"Best" CAI to tune for?

[LonestarROB]

Originally Posted by Groovy Chick

If you have a programmer, we don't recommend a CAI unless you do a lot of heavy towing and need to monitor cylinder head temps. The gains you get with a CAI are superseded by the programmer and aren't cumulative.

Many of our customers, in fact, have contacted us recently to rewrite their tunes because they have removed their CAIs.

Underdrive pulleys are usually the only other thing that Bill recommends. You could do e-fans, but he says they're not all that terrific. (His exact words.)

Hope this helps!

Hey Corey,

As much as I want to believe and trust Bill, I just don't feel it because I've witnessed it first hand. Truck is by no means "dead", but I just don't feel the same power/performance since Bill recommended I remove my CAI. That's why I've come to the point where I want to make changes. Do anything really, even if it only adds a small amount of HP gain. Something is better then nothing.

[Corey Cohron RIP]

The information is based on dynoing trucks with and without CAIs and programmers.

If you would still like to go ahead with a Cold Air Intake, we like the Air Force One.

[LonestarROB]

Whats Bill's opinion on the aFe CAI?

[Skip_1074]

Originally Posted by LonestarROB

Just more opinions and/or options I could do that would open up more power. I'll update my sig now with what I have going on now.

Look into the Banks Ram Air.

[Jackpine]

Originally Posted by LonestarROB

Whats Bill's opinion on the aFe CAI?

Why do you want a TBS? Does your truck have a carburated fuel delivery system?

- Jack

[LonestarROB]

I've just read that it help add HP. Not much but..

[Longshot270]

There is also a placebo effect of the CAIs when they are tuned. By itself the CAI makes the truck run a little bit lean. A lean engine has a higher power output than a rich running engine. When you get a custom tune you are not compounding the power because your truck is getting the same performance tuning AND getting recalibrated for the intake. If you made 1/4 mile runs before and after I can almost guarantee the times would be very close.

And the throttle body spacer is only going to act like an intake manifold extension (and a comparatively puny one at that). You also risk having a leak at the spacer that could cause vacuum issues. Read the EPA reports on them. Even the Environmental Protection Agency says they are a dud. Spend money on the pulleys before you try the spacer.

I have heard that you can swap intake manifolds with some of the mustang 4.6s. Theirs are designed for more top end power because mustangs dont pull trailers regularly. I would even look into that before getting the spacer. If it will work find a junkyard 'stang and pull it off of that. Will probably be cheaper.

[Corey Cohron RIP]

Originally Posted by LonestarROB

Whats Bill's opinion on the aFe CAI?

"I don't like it. They have a history of being noisy. Honestly, I'd do K & N, Air Force One. Those are the two that have had the least amount of driveability issues and noise."

[LonestarROB]

Thanks Corey. I've been looking at the AirForce 1 and it seems to have been discontinued for my year/model truck.

[DarkShadowSTX]

Just to throw it out there, I took out my K&N CAI and did the Gotts mod in my 08 4.6L. I took it off because I couldn't stand the drone anymore, it was driving me crazy. I feel a much bigger difference in performance with the Gotts than I did with any of my custom tunes and K&N. I'm also getting at least .5mpg better also. I reset my Gryphon and am currently running the canned tow tune. My truck has better power now than it did with my custom 93 perf tune. Now I'm waiting for my 87 perf tune to be rewritten, time to wait again. lol The Gotts mod was the best and cheapest thing I have done to my truck. Too bad I didn't know about it before I had bought my CAI.