Proper order for a new tuner
5th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,008
From: Livin in NC, from Michigan...Yooper
oh I see you drive a GT as I did once and wised up when 6 came out and I became a convert..... so us lowly 6er's were thinking you talking about our CAI'S please don't screw us up anymore than we are lmao
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 368
From: Michigan
It's going to depend on what you really want. Like someone else said, the catback might net you the least amount of hp, but the fun factor is pretty high. Or better yet here's a better example. As far as performance mods go, my favorite mod so far nets the least amount of power on a dyno. That is my 3.73 rear gear swap. I only moved from a 3.31 and if I had to pick one mod that had the most noticeable results, I'd say it was the 3.73. And I'm not talking about a mod that people get in and say "I think I feel something different". I'm talking about a mod that made my wife say "WTF did you do to your car?" So a mod with no hp at the wheels, most noticeable results, 3.73 swap for $650 installed. Hands down best one on my list.
Another way you could break this down is to look at approximate estimates of each power releaser on it's own. Keep in mind, like everyone will point out, 1 + 1 does not = 2 when it comes to power adders and releasers. So it might be different and most likely less if you do them at the same time. They're all fun though. Again it's going to depend on what you're hoping for. I like doing all my own mods. I've done all the installs myself aside from the 3.73. I also like doing them one at a time to get a feel for what each mod did on it's own. Also back to what I said earlier, the 3.73 didn't net me anything on a dyno, but it felt as strong as almost all of the other mods combined when you just look at how much each of the mods press you back into the seat.
If I had done them all at once I would have had no idea the 3.73 made such a difference.
Airaid CAI - $250 - 15hp = $17/hp
Tuner - $380 - 15hp = $25/hp
BBK Headers w/Off-Road X-Pipe $640 - 25hp - $26/hp
Borla Catback - $950 - 12hp = $79/hp
Another way you could break this down is to look at approximate estimates of each power releaser on it's own. Keep in mind, like everyone will point out, 1 + 1 does not = 2 when it comes to power adders and releasers. So it might be different and most likely less if you do them at the same time. They're all fun though. Again it's going to depend on what you're hoping for. I like doing all my own mods. I've done all the installs myself aside from the 3.73. I also like doing them one at a time to get a feel for what each mod did on it's own. Also back to what I said earlier, the 3.73 didn't net me anything on a dyno, but it felt as strong as almost all of the other mods combined when you just look at how much each of the mods press you back into the seat.
If I had done them all at once I would have had no idea the 3.73 made such a difference.
Airaid CAI - $250 - 15hp = $17/hp
Tuner - $380 - 15hp = $25/hp
BBK Headers w/Off-Road X-Pipe $640 - 25hp - $26/hp
Borla Catback - $950 - 12hp = $79/hp
Last edited by wrxified; Mar 26, 2011 at 09:38 AM.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,182
From: PA to KY ('07) to IL ('09) to MS ('10) to FL ('11)
Truckbutt, on the 3.7L I don't believe you can gain more than 25 RWHP, tops, with a CAI & custom tune. I've seen the dynos for the 5.0 and there are impressive gains of 35-40+ RWHP but I haven't seen many dynos for the 3.7L. I can only assume the gains are equal to or less than that for the 4.6L (which is in the 20-25 RWHP realm).
Last edited by Nuke; Mar 26, 2011 at 11:04 AM.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,008
From: Livin in NC, from Michigan...Yooper
SORRY NOT SURE WHICH AIRAID WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT ME AND WRX HAVE THE AIRAID...THE NEWEST AND THERE IS NO INSERT, IT'S A STRAIGHT SHOT INSTALL, IF ANYTHING IT'S MORE STOCK THAN AFTERMARKET...WHOOPS CAPS LOC ON..SORYY NOT RE-TYPING.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 263
From: San Diego, CA
It's going to depend on what you really want. Like someone else said, the catback might net you the least amount of hp, but the fun factor is pretty high. Or better yet here's a better example. As far as performance mods go, my favorite mod so far nets the least amount of power on a dyno. That is my 3.73 rear gear swap. I only moved from a 3.31 and if I had to pick one mod that had the most noticeable results, I'd say it was the 3.73. And I'm not talking about a mod that people get in and say "I think I feel something different". I'm talking about a mod that made my wife say "WTF did you do to your car?" So a mod with no hp at the wheels, most noticeable results, 3.73 swap for $650 installed. Hands down best one on my list.
Another way you could break this down is to look at approximate estimates of each power releaser on it's own. Keep in mind, like everyone will point out, 1 + 1 does not = 2 when it comes to power adders and releasers. So it might be different and most likely less if you do them at the same time. They're all fun though. Again it's going to depend on what you're hoping for. I like doing all my own mods. I've done all the installs myself aside from the 3.73. I also like doing them one at a time to get a feel for what each mod did on it's own. Also back to what I said earlier, the 3.73 didn't net me anything on a dyno, but it felt as strong as almost all of the other mods combined when you just look at how much each of the mods press you back into the seat.
If I had done them all at once I would have had no idea the 3.73 made such a difference.
Airaid CAI - $250 - 15hp = $17/hp
Tuner - $380 - 15hp = $25/hp
BBK Headers w/Off-Road X-Pipe $640 - 25hp - $26/hp
Borla Catback - $950 - 12hp = $79/hp
Another way you could break this down is to look at approximate estimates of each power releaser on it's own. Keep in mind, like everyone will point out, 1 + 1 does not = 2 when it comes to power adders and releasers. So it might be different and most likely less if you do them at the same time. They're all fun though. Again it's going to depend on what you're hoping for. I like doing all my own mods. I've done all the installs myself aside from the 3.73. I also like doing them one at a time to get a feel for what each mod did on it's own. Also back to what I said earlier, the 3.73 didn't net me anything on a dyno, but it felt as strong as almost all of the other mods combined when you just look at how much each of the mods press you back into the seat.
If I had done them all at once I would have had no idea the 3.73 made such a difference.
Airaid CAI - $250 - 15hp = $17/hp
Tuner - $380 - 15hp = $25/hp
BBK Headers w/Off-Road X-Pipe $640 - 25hp - $26/hp
Borla Catback - $950 - 12hp = $79/hp
As you added each mod by chance did you see what if any change that mod made to your mpg (especially the new gears)? What are you getting for mpg now? Thanks.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,182
From: PA to KY ('07) to IL ('09) to MS ('10) to FL ('11)
Those HP gains that wrxified posted are interesting. I'll have whatever he's smokin'.
Airaid CAI - $250 - 15hp = $17/hp try 15- 20 RWHP for BOTH the CAI & custom tune
Tuner - $380 - 15hp = $25/hp
BBK Headers w/Off-Road X-Pipe $640 - 25hp - $26/hp try 10-15 RWHP without cams
Borla Catback - $950 - 12hp = $79/hp try 1-2 RWHP; 3 if you're lucky
And forget about any fuel mileage gains. IF there were to be any gains, you'd kill them with the lead foot you'll develop playing with the new found power.
Airaid CAI - $250 - 15hp = $17/hp try 15- 20 RWHP for BOTH the CAI & custom tune
Tuner - $380 - 15hp = $25/hp
BBK Headers w/Off-Road X-Pipe $640 - 25hp - $26/hp try 10-15 RWHP without cams
Borla Catback - $950 - 12hp = $79/hp try 1-2 RWHP; 3 if you're lucky
And forget about any fuel mileage gains. IF there were to be any gains, you'd kill them with the lead foot you'll develop playing with the new found power.
Last edited by Nuke; Mar 26, 2011 at 01:08 PM.
