So I'm wondering how effective the CAI set up is for the mustang because, from what I can tell from pictures of other's CAI's, they dont look to be in a very efficient spot. Seems like they're still tucked away behind the left head light. I don't find this cost effective to spend the time and money to install a CAI right in the same place where my stock intake was. Plus, my stock intake already has a "tube" (or whatever you want to call it) that runs from the filter box to the grille(not directly in front of the grille of course) of the car. So from the pictures I've seen, it seems like my stock intake would get more cold air and more overall air flow than a CAI. Am I right or wrong?

It makes sense to install a CAI and give the car better air to breathe than the warm air in the engine bay, but I can't justify a CAI when it would be farther back in the bay than my current intake.

I am very inexperienced, but want to start learning. Where am I wrong (i have a pretty good feeling im wrong, lol)? Is a CAI a worth while mod?

P.S. I understand that most power will come from a tune, and not the CAI alone.
Thanks for your time.

 

The aftermarket CAI's have greater surface area and are less restrictive than the OE intake. Combine that additional airflow with a custom tune (without the custom tune you don't want to bother with a CAI) and you're talking one of the biggest bangs-for-the-buck short of going FI. The majority of the power add comes from the tune; the CAI simply adds a little kicker. Be more concerned about the tune and who writes it for you and not the CAI.

 

I can understand the suface area, but the CAI is still in a farther back in the bay than the stock. How much cold air can you get behind the left head light. Surely the people who make the CAI's can find a better place to put them, right?

 

Cold air is a relative term. The difference in HP from actual outside air versus air from within the engine bay is barely measurable, if at all. And again, you're agonizing over the CAI whereas the real gain is from the tune; even a custom 87 octane tune will run circles around the stock 87 tune. You can just get a custom tune w/o the CAI and have respecatable gains. The CAI (and the tune revised for it) simply adds a bit more.

 

I can say that the amount of cold air provided by these intakes does vary quite a bit. Some models (c&l, jlt) don't isolate nearly as well as others (Airaid, steeda) the aftermarket filters do flow better and have a larger surface area. The stock setup, while actually pretty good has the resonator and the pleated section which could add a slight bit of restriction. Finally, the sound is altered significantly, whether a positive or not, might mike the car sound faster lol.. I wouldn't say it feels as notcible as say, gears, but its a somewhat cheap mod, attached by anyone with hand tools that easily reverted back to stock if needed. I have the Airaid intake myself. Probably gave a little bit of a bump off the line, makes the car sound meaner, and looks cool under the hood.

Rmurad38