccomend the JLT RAI...it has been dyno tested to gain around 8RWHP, and people regularly pick up 1 MPH in trap at the 1/4 mile track.

Note: K&N filter only on an 01 bullitt gained 1 HP and 3 FTLBs in a magazine test....and since their tests are usually high, it may be even less lol.

 

[GT02MG]

Ok so probably most CAIs on the market dont compare to a JLT or Steeda unit...I just figured I wasnt worried about making the engine look all pretty since it rarely gets cleaned and just wanted to add a K&N in there since thats a must have mod and it was cheap.
The $200+ I will save over not getting a CAI will go towards gears that will help out a lot more than a CAI ever will....331 do you have any dyno sheets of the 8 RWHP and 1 MPH gain the 1/4 slips? It just seems unreasonable to get that much with what some people are telling me....im not saying you are wrong im just curious as it seems everyone I ask its split on whether or not a CAI is actually that helpful and cost efficient.
Thanks for the replies and feedback keep them coming

 

[Jackie Chan]

i never ran one in mine there is no point

 

[tomustang]

I personally reccomend the JLT RAI...it has been dyno tested to gain around 8RWHP, and people regularly pick up 1 MPH in trap at the 1/4 mile track.

JLT says their CAI is better than their RAI

 

[hotmustang331]

I dont know what the deal is now with the CAI vs the RAI. Last I heard from JLT, the CAI didnt make any power gains when they tested it, so JLT refused to sell the CAI for the GTs. I think they just recently started offering the CAIs again for the GTs....so maybe they refined it.

As far as the dyno graphs, JLTucker posted some up in a recent thread that was about someone having problems with the demelote CAI....im sure it can be easily found in a search. And the 1MPH gain thing... I have heard that several people over on MD were gaining 1MPH at the track. I have seen 1 post where a guy said he did back to back runs the same night at the track...was gainging 1MPH with the JLT RAI...then when he removed it again just to check, MPH went back down. But I dont have any links....just do some searches and you should find it.

Im not a big fan of CAIs, and have done some research before buying the JLT. IMHO thats the best one out there....not to mention the awsome customer service. Im 100% happy with my JLT RAI, and would buy it again in a heart beat.

But all this is just what I have seen and heard, so noone try and come on here and be like "hey your wrong, that guy gained .9 MPH at the track" lol. If im wrong about any info im sorry.