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Drop in vs cai

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TormentedOne

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
The great debate, I find people’s opinions and results vary by the platform it’s being installed on. Some stock intakes worse than others, stock pcm respond to it better than other manufactures etc

So all that aside, for a 2018 Rt with the performance hood, is it worth getting an intake like the afe momentum gt compared to a performance drop in filter? Those who have done it, has it done anything noticeable for these trucks?

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Man this forum is dead. 32 views and no comments. I'm used to very active mustang threads where people talk, compliment and encourage.

Anyway, I have the same hood. I had a leftover intake from my 2015 I could have modded to work but I didn't want to do the open filter due to vent leakage [emoji16].

I chose the drop in, but also added a real carbon fiber tube and couplers to delete the giant air silencer from the engine. Nothing to go crazy about, maybe a little hp, better throttle response and welcome grunt on acceleration, but overall it just looks bad ass.

Got about $150 in it total including the drop in filter. Very pleased overall.
Image
Image


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
LDC2335 said:
Man this forum is dead. 32 views and no comments. I'm used to very active mustang threads where people talk, compliment and encourage.

Anyway, I have the same hood. I had a leftover intake from my 2015 I could have modded to work but I didn't want to do the open filter due to vent leakage [emoji16].

I chose the drop in, but also added a real carbon fiber tube and couplers to delete the giant air silencer from the engine. Nothing to go crazy about, maybe a little hp, better throttle response and welcome grunt on acceleration, but overall it just looks bad ass.

Got about $150 in it total including the drop in filter. Very pleased overall.
Image
Image


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Looks awesome! Where did you get the intake tube from? Definitely a more affordable option
 
#4 ·
I have a 2014 R/T with an aftermarket SRT style functional ram air hood. I just did a drop in K&N filter after doing quite a bit of research on the subject. Either way I honestly don't think you notice a difference in hp, maybe sound.
 
#5 ·
LDC2335 said:
Man this forum is dead. 32 views and no comments. I'm used to very active mustang threads where people talk, compliment and encourage.

Anyway, I have the same hood. I had a leftover intake from my 2015 I could have modded to work but I didn't want to do the open filter due to vent leakage [emoji16].

I chose the drop in, but also added a real carbon fiber tube and couplers to delete the giant air silencer from the engine. Nothing to go crazy about, maybe a little hp, better throttle response and welcome grunt on acceleration, but overall it just looks bad ass.

Got about $150 in it total including the drop in filter. Very pleased overall.
Image
Image


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
That looks awesome! Nice job
 
#7 ·
I did go for the Afe Momentum CAI just because I liked the look. Couldn't stand looking at the factory tube with the huge resonator. You hear a bit of sound from the filter but no noticeable gain in power. Even so if I could go back and do things differently I'd still do the same thing.
Image
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
sgully said:
I did go for the Afe Momentum CAI just because I liked the look. Couldn't stand looking at the factory tube with the huge resonator. You hear a bit of sound from the filter but no noticeable gain in power. Even so if I could go back and do things differently I'd still do the same thing.
View attachment 107389
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Definitely a nice looking intake. Just going to wait for a sale, running a k&n drop in for now. Just came in today, exhaust is helping hold me over lol
 
#9 ·
Here's the deal fellas. All HP gains are gains no matter how you get them. Yes Cold air systems and Drop in filters make a few HP but are worth it overall if you want more HP.
To say you won't notice the difference I have to disagree. I've been 1/4 mile racing most of my life and puts me at the track for about 30 years back and forth with many different vehicles.
Every single vehicle I did a intake upgrade made a nice small fun difference. I have never done one and felt I wasted my money. If you go to youtube and do some research on this topic you will find an array of videos where all of them have shown HP gains. Some more then others. K&N seems to be the most Consistent performer. No surprise there they have been doing it longer then anyone I know of.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
mantis said:
Here's the deal fellas. All HP gains are gains no matter how you get them. Yes Cold air systems and Drop in filters make a few HP but are worth it overall if you want more HP.
To say you won't notice the difference I have to disagree. I've been 1/4 mile racing most of my life and puts me at the track for about 30 years back and forth with many different vehicles.
Every single vehicle I did a intake upgrade made a nice small fun difference. I have never done one and felt I wasted my money. If you go to youtube and do some research on this topic you will find an array of videos where all of them have shown HP gains. Some more then others. K&N seems to be the most Consistent performer. No surprise there they have been doing it longer then anyone I know of.
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Input is always appreciated. Since I have the resonator delete and a k&n drop in, im hoping to make it back to the track soon to see how they perform. Then I have that as a benchmark for when I do get a full cai

My baseline for stock best was 15.21. Unfortunately living on the west coast we battle with a lot of humidity out here. Hopefully as it comes into the fall and the da drops that will help as well

Would love to end the year off in the 14’s!
 
#11 ·
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Discussion starter · #12 ·
#13 ·
You will get more HP out of a CAI, but more after a tune and even more after addressing the exhaust than just a drop in unit. It is a prime example of the old adage: HP costs money, how fa$t do you want to go?
 
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#14 ·
TormentedOne said:
Definitely a good deal. But still don’t agree having the open air filter element on the performance hood. The hood vent is right above where the filter would be
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Sorry. I keep forgetting about the newer vented hoods. My 2013 Citadel is a solid hood. Still a good deal on an AFE for the non-vented hood people. It's like half price!
 
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Discussion starter · #15 ·
MWeed said:
You will get more HP out of a CAI, but more after a tune and even more after addressing the exhaust than just a drop in unit. It is a prime example of the old adage: HP costs money, how fa$t do you want to go?
Click to expand...
As fast as the stock tune will let me lol. Got the 7 year extended warranty and this is the family vehicle. Can’t risk voiding it over a tune. Maybe before the warranty is up they will manage to make a tune that’s completely untraceable!
 
#16 ·
TormentedOne said:
Input is always appreciated. Since I have the resonator delete and a k&n drop in, im hoping to make it back to the track soon to see how they perform. Then I have that as a benchmark for when I do get a full cai

My baseline for stock best was 15.21. Unfortunately living on the west coast we battle with a lot of humidity out here. Hopefully as it comes into the fall and the da drops that will help as well

Would love to end the year off in the 14’s!
Click to expand...
14's are totally possible my friend. All my runs are in the 14's. My worse run was a 14.8 and my best was a 14.1
 
#18 ·
The outrageous prices they ask for these intakes make the drop in filter a no brained.

I had a lmi and afe gt both are ok but don’t make the truck any faster imop
 
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Discussion starter · #19 ·
Robfrmny21 said:
The outrageous prices they ask for these intakes make the drop in filter a no brained.

I had a lmi and afe gt both are ok but don’t make the truck any faster imop
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Did you do any 1/4 miles to compare? Maybe not enough for a seat of the pants feel since even the manufactures usually only claim a 10hp gain. But so far my best has gone from a 15.21 @ 92mph stock to 14.8 @94 with a res delete and a K&n drop in. Racing season out here is almost over so probably not going to bother with an intake unless i find a great sale, but most likely next year i will invest into one. Going to finish the exhaust as well, get rid of the mid muffler with 2 magnaflow magnapacks and an X pipe. Then get a CAI to complement it
 
#20 ·
Robfrmny21 said:
The outrageous prices they ask for these intakes make the drop in filter a no brained.

I had a lmi and afe gt both are ok but don’t make the truck any faster imop
Click to expand...
I had a drop in K&N, and went to the Mopar CAI because I got it basically new for $75
 
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TormentedOne
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