Hey guys, this might be a stupid question, but my GT had an Airaid CAI installed when I bought it. I want to say it's one of the no tune ones, so I just wanted to know what would happen if I were to buy a tuner? Would it still work properly and would there still be a noticeable difference in the car when I tune it?

 

You'll have to check if any of the tune suppliers write tunes for a "no tune" Airaid CAI. If they do, you'll gain only 5 hp(+/-) with an 87 tune, and 10 hp(+/-) with a 93 tune. The throttle response will also be improved.

But you'll gain 20 hp(+/-) if you remove your CAI's MVT(modular venturi tube), and get a 93 tune for that configuration. Unfortunately, that will make the your car illegal for on-road use in Calif.

 

Is there any way to tell if the CAI I have is one of the no tune models?

 

Look for a part no. on the CAI, and cross index it with the available CAI's for your car on the Airaid site.
If there's no part no., then you'll have to disassemble the CAI to see if it has a MVT.

 

Unless you're Hulk Hogan without the insert you can stick you arm through it, its 101mm and extrememly too large for any N/N cai only car. With the insert its much smaller and makes a minor gain over stock. Tuning of course would do more for the car but I can write a tune for the CAI with the insert too.

Just let me know,

Thanks, Doug.

 

So no Mustangs in CA can run a standard CAI and tune setup? Why is that and how would anyone ever know if you have the MVT tube in the CAI?

 

Airaid states their CAI w/o an MVT for the S197 GT is illegal for use in CA. I don't know if the same issue applies to "tune required" CAI's from other suppliers.

Your ride will not pass an emissions inspection with a "tune required" Airaid CAI. However, you can revert to the stock air intake and tune before having an emissions inspection. But you may have a problem if a state cop does a spot check of your engine compartment when the Airaid CAI is installed.

 

Wouldn't the cop have to take off the tube and look inside of it? What are the chances he would even know what the hell it is and what in the world would any cop do that for? Especially considering I live in an area where I see Ferrari's, Porsche's, BMW's, Mercedes' and Maserati's driving around everywhere.

 

 

I have a "no tune" K&N CAI. When you get a tuner It re-maps the throttle and fuel curves and a bunch of other crap I no nothing about. The CAI is just a small part of the equation. My car had a nice sound with the "no Tune" and no tune. When I got a tune the whole car woke up. #1 mod for a S197 Mustang IMO.

 

So you didn't change your CAI at all when you added the tune? You didn't take out the MVT tube?

 

the K&N has no restrictor. The K&N works really well with the tune. Just as well as any other.

 

So the Airaid one is the only CAI with the MVT tube inside then?

 

C&L also sells a "no tune" CAI.

 

My father in law has an airaid(really a Roush version) no tune and you do have to remove the restricter to load a tune. Its a good cai and its well worth the tune and restricter removal.

 

Oh, so you can't even tune the car with the tube still in there? And what do you by, "really a Roush version?"