"Best" CAI to tune for?

[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.

[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.

[LonestarROB]

Yea, it's strange. Just don't get it. Mine is basically just the opposite of your experience. Less performance and worse mpg. With low funds, may just stick to what I have and try adding to it instead of starting over with new CAI etc.

Still researching on anything I can add to get better performance. If anybody has anymore recommendation, lemme hear em!

[Longshot270]

There isn't really anything that is cheap. You have improved the air coming in. You could get a high flow cat to improve the exhaust going out but I'm not sure how well it will work. I've heard that Ford put a higher flow cat in the 4.6s for our trucks and that is how they boosted the paper horsepower from the trucks before.

The old saying still holds true even for trucks, gotta pay to play. Going fast isn't cheap.

[cleatus12r]

Originally Posted by LonestarROB

Still researching on anything I can add to get better performance. If anybody has anymore recommendation, lemme hear em!

Blower.

That's the ONLY way you're going to get more power (noticeable increase). Naturally aspirated gasoline engines are what they are. They HAVE to run at a specific air fuel ratio. There is only so much fuel you can use for a given amount of air. Increase the air, you can increase the fuel. Once you increase the fuel, you get more power. Once you get more power, you get to spend more at the pump on fuel (both more of it AND more expensive higher octane fuel).

The cold hard truth is tough to swallow sometimes, but if you want more performance, you'll have to invest in a vehicle with a higher power to weight ratio. Plain and simple.