A Cold Air Intake (CAI) is the 1st thing we do to our cars. It’s really, really easy with a few tools and it gives you a big bang for your bucks! Your Grandma could install it for you! Rear Wheel Horsepower and Torque increases from 14 HP to 38 HP, depending on your Model Pony, is no joke. (Read the 5.0 Mustang Steeda Installation Write-up)
Many CAI’s are very similar. We’ve listed the ones we like best below, in the order we like them. Whatever you brand you choose, the smoother the intake tube, less turns and bends it takes getting air into your Pony the better. We don’t recommend those that stick your filter in the fender-well. That sharp 90 degree turn right at the filter screws up your air flow and in heavy rain you can soak your filter causing your ride to stall or even worse if it manages to suck in much water.
After Steeda, the Airaid systems are as good and any of the others out there like JLT, C&L, etc… and they don’t require a Tune. However, a tune will improve performance (Read 5.0 Magazine’s recent Airaid Review) Also, they are constructed of mostly plastic, which means they don’t suffer heat soak from your engine affecting your performance gains as your Stang heat’s up. That’s a good thing! If you have to have that shinny CAI because you plan to run the Car Show circuit, we recommend the BBK’s. They’re very well designed; solid and dress up the old engine bay. They also cover a larger array of Mustangs from 1986-2011. They will suffer a little from heat-soak and reduce your performance gain as your car heats up, but sometimes you have to sacrifice for beauty! (Read the 5.0 Magazine Tech Inspection)
Checkout our Cold Air Intakes
-CudaCobra
