don_w is not a happy guy right now.

My plan was to get two dynos done... one with the factory intake/tune and another with the C&L CAI + Predator tune, so I could see the actual difference in the two. Last night, I put the stock air intake and filter box back, and reflashed the factory stock tune back into the car. This morning I took the car to JBA Racing. The stock baseline pull went well, and the results were about what I expected:

257.1rwhp @ 5690 rpm
274 ft/lb tq @ 4246 hp
Temp was 60F. A/F ratio stayed between 11.4 - 11.8 from 4000-5700rpm.

So, then I reinstalled the C&L CAI. No problems there, smooth as could be... 15 minutes to switch intakes. But, when I went to reflash with the proper C&L MAF 91 Tune... it wasn't on my Predator anymore... WTF???

Evidently, when I restored the factory tune last night, it "reset" the Predator, and deleted the C&L-specific tunes. So, I had to use the basic Diablo 91 octane performance tune, and we hooked it back up to the dyno. The results were surprising (and not in a good way). I didn't expect it to perform as well as it would with the proper tune, but I also didn't expect it to be worse than stock.. which it was. Yes, I said: worse than stock!! Peak hp dropped to 241 @ 5000rpm, but torque went up to 299 @ 3650rpm. And the A/F ratio was in the 13.7 - 15.0 range from 3000-6000 rpm (mostly above 14.0 though).

I'm not an engine expert by any stretch of the imagination, but my gut is telling me that a CAI install without a tune to match is not a good thing. Maybe one of you can confirm/refute my intuitions here. Isn't an A/F ratio of 14 bad?

So... I still don't know what rwhp gain the CAI & tune are worth. The only good news is that I have a "stock" baseline dyno now. When I take it back for the 4.10 gears to be installed next week, I'm going to have another dyno done with the correct tune in it (which I have already fixed since I've been home this morning).

What a bummer...

 

I haven't dyno'd yet, but let me tell you that the 93 octane C&L tune made a helluva difference.. I would bet im ~290rwhp.

 

I have been driving it for several weeks with the CAI and the Predator tune, and I could feel the difference, too. Just wish I could have seen it on the dyno today. baaahhhh.

 

so you are saying that the 91 octane tune is bad and u loose power

 

I think what he is saying is he couldn't find the C/L+91 or C/L+93 tune,
and used the canned JUST 91 or 93 tune..... without the C/L in the tune, but having it ON the car.....

 

Evidently, if you add a CAI it does. Maybe if the stock air inlet/filter box was still there, and you use the 91 tune, it would be fine. But, it appears with the CAI it gets way too much air and hurts performance.

 

interesting, mine seems much faster. and the sound is great! maybe someone else has a different view

 

Exactly... just the standard Diablo 91 tune was still on my Pred; not the C&L CAI 91 tune. I have signed reloaded the C&L tune on the Predator (from my computer to the tuner) and reflashed it.

[Note: no 93 octane here in San Diego]

 

I think you're missing the point. When I had the CAI and the C&L tune in the car, it was awesome. But, just the CAI without the C&L tune, it's not good.

 

when are you going to go back to the dino with the 91 C&L tune on the car?

 

I'm taking it in on July 6 for a gear swap. I'll have it re-dynoed then (with the correct C&L tune in it).

 

cool keep us informed on how it goes, good luck.

 

How do you like JBA Racing? Obviously they are well known, but are they fairly priced? I'll be moving back home to San Diego in about 2 months and will be looking for a shop.

 

JBA's shop rate is $90/hr. Maybe higher than some, but sometimes you get what you pay for.

I got three quotes on the rear gear swap, and they were within $15 of the other two, so I'll have them do it.

 

That's got to be aggravating. That was one of my deciding factors in going with the Steeda/SCT setup. I didn't want to have to have a specific tune for my CAI. I can go to SCT's website a pull a tune that will work for me. The CAI companies buddied up with the tuning companies to create packages, then you're locked in. I can use SCT or Diablo if I want and will be able to tune it myself, once I get my wideband...tomorrow.

 

I had pulled the correct tune off Diablo's website no problem. All was working fine for the past month. What I didn't know, was when you reflash back to stock, the tuner "resets" too. It was easy enough to reload it after I gone home (took 2 minutes). The Pred is very flexible, too... and allows the user to custom tune also.

 

moral of the story.... laptop... and bring it with you!
Good luck next month. Maybe you can dyno it before the gear swap.....

 

LOL... you read my mind... I was sure wishing I had my laptop with me!!

Actually, I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow and returning on Tues, 7/5. The gears go in the next day, 7/6. I'll get the dyno done then. So, it's not that long of wait... 8 days.

The hard part will be missing my Mustang while we are out of town!!

 

I know the feeling. I just got back in town, but the pony is at the dealership for the tranny TSB. They are replacing the 2nd gear syncro's as well as the reverse syncro's. They're waiting on parts.

 

Don I did not know this. There is a lot to be said about what is not in the user manual or on their web site about how to use the Predator. The whole user manual needs to be rewritten so d--s like me can understand. If it were not for George I would still be lost in the predator wilderness. I searched all over the site and cannot find where it says it resets. Do you also loose all the settings you made like fuel/air REV Limits and timing? Someone please weigh in on this and tell me how not to loose my custom tunes.