When I bought my 07 GT, I started looking at the eye-candy that is CAI. The company I bought my DiabloSport Predator tuner from claimed it was good for up to a 27hp increase. They also sold a package that included the C&L CAI and Predator, and claimed it was good for up to a 31hp increase. That tells me that the CAI was worth 4hp. Yikes, that's a lot of money for 4hp. So I passed on the CAI, and bought just the tuner.
After reading MM&FF's CAI article about a year ago (they tested a bunch of them on an S197 GT at the dragstrip - the real world dyno) I became very skeptical of CAI's doing anything other than looking cool. Good read that kept me from throwing away a few hundred bucks on a CAI. The only CAI that added any performance above and beyond the tune by itself was the WMS front-mounted ram air unit. MM&FF showed a real improvement in the 1/4 mile with this one, while all the others showed no improvement. If you have to get a CAI, this should be high on your list.
When I bought my 07 GT, I started looking at the eye-candy that is CAI. The company I bought my DiabloSport Predator tuner from claimed it was good for up to a 27hp increase. They also sold a package that included the C&L CAI and Predator, and claimed it was good for up to a 31hp increase. That tells me that the CAI was worth 4hp. Yikes, that's a lot of money for 4hp. So I passed on the CAI, and bought just the tuner.
Now, for those who choose to get the CAI anyway, you have to tune for it or you'll run lean. I did this on my 03 Mach 1. Bought the C&L TrueFlow inlet tube and big MAF. They were advertising that piece as "no tune required." WRONG! My car slowed at the dragstrip from 13.0's with the stock stuff down to 13.7's with the C&L. The car was so lean it was pinging for most of the track!
Same is true for axle-back systems. They sound cool and some are lighter than the stock mufflers, so that's a plus. However, MM&FF tested them on the S197 GT last year (quite a few of the popular axle-backs), and found most only gave a couple hp, while many lost hp. Most lost torque (need that back pressure to keep torque in check). So, chalk up the axle-backs as "ear candy" and CAI's as "eye candy."
Now, if you have a heavily modified car, then CAI's and exhaust mods will become necessary and will hold real benefits. But, on a mostly stock car, better to leave the factory plumbing intact.
After reading MM&FF's CAI article about a year ago (they tested a bunch of them on an S197 GT at the dragstrip - the real world dyno) I became very skeptical of CAI's doing anything other than looking cool. Good read that kept me from throwing away a few hundred bucks on a CAI. The only CAI that added any performance above and beyond the tune by itself was the WMS front-mounted ram air unit. MM&FF showed a real improvement in the 1/4 mile with this one, while all the others showed no improvement. If you have to get a CAI, this should be high on your list.
When I bought my 07 GT, I started looking at the eye-candy that is CAI. The company I bought my DiabloSport Predator tuner from claimed it was good for up to a 27hp increase. They also sold a package that included the C&L CAI and Predator, and claimed it was good for up to a 31hp increase. That tells me that the CAI was worth 4hp. Yikes, that's a lot of money for 4hp. So I passed on the CAI, and bought just the tuner.
come on guys where are all the CAI guys?
this was more of a negative post than positive. lol
Anyone backing the steeda kit?
the C&L? the demolet?
anyone have real dyno numbers etc?
thanks.
I know as of now i rather go with a SCT xcal2 tuner.
So, are there any tuners out there that sell upgrade tunes for the stock setup?The main increase comes from the new better programming.
So, are there any tuners out there that sell upgrade tunes for the stock setup?
I have a 1996 Ford Thunderbird that has a 5.0L Big-Bore 2V engine in it. I did a lot of research before that engine got built. I run the factory airbox and filter minus the silencer. The engine is a 10.5:1 Compression ratio and using the FRPP Plastic PI intake. The car is making just under 340 RWHP N/A through a fully built 4R70W and IRS. The car doesn't have Long tube headers( none available to fit it ), Under drive pullies, or an electric water pump and the exhaust is not the best setup. All of those things that I don't have will add power to the car. The setup as it is in a 5 Spd Mustang with a solid axle would be around 370 RWHP. MM&FF told me that my car would make more power with a 5.0L Stroker. In reality, my car is making more power than any 5.0L 2V N/A Stroker that I have seen to date, in fact I haven't seen one within 20 RWHP of what my car has.
Now onto this thread. I can see gains in a tuner that is going from a 87 Octane to 91 Octane pump fuel and I can see those gains at being around 15 - 25 RWHP. That doesn't leave much for a CAI to help. Go pop the hood of your car and look at the airbox. At the front you are going to see a little box pointing to the fender. There you will notice a little hole going to the outside of the car. Now let me you ask this.
How is placing a open air filter to draw cold air out of that same little hole that the factory airbox uses is going to help you? Think about it, there is no way in hell it can. The only gains you might see is after the MAF and using an elbow that is straight, not curved like the stock one is. Even there I am not sure there is a gain to be had.
I already know that adding a more efficient air filter will not help. I have seen a 600 RWHP SCed 4.6 2V mustang using the stock air filter. Adding a K&N and keeping all the oil temperatures the same, the car made less than 1 RWHP more than what it did with stock filter and the car saw no reduction in time during a 1/4 mile pass.
You can do things on the dyno and other little things like adding/remove timing to the stock tune to show big gains with a CAI and tuner. Who pays the advertising in the magazines you read. Is it not the companies making the products that they want you to buy that pays the bills? I am pretty sure it is.
I have looked at CAI's for my car and taking a good look and with what I have researched in the past. The only kit that has any hope of working is the WMS.
It is your money, your car. Do with it as you please. If there is something you like go with it.
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