AKElroy

I picked up my 2011 5.0 yesterday, 6m, 3.73, Brembo. I am chomping at the bit for cat-backs, CAI and tune. These will be the only mods. Which tune With these mods is giving the best power pop? Someone has to be on top-----

zilla8

Results will vary but without longtubes most cars are hitting 400rwhp with CAI,tune,exhaust

my combo works great for me.I have Steeda CAI,Magnaflow catback with HF cats and BlowbyRacing 91oct tune and I dynoed 406rwhp/387rwtq car runs real strong throughout all rpm ranges.

AKElroy

Well, I ordered the Brenspeed Stage 1. Tuner, Magnaflow X pipe, Steeda CAI & cat back Steeda/Borla. Brenspeed states 60+ HP gains; I have not seen that figure confirmed anywhere. I live in Texas, so 93 octane is everywhere. I am having Brent do a 93 octane agressive tune, and I would LOVE to see 410+ from this kit.

Having a hard time waiting for delivery; hope it gets hear by next weekend so I can get it bolted up.

Nuke

Don't decide which tune to run solely based on octane. Many folks prefer a lower octane tune for DD'ing because the various tunes have different characteristics. HP isn't the end-all...

The advertised HP is usually very conservative and is often stated as crank vs RW. But on the 5.0 I think 40+ RWHP from the CAI & tune is attainable.

AKElroy

Agreed. I will be calling them Monday to discuss the project. My goals are pretty basic; I want to increase low-end grunt, preserve / improve top end rush, delete the skip-shift, up the rev limit (not to abuse, but to allow a shift AT the 7k limit w/o fuel cut-off), remove the top speed governer (just because), and improve the sound.

I would also like to talk to them about a no-lift shift throttle-modulation feature, not even sure if that can be built into a tune.

This car will not see the strip or track; just the occasional 3 gear roll-on to put a smile on my face, and the occasional on-ramp romp to tingle the spine.

That, and just knowing what's under the hood & the fun a quick jab provides.

AKElroy

To your point about HP not being everything, I recently sold an LS2 2006 GTO, 6m. The car was fast stock, but I wanted more & added a Lingenfelter CAI, Diablosport 93 Octane Tune & Corsa Cat Back. Sounded great, but the torque curve becams so flat that it actually lost the feel of top-end rush that it had with the OEM bits. Times improved, I am sure the dyno would have shown 30+ or so HP gains, but it felt flat w/o that OEM rush from 5-6.5k.

theACE

What exhaust are you going to put on your 5.0?

AKElroy

The Brenspeed Stage 1 comes with steeda (Borla) mufflers & Magnaflow True-X Pipe (splice-in). I emailed them last week, and they said that even though they are manufactured for Steeda, the Borla mufflers are very similar to the Borla S-types.

GeorgeInNePa

A tune from one of the big names is going to be close to the same as another one.

JLT, Steeda, and C&L CAIs are also showing similar gains from dyno to dyno, if you take everything into account.

There are only so many things a tuner can change, there are no "magical" tunes providing "extra mystery" hp.