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installed CAI, mainly low end power gains? feedback please
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Posted by: 1969Vette

I installed my intake last night in -15* wind chill temperatures

It took awhile to get everything to fit right, the mass air wires are connected, and what i think is the EGR is hooked back up, everything is good. Like always, it was alot more work than the directions tell you.

I disconnected the negative side of the batery for 25-30minutes... the directions say 20mins for the computer to reset.

After that I started up the car, everything runs fine and I dont hear any whistling at any RPM or shifting, Everything fits tight and snug.

I drove around for awhile, cruising like always to warm it up before testing. I took it to the highway and gunned it from about 15mph up to about 70mph and it felt maybe alittle more power than normal.

Alittle ways up the highway, while cruising about 70mph, i floored it again and it felt very slugish, almost like it lost top end. It never was too quick to gain speed at highway speeds, but something seemed wrong. before the test I reset 2 radio stations and the others were just random, later in the test, all of my presets came back somehow.

I got off the highway, drove around, and floored it again up the on ramp. definately noticeable power gain here, not big, but it does start to kick you back in the seat a tiny bit, it never did before. but again at 70mph+ it seemed almost slower or the same as the stock intake.

Is this the type of power gains that you guys have noticed? I know the dynos show big low end torque gain and good mid-high torque gain, also raising Hp gain with RPM.

I would think what I felt would make sense, power gain at low RPM because its now flowing more when the RPM and sucking power is low. And at high RPM, when sucking power is already high, there's extremely little gain.

I definately like the look, much much nicer than the bulky rubbery restrictive stock unit and I do feel an improvement 0-60mph. I took pics with a side by side comparison of each fully assembled, but my $40 digital camera crapped out... they were good pics... but the camera is dead and I threw it away.

Also, like I said, no whistling as of yet... exhaust sounds the same under normal driving, but is deeper and louder under full throttle.

Weather again may also be an issue, low tire pressure, or just the actual outside temp. may be hurting the top end or high speed acceleration. what do you guys think?

Posted by: speedingpenguin

Doesnt surprise me....sounds about normal from my own personal experience....
I bet if you were to do exhaust or something, you know, to compliment the cai , you might feel more power though....

Posted by: Rick Sample

Your situation sounds about normal. Alot of people experience little or no gain at all with just the cold air intake alone. I think with most V6 Mustangs, HP gain is very little (1-5HP) depending on what you have already done to the engine. I'd suggest a set of dual flowmasters to help it breathe a little more.

Posted by: 1969Vette

i have gt takeoff dual exhaust with h pipe already. its weird because low end feels to have more power and no exhaust note change... top end feels to have the opposite, no power but does sound better.

anyone have the computer reset itself after being disconnected? did your presets just suddenly reappear after being erased?

did I not leave it disconnected long enough?

I think I may possibly see more power in the coming days, when I put the exhaust on it took a day or two for the cpu to adjust, does that make any sense?

Posted by: Mustang5L5

did you clean the MAF?

Sometimes those CAI's come with a little too much oil on them and it gets sucked in and coats the filaments on the MAF.

If it's dirty, clean it with electronics spray from radioshack

Posted by: 1969Vette

ok, thanks... from what i remember it was pretty clean, but ill check that

Posted by: BIGJ

I would suggest slapping a terminator motor in there

Posted by: badass98svt

yup, a 4V would take care of the high end torque you are looking for