cvidal07

Im wondering if name brand matters? I want a CAI but can i make one with the aluminum tubing at autozone and a specter air filter? If i were to make my own would i need a tuner? i dont want to run it thin. So If i should get name barnd which would be the best to get? Im open to suggestions.

Avalanch3

For CAI's, I believe so. If you get a tuner, you will get most power out of a good name-brand CAI. Most common/best one seems to be the C&L Intake. You can get one w/ a XCal3 tuner and a tune from bamachips for $625.

cvidal07

What do you mean i can get a tune? I thought the tuner came preset with all that stuff? Im not to brainy when it comes to mod since im a noob at it.

Avalanch3

No. Tunes and CAI are separate. CAI works at its full potential with a tune, just a CAI is barely noticeable.

In order to get a tuner you need a tuner, like the XCal2 or 3 Tuner or the Diablosport Predator tuner. You can tune the car yourself but you can also order a custom tune from websites like brenspeed or bamachips.

MR305

ok let me explain this to all the CAI tune or no tune questions..
what decides if a CAI needs to be installed with a tune id the pipe where the air sensor goes' DIAMETER.. the factory tune comes with the computer calibrated to a diameter of 2.5" in diameter of where the air sensor in the CAI pipe goes.. so if you put a CAI with a pipe bigger or smaller than 2.5" then you need to tune your car's computer to let her know that air flow that the sensor is going to read is going to be different ( in other words the car needs to be tuned)..now if you get/make a CAI pipe of the same diameter (2.5") either of plastic, paper, stainless steel, carbon fiber,...... you don;t need to tuner/tune.. so conclusion, the only thing that matters is the DIAMETER it doesn't matter what it is made of or how it looks like..

and yes you can make your own. I made my own 3" CAI of carbon fiber (and yes it needed a tune).. hope it was clear... or someone correct me if I'm wrong..

cvidal07

THANK YOU!!! Great info in that post. So would increasing the size of my intake increase the power? I know if i moved it to something bigger i will need a tune but what will that do with power? Is it like the bigger the size the more power or is there a limit?

Also which do you thing is better, ram air or CAI?

Avalanch3

Well, of course there is a limit, there is only so much air flow. Bigger piping with a good higher octane tune will give you about 15-20 rwhp.

cvidal07

What size would you recommend? the stock is 2.5 isnt it?

Ive read that the C&L intake with a SCT tuner is pretty good. Any ideas?

pthurm_28

the C&L is good a lot of people have it and all I hear bout it is how good it is so when I get the money I will be getting that from bama, which is the place that everyone says you should get it from.

2005Redfire6

Same here.