Any major differences?

 

I believe with the street you are limited to what mods you can do the race one leaves you wide open.
That's why I picked the race, I only have a few mods and the race is great with a Brenspeed 91 octane tune.
My two cents............

 

The plastic racer retains less engine heat, Racer has the highest air flow of ANY CAI (or it did for some time), and it is cheaper than the Street...

+1 Racer

 

Cheaper?
Check out this thread...
http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showth...?t=73224:grin:

 

He who purchases "previously owned" parts will always get a better price...and sometimes the problems that come with...

I meant comparing a new racer to a new street...and yes, it is $70 or so cheaper...

 

You'll never get the answer you want.... A lot of ppl will say the street is better and they will give you reasons to back it up..... Also ppl will say that the Racer is better and give reasons on that one too.... I personally stopped listening to everyone and did my own research... The racer is super lightweight has a 90mm MAF.... compared to the 85 or 83mm that the street has... I figure that in this case.. the more air coming in... the better...Hope that helps....


-John

 

From what I've read, I don't think the hp gains are all so different between the racer and street that you can even feel them. I also read that even though the racer has a larger inlet, the stock non-aspirated engine really can't take advantage of it. So it really comes down to other non-performance issues like cost/looks/installation.

Cost:
Racer is a little cheaper in cost... it think by $50 or so.

Looks:
The black plastic is a better match for a stock engine while if you have lots of engine bay bling (fluid caps, plenum cover, etc) the aluminum look may be better for you.

Installation (not a real big factor but worth mentioning):
Racer is easier to install (and uninstall if you're taking it off to get warrantee work done) because it doesn't need an additional support by the MAF housing like the street version does. Street one needs more support b/c it's heavier.

TIP: If you decide to go with the racer, OMG, don't over tighten the hose clamps. You can over tighten them with only a screw driver enough that you can deform the plastic tube. Only tighten enough so you can't slip the tube by hand inside the sleeve the hose clamp goes around (I had mine deform only a little by the MAF housing but not enough to affect performance). Also, Make sure you put the throttle body hose clamps on the side, not on the top where the stock one was.

 

I am also debating between the two. I dont see any advantage of the Street over the Racer except for the looks.

 

The only advantages of the street are looks (if that's the look you're going for) and the no-tune insert. If you plan on getting a tune, definitely go Race. It's cheaper, looks better (imo it matches everything else better), it has a larger MAF, and since it's plastic, resists heat more.

 

What do u mean by no tune insert.

 

The street version has an insert that allows the intake to be used without a tune. I believe AirRaid is another with a similar setup. If later you decide to get a tune for additional hp, the insert can be removed to accomodate it.

 

If you decide on the street version, buy mine!

http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showth...?t=73224

It was only on the car for like 3000 miles (maybe not even that) and the tuner was used only twice (once to upload the performance tune, once to switch back to stock.) It's like buying the diablosport tuner and getting the CAI for free. The only reason I'm selling it is because (stupidly) I'm selling the car in November, so I know It'll go for under book value, and since I still had the stock intake I can't see giving this away for "free" with the car. The parts all look brand new.

 

Racer version is better (more air flow, lighter weight, less heat soak, cheaper).

The only reason to get the street version is if you: a) plan on using nitrous and need a metal intake, or b) want a metal intake for cosmetic reasons.

 

I seem to remember somewhere Doug himself said that for a N/A car with bolt ons only, the street would actually make more power. I think it had to do with the airstream velocity and such. The street flows plenty of air, the race version has a huge maf diameter, and is just overkill for a N/A engine. I'll try and find the post....

 

With a racer tube you can go FI later with the aluminum one you can't... or you can but you will lose major power.

I know because I now have the Saleen blower and had to sell my C&L aluminum.

 

You can tighten the clamps all you want with the street version.

 

How heavy is the street.

 

Not heavy enough to make any performance difference. Mine's packed up in a box, and the box, CAI and packing material weighs less than 10 lbs.

 

What's the big deal? Plenty of folks tap nitrous into stock rubber intakes. Not that I plan on going to nitrous.

I went with the racer model for looks and price mainly. Even C&L indicated that the performance gain (maybe 3hp) of the racer over the street version in their test was to be concidered negligable. 3hp could have been chaulked up to dyno inconsistancy between runs.

 

I ordered a cai and tuner from Breenspeed and was in the air about what cai to get. They told me that there was very little difference in performance in any of the intakes. They recomended the bbk, It looks great on my car and seem's to be very well made.