Okay, the deeper I dig and the more I search threads online, the more CAI options I find!

Anyone do a comparison of ALL of the currently available options to determine which CAI is the performance king?

Here's my running list of CAI kits available:

1. C&L
2. JLT
3. Steeda
4. AEM - brute force
5. MMR
6. K&N
7. Injen Power-Flow
8. S&B
9. Airaid

I don't really have a preference other than wanting good quality and best performance advantage. Price doesn't matter, they're all within a decent range of a couple hundred dollars from one another. I already have an SCT tuner unit as well, so that's not a factor.

One thing I will say is that I'd really be curious about locating the air snorkel somewhere cooler than the engine compartment, or if that's not possible on an '07, what about a duct from down below that pushes the cold air up into the filter? Not going to remove a headlight, so don't say it.

Thanks for your help, guys. Really appreciate the guidance.


Performance Mods already on the car (mine's an '07 GT w/MT):

• Pro 5.0 Short shift kit - I don't like it, pretty notchy
• GT-500 pedals
• 18” Bullitt Wheels deep dish
• Nitto NT555 tires (265/35/18 Front and 285/35/18 Rear)
• Ford Racing Front Chin Spoiler and Deck Lid Trim Panel
• Boss Front Fog Light Grill
• Ceramic Coated Bassani Longtube Headers
• Bassani High Flow Cat X-Pipe
• Bassani Catback Exhaust System
• Fidanza Aluminum Flywheel
• Centerforce DF Clutch
• Ford FR500 Racing Suspension Package (shocks/springs/sway bars)
• Ford Racing 373 Rear Gears
• SCT Custom Tune
• BMR Extreme Subframe Connectors
• Steeda Strut Tower Brace
• PowerStop F&R Double Crossdrilled & Slotted Rotors Cadium Plated w/Hawk HPS pads

 

Honestly, I doubt you would hardly even notice a difference between most of them. If you keep the filter in the engine bay it's still going to get that engine bay temperature. Buuut, if you go low then you risk having water splash up from puddles and whatnot. That's not good either.

 

get the JLT fender kit, JLT makes some really nice pieces. They are PVC so they don't absorbe heat like the metal ones. And you can get them painted just about anyway you want for a little under hood appeal

 

I haven't seen all of the designs posted above but I'd say all of them will give you the exact same performance increase within 5%. It'll be a pretty minuscule difference between them all. If you can find one that draws air from outside the engine bay, that'd be the way to go for HP gains, imo. As quickZohsix said though, just be careful where the filter ends up being located to limit the amount of water (and dirt) that comes into contact with the filter.

 

more then normal? Tremecs in general are pretty notchy, my GTO is very notch

 

I only drove a stocker once, and while it wasn't smooth, it wasn't like this. I know the Pro 5.0 kits are made for drag guys banging thru gears, but that's not me. I just don't like working hard for shifting and this one is no fun.

 

I only found the fender kit up to '04. Seen anything like that for the newer range?

Thx,
D

 

honestly I haven't. I havn't followed the new edge cars much. I just figured they had one. check out SVTPerformance.com lots of good info there

 

If your goal is getting air into the engine, this works much better.

 

Yeah, but to do it right including engine internals, transmission, you're looking at up into the range where it'd make a whole lot more sense to just buy a GT500. Then, with the blower swap for that car for half the price of the GT blower, you're putting down 700+.

I just want to do a little something on the cheap and call it done. Small power increase, but inexpensive enough not to be a dumb move. Believe me, the first thing I thought about was a blower, but the GT500's are coming down into a really nice price range. This is kinda like the situation where people upgrade the crap out of their Carrera but still don't have a GT3.