Actually a few questions. I have read this site for about 2 years. I got my GT in March '07 and read here before to understand everything about the new 'Stang. I wanted to make a good decision. I think I did. I love my car.

Now, as I have read and lurked, I have tried to understand all the mods being done.

I finally understand what a CAI is and what it can do. I *think* I can do that myself. Perhaps. <cough> (I changed the oil, exchanged the radiator 3x and manually rotated the tires on my 1972 Pinto while in college--not rocket science I know)

First questions: Did all of you install it yourself? Did you find a shop or take it to the dealership? What is a ball park dollar figure for having it installed?

What is a *tune* that gets done or not get with it? If you had it installed, how much is that to have someone else do?

As I read here there seem to be two schools of thought: When you install the CAI do the *tune* OR just do the CAI and you'll have much lower HP.

What exactly is a *tune*? Did you do it yourself or did a shop or dealership do it? Do you buy a kit or is it something computerized in the engine that gets tweaked?

I have my oil changed every 4-5000 miles and it currently has 13500 miles on it. It drives perfectly. No issues.

I just love my car and love the power and love driving fast and want more power and want to drive faster. :-)

It's either modify it or purchase a 2010 model ASAP.

I need more power beneath my legs. I'm hormonal. That has to be it. I feel like a 16 year old boy; but I'm a woman.

Any direction would be helpful. I have tried to read here to understand what all the terms mean and I still am not finding definitions or getting a clear understanding.

Thanks for the help!

 

The CAI & tune combo is very easy to install. The CAI itself replaces the existing intake and takes about 1-2 hours for the **** person (like I can be sometimes). The tune (actually, "tunes"... the vendor you buy from usually provides 3 tunes based on your current mods or 3 octane tunes of your choices or with some vendors, race vs. torque tunes that can all be explained by calling the various vendors) is installed by plugging the hand-held tuner (part of the combo with the pre-loaded tunes) into the port below the steering wheel. It's all plug-n-play and you choose which of the 3 tunes you want to load. This process takes maybe 2-3 minutes. I run an 89 octane tune and keep my tuner in the trunk in case I get stuck having to fill-up with 87. Then it's a simple matter to load the 87 tune. You don't want to run a lower octane fuel than your tune calls for.

The more popular vendors are Brenspeed, Bamachips, VMP and Evolution. They provide custom tunes which are "perkier" than other vendors canned tunes. Go to their websites to see their combos and call them with questions. They have excellent customer service. The CAI's are basically equivalent in performance. Choose based on whcih one suits your purse and pleases your eyes.

Of course, I'd install it for you but you're about 700 miles away... LOL!

 

Installed myself. All it takes to change my BBK intake is a 10mm socket, a flathead and a phillips screwdriver and a small torq head driver for the MAF sensor (the MAF sensor is the part with the wire on it that snaps into your stock intake). It takes maybe an hr the first time, super easy. If you don't have the tools perhaps a neighbor or friend?

A "Tune" is a software program. You car has a computer in it, commonly called the ECU (Engine control unit). The "Tune" is the software program that controls the air fuel mixture, throttle response and several other functions.

To install a "Tune" you need a "Tuner" - its a small hand held computer with a long wire on it. The wire fits into the OBD port under your steering wheel. Some common tuners are the SCT XCal 2 or 3 and the Diablo Predator. You can buy the combination of a Tuner, preloaded with a couple Tunes from several vendors. Brenspeed.com and bamachips.com are popular choices. The Tune is where the horsepower increase comes from. Ford intentionally tunes the car very conservatively from the factory. A good company like Brenspeed will develop their own Tunes (and sell them to you) that use more aggressive timing, fuel mixtures, throttle response, etc and thus develop more horsepower.

Buying just the CAI without reprogramming the ECU (with a Tune and Tuner) is for the most part a waste of money. Your best bet is to call one of the popular vendors and discuss with them, they will give you the honest answers and explain it all.

I've been using a CAI and Brenspeed Tune for about a year now. Just this past week the car needed its yearly emissions test. So I put the stock intake and tune back in the car and drove it for a few days. Wow, I forgot how bad the stock tune is. Its kind of like the difference between playing volleyball in the sand vs playing on a court, the stock tune feels like the car is stuck in sand where the brenspeed tune responds so much quicker, lots of punch.

EDIT: LOL - Nuke you are quicker than me. I'm watching the Olympics and slowly typing here.

 

Get the CAI and tune. They are very easy to install as the others on this post have replied. It gives you the best bang for the buck and is perhaps the easiest perfromance tune to install. You need some very basic hand tools and a little patience. You will spend more time reading the directions then actually installing the CAI and tune.

 

Dealership to install a CAI?
Dont we preach removing CAIs and tunes before taking the stang to the stealership?
Maybe a FRPP power pack is right up your alley.

 

I installed mine. Trust me, if a girly-girl can do it, so can you!

BTW, do not get rid of your Ford intake. I had to do the switch back to stock to get an inspection sticker in MA. Put the Steeda back on as soon as I was done.

 

Thank you all for your replys. Sorry I couldn't get back quicker. I read them once and then re-read them to make sure I understood.

It makes sense now. Nuke and Argonaut, your explanations really clarified things. I thought a tune was similar to an old tune-up on my old Pinto...doing some major work on the parts in the engine and making it all hum together with the new CAI. <I don't know where the smilies are...I'd put a blushing one here>

I had read TacoBill's HowTo on a CAI and then looked at the K&N website. The K&N website made it look even easier. However, I still couldn't figure out what a *tune* was. I looked at Odiaz's webpages also. Very helpful.

A tune sounds easy *now*, lol.

I actually think I can do it. I do have those tools and I am quite handy around the house with power tools, if that counts.

After reading all the threads and opinions though, I won't go with K&N. Steeda? AiRaid? I'll have to look at the websites and make the phone calls as suggested.

As for the stealership....I have been taking my car there for oil changes because they are $19.99 for Fords. $10.00 for a tire rotation. I make a mark on my oil filter, with a permanant marker, so I know if they changed it. Same thing with my tires. I put a little mark on the front two so I can quickly tell if they were rotated. Last oil change, they didn't rotate the tires. I showed the manager the marks on the tires and he tried to debate it with me. Since I had my husband standing there with me, he decided to waive all charges. Didn't do the rotation, just gave me a free oil change. I think that if I didn't have my husband there, he would have tried to charge me for the rotation and the oil change. I was going to pay for the oil change....fair is fair. He decided to be gracious and not charge me.

I don't have the tools, time etc. to do an oil change or rotation myself and don't trust the quick change places. I figured the Ford dealer wouldn't hose over a returning customer on something so basic. And simple. I just had a feeling and put the marks on my wheels....Plus, disposing of used oil; what a hassel.

157db---snicker. It would be, but if I had that much cash to burn, I'd just go purchase a GT500.

Thanks again for the helpful information. I now have the mod bug. My husband will never understand. His Acura is for getting from point A to B.

I do have one mod. I got the 8" antenna. It works great and looks better. :-) I'll have to add that to my signature.

 

Gah, that's awful...I didn't think a CAI would bother anything inspection-wise, since all it does is allow more and cooler air in (and maybe provide a few more HP). Glad I'm in TX lol...

 

ha its a dealership. they'll try to f you on anything they can.

thats why its best to call and make sure the big things youre doing arent going to void your warranty

just a suggestion.

 

Looks like you got and understand all the great info from everyone, so go out, do it and have fun

It is great to see another female wanting to get into cars and get their hands dirty. Two thumbs up to you!!