Proper order for a new tuner
03-25-2011, 12:55 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 14
Proper order for a new tuner
Howdy all,
First time Mustang owner here. Just got the '11 V6 Premium w/ Pony pkg, White w/ black stripes on doors and I freaking love it, and am planning on some basic mods.
I want to go with some Borla S or Atak exhaust, and SCT tuner, a CAI, and probably some headers. My question is: What order would you guys recommend for each of these or should I go full throttle and install all at once? I hadn't thought abt headers until this morning when a buddy of mine said I'd get more benefit from them than I would an upgraded exhaust. I'm a neophyte to all this so I have no clue if he's right or not. I had planned on going in this order:
1. CAI + BAMA tuner pkg (not sure at all which CAI is the best, help please?)
2. Borla S or ATAK exhaust
3. Headers
Recommendations? Any help is greatly appreciated and I'm really enjoying this forum. It's been very helpful especially for a newbie like myself.j
First time Mustang owner here. Just got the '11 V6 Premium w/ Pony pkg, White w/ black stripes on doors and I freaking love it, and am planning on some basic mods.
I want to go with some Borla S or Atak exhaust, and SCT tuner, a CAI, and probably some headers. My question is: What order would you guys recommend for each of these or should I go full throttle and install all at once? I hadn't thought abt headers until this morning when a buddy of mine said I'd get more benefit from them than I would an upgraded exhaust. I'm a neophyte to all this so I have no clue if he's right or not. I had planned on going in this order:
1. CAI + BAMA tuner pkg (not sure at all which CAI is the best, help please?)
2. Borla S or ATAK exhaust
3. Headers
Recommendations? Any help is greatly appreciated and I'm really enjoying this forum. It's been very helpful especially for a newbie like myself.j
03-25-2011, 01:01 PM
#2
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: VA
Posts: 720
I would do either the CAI or tune first, or if you can afford them both at the same time, both. None of the things you mention actually would require a tune unless those are LT headers you are wanting. As for an intake, I would go with an airaid or JLT. I own a JLT and love it. Steeda CAI produces similar results, but costs $100 more and looks like it even uses the same S&B filter JLT does. Use the extra $100 on the Bama tune from AM.
03-25-2011, 01:48 PM
#4
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: VA
Posts: 453
The order you have in the first post is exactly what I would do. The AirRaid certainly looks the best out of the choices on AM and the JLT and C&L intakes have a proven track record so I don't think you can go wrong here. The tune will make the biggest difference anyway.
03-25-2011, 02:33 PM
#6
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Crooklyn, NY
Posts: 83
Any CAI worth installing needs a tune. You might as well get the CAI with the SCT X3 tuner from American Muscle. It comes with 3 custom tunes for your vehicle plus you get free Bama tunes for life. Any time you do a modification that requires a tune, you go to the website, log in your data, and they email you the new tune. Don't try installing the CAI without the tune. Your car won't run or you will damage your engine.
03-25-2011, 02:53 PM
#7
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 263
My perspective is a bit different, although the tune & CAI will garner you an extra 15-20 HP and a bit more pep, the mod I enjoy the most is my Bassani axleback exhaust. The car now sounds fantastic (albeit louder 
), and although the performance was about the same, it is like driving an entirely different car. When the road is clear, now I turn down the stereo & enjoy listening to the car going through the gears. Something that wasn't nearly as pleasant with the stock axlebacks.
), and although the performance was about the same, it is like driving an entirely different car. When the road is clear, now I turn down the stereo & enjoy listening to the car going through the gears. Something that wasn't nearly as pleasant with the stock axlebacks.
Last edited by Joenpb; 03-25-2011 at 02:56 PM.
03-25-2011, 03:25 PM
#8
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: ILLinois
Posts: 114
Any CAI worth installing needs a tune. You might as well get the CAI with the SCT X3 tuner from American Muscle. It comes with 3 custom tunes for your vehicle plus you get free Bama tunes for life. Any time you do a modification that requires a tune, you go to the website, log in your data, and they email you the new tune. Don't try installing the CAI without the tune. Your car won't run or you will damage your engine.
You won't damage your engine with just a CAI. I don't know where you heard that. It is however better with the tune and CAI combo.
03-25-2011, 03:35 PM
#9
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Crooklyn, NY
Posts: 83
http://www.americanmuscle.com/steeda...al-2011gt.html
03-25-2011, 03:38 PM
#10
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Crooklyn, NY
Posts: 83
My perspective is a bit different, although the tune & CAI will garner you an extra 15-20 HP and a bit more pep, the mod I enjoy the most is my Bassani axleback exhaust. The car now sounds fantastic (albeit louder ), and although the performance was about the same, it is like driving an entirely different car. When the road is clear, now I turn down the stereo & enjoy listening to the car going through the gears. Something that wasn't nearly as pleasant with the stock axlebacks.
), and although the performance was about the same, it is like driving an entirely different car. When the road is clear, now I turn down the stereo & enjoy listening to the car going through the gears. Something that wasn't nearly as pleasant with the stock axlebacks.
The HP gain is closer to 35-40 HP with the tune and CAI.