Truth About CAI Systems

[StompinR1]

the simple fact is, the stock airbox is more than good enough for an N/A car. When FI comes into play, then yes a CAI will help, but I can't justify $200 for 2hp.

StompinR1 - to take off the silencer, just unclamp the airbox, pull it from the fender and pull the rubber tube that is sticking out of it. Thats all there is to it

Thanks for the input I just checked and it was already gone. I guess whever had it for the first 10g's already knew to remove it.

 

[01Steeda]

the simple fact is, the stock airbox is more than good enough for an N/A car. When FI comes into play, then yes a CAI will help, but I can't justify $200 for 2hp.

StompinR1 - to take off the silencer, just unclamp the airbox, pull it from the fender and pull the rubber tube that is sticking out of it. Thats all there is to it

with FI there is no CAI

 

[stangGT97]

with FI there is no CAI

what about a KB? N20? I know turbos/centris dont have the air tube, but those other forms would

 

[propellerhead]

Don't expect much out of a CAI. Just like you wouldn't expect much from a grill delete or a Mach 1 chin spoiler. A CAI is partly an appearance mod.

 

[BooWFO]

Don't expect much out of a CAI. Just like you wouldn't expect much from a grill delete or a Mach 1 chin spoiler. A CAI is partly an appearance mod.

gotta agree. there
Now having said that if your going to drop the money for one I do have to give the nod to the JLT, and heck I'm running a C&L inlet pipe. But it's polished and has an extra hole in it

 

[the98stang]

Just take out your Intake Air Silencer and install a K&N air filter.

CAI's will give you 5WHP MAX. That's not worth $200 in my opinion.

 

[GettinThere]

so basically I just bought a cai off ebay last week for nothing? I was so excited to put it on and do the work myself. It was only 40 bucks but after reading this you guys pretty much all agree that its pointless.....

Don't get discouraged, you gotta start somewhere. Keep reading the forums here and elsewhere and you'll learn a lot. If the most I ever wasted on my car was $40, I'd consider myself fortunate.

 

[hotmustang331]

That would be about right on a stock car.

But when you start adding cams and more boltons...not having a CAI is just hurting power. My JLT is probably worth a good 10RWHP on my car, no way I would take it off.

People say that "your stock manifolds are good to around 400RWHP...you dont need LTs until then" . Yet if you put them on a 275RWHP stang, power will go up to over 290RWHP. Its the same type thing, a part may support your current power...but it doesnt mean there isnt any power to be gained by improving that particular part

 

[propellerhead]

so basically I just bought a cai off ebay last week for nothing? I was so excited to put it on and do the work myself. It was only 40 bucks but after reading this you guys pretty much all agree that its pointless.....

Oh and is there an install guide for just taking off the silencer and not doing the cai? and is it the same for 04?

It's not totally pointless. I did the same thing. The K&N FIPK was my first mod because it was cool to look at and it was easy to install. It's like those that replace the badges on their car. It's fun to do and they like how it looks. Same goes for the CAI but you do get some performance benefit, debatable as it may be. The fun of doing the mod is what you paid for. Enjoy it. Don't look back.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I think the bottom line is that CAIs look cool and may add some power. No reason not to get one if you can afford it.

They are definitely an appearance mod and may be a performance mod on some cars.

 

[ponyX2]

WOW, half of Stangnet jumped in on this one. Thanks for all the info gang, my decision is easy now.

 

[2000BLKGT]

it's an appearance mod...that's all

I put a Steeda CAI on my set up...glad I did cause the tube can be airbrushed

so I put the name of the car on it

but aside from looks...if you're looking for performance gains, don't bother

 

[hotmustang331]

^

You do know that alot of guys are switching to the steeda CAI vs the KBs due to POWER GAINS right?

 

[01Steeda]

what about a KB? N20? I know turbos/centris dont have the air tube, but those other forms would

ahh ya got me.. i always forget about those lol

 

[evol04gt]

just like with pulleys anfd gears though---- they truly dont add hpr but they make itso your car GETS to the hpr easier and faster. a cai has benifits in almost every car (except for most boosted from factory because you run more risk of leaning out the car) . i got mine for 75 the same day i got my puleys for 50. the intake went on a week before the pulleys. here is a test---- breath through a smaller straw. now beath through a bigger straw. you can getthe same air from both but the big straw is a little easier. same for your car. YOU mught not feel a diff but your motor gets relieved a little from the work load. air in and air out is a great wy to start your performane mods. the reason hey are usually 200 is because most people only do intake ehaust and wheels on thier car. are there cheaper better mods first? yes. is that fiiissssssssssssss sound as accelerate gratifying? yes. its all on what youre gonna do long term. some people would bever putpulleys on their car for t the argument of dynonumbers-- but the combo of both makes it so much easier to hit the higher rpms. besides people pay hundreds for carbon fiber wings and engine covers and interior parts. whats 150 for something that helps your car work a little less???????

 

[stangGT97]

ahh ya got me.. i always forget about those lol

you forgot about teh KB? go sit in the corner and face the wall

 

[Mel96GT]

In my '96 GT I originally ran a K&N filter in the stock airbox and felt nothing. I then installed a K&N FIPK and instantly felt better throttle response (SOTP meter) and a cool whooshing sound. I think a FIPK is more noticeable in a NPI engine, don't really know why. Other NPI guys have said the same thing about the K&N FIPK. I was pretty happy with that first mod.

 

[stangGT97]

In my '96 GT I originally ran a K&N filter in the stock airbox and felt nothing. I then installed a K&N FIPK and instantly felt better throttle response (SOTP meter) and a cool whooshing sound. I think a FIPK is more noticeable in a NPI engine, don't really know why. Other NPI guys have said the same thing about the K&N FIPK. I was pretty happy with that first mod.

really? I've never heard that, interesting though

 

[jstreet0204]

just like with pulleys anfd gears though---- they truly dont add hpr but they make itso your car GETS to the hpr easier and faster. a cai has benifits in almost every car (except for most boosted from factory because you run more risk of leaning out the car) . i got mine for 75 the same day i got my puleys for 50. the intake went on a week before the pulleys. here is a test---- breath through a smaller straw. now beath through a bigger straw. you can getthe same air from both but the big straw is a little easier. same for your car. YOU mught not feel a diff but your motor gets relieved a little from the work load. air in and air out is a great wy to start your performane mods. the reason hey are usually 200 is because most people only do intake ehaust and wheels on thier car. are there cheaper better mods first? yes. is that fiiissssssssssssss sound as accelerate gratifying? yes. its all on what youre gonna do long term. some people would bever putpulleys on their car for t the argument of dynonumbers-- but the combo of both makes it so much easier to hit the higher rpms. besides people pay hundreds for carbon fiber wings and engine covers and interior parts. whats 150 for something that helps your car work a little less???????

First, that made my head hurt trying to read that. But your straw comparison is wrong. The reason is that the stock intake tube will already outflow the throttle body and plenum. A 281 ci engine running at 6000 rpm at 100% ve only flows 487cfm. The stock throttle body and plenum flow 486cfm. Increasing the flow infront of the throttle body does nothing unless it flows less cfm. The filter is where the increase comes from, which is why you will see about the same gains from a drop in K&N filter that you will from a coldair intake.