CAI vs. Modded Air Box

rgregory1965 said:

I have read the threads on horse power gains from the CAI....I too own a Brute Force.


Question is: ( Moment of truth here ) do you physically FEEL a power increase after installing a CAI over the stock air box even the modded ones. Or is it that they look cool when you show your friends and sound cool.

Do you seriously feel a big power diff in you buttdyno's. Be honest.

Ever shooting high, if you get a 15hp increase can you pysically feel it?

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I can only physically feel it over say 3-4k RPM at WOT, but it was definately noticable at WOT.

It could also be a result of both the AEM and my exhaust as I put them both on very close to each other, but there was definately noticable power gains between the two...

Well today I had to go to the dealer so I took my CAI off. I have a magnaflow 18' DIDO muffler. I felt a big different in my truk. It just seems like it didn't have that get up and go like it did. But my Butt Dyno says that I have some gains with my Injen intake. I can also tell you that my truk respond totally different than if I had my factory stock intake on it.

Doola36 said:

Well today I had to go to the dealer so I took my CAI off. I have a magnaflow 18' DIDO muffler. I felt a big different in my truk. It just seems like it didn't have that get up and go like it did. But my Butt Dyno says that I have some gains with my Injen intake. I can also tell you that my truk respond totally different than if I had my factory stock intake on it.

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You could tell the same day there was a diff.....I thought it took some time for the ecm to change....

Im going to change mine back to the stock modded air box for a day and see....

Is your stocker air box modded or bone stock

It's done stok. And yes I could tell a different. It just response different but in a good way with the Injen intake. I made a 25 minute drive less than a half an hour ago and I promise you I felt a different. TO me it felt like with the factory box my truk wasn't getting enough air. My exhaust didn't even sound as loud either. But after the CAI it was a different.

Doola36 said:

It's done stok. And yes I could tell a different. It just response different but in a good way with the Injen intake. I made a 25 minute drive less than a half an hour ago and I promise you I felt a different. TO me it felt like with the factory box my truk wasn't getting enough air. My exhaust didn't even sound as loud either. But after the CAI it was a different.

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Thats kinda why this thread says CAI vs. Modded Air Box your box isnt modded, thats why you feel the difference so fast.

Im looking for comparison from people that went from the modded air box to the CAI.

So you think that cutting the extra tube piece from your stock air box, you're going to get power from that. There is no proof that, that mod even makes power, more noise maybe.

I started out with the factory box, then did the mod, no real difference, then I added an amsoil filter (supposed to be higher flow) not much difference. Then I installed an S&B and thats when I noticed the biggest difference. I know that the truck was getting more air because for the first 5 or 10 miles it was running like crap while the computer was trying to figure out what was going on. Now the tires break loose a lot easier at WOT.

So to answer your question, yes I'd say there is a difference, how much I'm not sure but it is more.

rgregory1965 said:

Thats kinda why this thread says CAI vs. Modded Air Box your box isnt modded, thats why you feel the difference so fast.

Im looking for comparison from people that went from the modded air box to the CAI.

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I showed one of the biggest gains, here at the forum, between the box mod and CAI. Air box mod with Amsoil drop-in, I ran a 1/4 mile best time of 15.36, installed an S&B and ran a 14.85 best. The track results are from this past summer with five trips to the track, two trips were with the box mod and three with the S&B. My worst time with the box mod was a 15.6, and 15.1 with the S&B. I was very surprised with the gains and never expected more than a 2-3 tenth improvement. Also, all five trips were with an 18" Magnaflow muffler swap, traction springs and timing advance.

I noticed a big difference when changing the modded air box to the Bruteforce intake. It's enough to "feel"!