2005 Black V-6 mustang ... Looking to increase HP
03-15-2010, 02:14 PM
#11
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 3,666
The CAI/TUNE is what makes the difference. I had the Airaid CAI for almost a year and only felt minimal increase in HP and Torque. If I did it all over again, I would have purchased the CAI/TUNER combo!
I have a pypes Streetpro axleback exhaust and it gains only minimal HP as well.
Hope this helps.
Good luck!
03-15-2010, 02:15 PM
#12
Site Moderator of Fury!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 5,104
The reason I said to get the combo is because....
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A tune alone will make a difference in performance.
A drop in air filter will make so little difference you will not feel it.
A cold air intake will make so little difference you will not feel it.
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With that being said... the CAI/Tune combo uses a larger CAI, and the larger CAI requires a tune otherwise it will cause problems. When you add a larger CAI with the tune written specifically for the larger CAI, you get a BIG jump in performance. They need each other to work to the full potential.
The 2nd biggest improvement to performance you can do for your car, is to get a CAI/Tune combo. The only thing you can do that will give you a bigger increase is to go with some sort of F/I (supercharger, turbo, etc.)
03-15-2010, 07:24 PM
#18
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: AZ
Posts: 148
i would say get a new mechanic, one that knows mustangs. oh and never go off of what the manufacturer claims when it comes to hp and tq numbers. they are almost always exaggerated. go off of what people that have used the products say. they will be more honest than the people selling the kits. i still believe based off of all the dyno graphs i have seen in the past that c&l will give you the biggest gains, but i hear that jlt is a close second. as far as a tune if you want you can get a dyno tune, but for a cheaper route you might consider a mail order tune. i used VMP when i was n/a for my tune, and it was awesome. Justin is awesome and a very helpful person to work with, also very quick with responses.
03-15-2010, 07:38 PM
#19
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 784
okay so I just talked to the mechanic that installed my exhaust and he said that there is NO difference between a new CAI and a drop in K&N filter. I dont know, this doesnt really make sense but if true, I can instead buy new gears with the money I save from not buying the CAI!!!
The reason you make gains with an aftermarket CAI over just a drop in is not because of filter flow....it's overall flow...
with a drop in filter you retain the factory MAF which is restricting airflow AFTER the filter....
the aftermarket CAI utilizes a larger MAF which takes out the restriction after the filter and allows for more air to be tuned in.....but with a larger maf....it requires a tune ....WHICH is where MOST of your gains are coming from.
C&L I believe has the largest MAF in the CAI's followed very closesly by JLT.....either that or it's the other way around lol
I prefer the looks of the JLT
hope that helps a bit!