I know this is not considered the best CAI and tune but I would like to hear from anybody who has it. Is it worth it, is the difference noticable, etc...

 

The cai is fine. The frpp tune is crap. It's a manufacturers tune so it's set way too rich. (Atleast mine was, also it internally changed the codes of my ecm so when I tried to get a different tune it wouldn't accept it with the numbers on the outside of the ecm module, until we found out the stupid frpp one changed it.) I would highly suggest selling it (i did) and buying a c&l with brenspeed tune or something along those lines.

 

FRPP's tune err's on the safe side with an eye toward converter and exhaust valve life., with alot of aftermarket tunes, the safety factor is cut down for increased power.

Who's right and whgo's wrong? Depends on what your looking for? Want a completely safe tune, but minimal power gains, go with FRPP, want more power, but with the added risk of possibly damaging the exhuast side over the long term, go with somebody else.

 

It's those darn trade offs that make life interesting, neh?

 

Tru'dat - it all comes down to what you want and what your willing to pay for it.

 

Bob ! After reading over your post. I immediately called Brenspeed, and spoke to Dave about the safety factor, concerning aftermarket tunes.

For I was also very concerned about the safety factors.

Anyhow. he informed me that in no way, are the safety factors cut down, in order to increase power. Meanwhile, he also mentioned that Brenspeed's tunes. re-map just the timing and air/fuel parameters, along with re-adjusting the drive by wire tables. Only to improve overall drivability, and enhance throttle response.

Other than that. there have been no other changes to the stock ECM programming.

Dave also assured me. that all of Brenspeed's tunes are completely safe, and do NOT shorten the life of either the exhaust valves, nor converters in anyway. In fact. there hasn't been any complaints from any of their customers, when concerning any type of exhaust valve damage. In which some of them have had their Brenspeed tunes for over 3 years, who also have close to 80,000 miles on their vehicles.

 

Thats Good info there! I like my FRPP but its mild for sure!

 

Don't get me wrong. For I have nothing against the FRPP cold air intake itself. In fact. I have the Steeda version.

It's just that the FRPP flash tool, has a way too conservative tune, and plus your still stuck with that annoying drive by wire throttle lag.

Then on top of that. You can't even make any adjustments, or changes.


Where on the other hand. At least Brenspeed, and Bama tunes. get rid of, at least 90% of it.

Needless to say. My throttle response, is almost like having a cable again

 

............

 

A big part of the performance gain is in the tune, not just the CAI. If I had to do it again I would try a Brenspeed tune with stock airbox first. If you buy the intake afterwards from Brenspeed and bought the programmer from them originally, they would give you an updated tune no charge.

The FRPP tune is mild, and the FRPP tuner is crap. It doesn't allow you to adjust anything for future mods, and it actually crashed in the middle of a download on my car and turned it into a warm brick, I had to have it towed to a dealer.

 

Good to know

 

Who makes the tuner for FRPP? Also I've read in MM&FF that the Bullitt CAI will be made available at some point with better engineering behind it. I guess the current FRPP CAI was/is a Steeda designed part?

 

Your absolutely correct. Steeda designs both the FRPP intake, and FRPP flash tuner. Btw: Steeda also has the X-CAL II tuner, with their own tunes for the cold air intake.

Or even better yet. You can also purchase the Steeda CAI, and X-CAL II package from Brenspeed, including his tunes. For $624.00

 

Yep, the CAI is made by Steeda, and is OK. Even though the filter element keeps falling off the heat shield with time, and I need to keep pushing it back once in a while, which is annoying.

I don't know who makes the tuner which comes with the FRPP kit. Steeda will sell it to you as well. They advertise it as a CARB approved tuner for their intake.

I'm now back to the stock airbox and I'm going to try a new tune for that setup.

 

I've already stated, that the tuner which comes with the FRPP kit..Is also made by Steeda.

Why do you think, you can only purchase their C.A.R.B tuner through them. As FRPP will only sell it to you, If you purchase the entire CAI kit !

 

Would it be in his best interest to tell you otherwise?

And to be honest, how would you know? It's a long-term effect, so you can't install it and then test for problems...not unless you maybe have a lot of testing done which can determine at those levels...


Although, the one nice thing about getting a CAI from FRPP, is when you take the car into the dealership for a problem, they can't gripe about yer CAI...

 

You apparently haven't dealt with the guys at brenspeed, and yes if the dealer didn't install the FRPP CAI they can gripe about it..but I've had my Stang in dealer for a couple TSB's with what you see in my sig hanging on it and never heard a peep about it!

 

How do I know. Because just as Scott mentioned. You obviously haven't dealt with anybody over at Brenspeed.

Otherwise you would know, they R&D every product they sell. In addition, I can tell you from personal experience. They have spent quality time with me on the telephone, answering each and every one of my technical questions. In an honest and very professional manner, in which not once. Did they ever try pressuring me into purchasing a product, that I really didn't need.

Therefore, as far as I'm concerned. They have more than earned my trust.

And speaking of best interests. The reason for their 10 year success, in the performance industry. Is due to the fact, they put the best interests of their customers above themselves.

Can you honestly say that, about most Ford dealerships. I think not.

That being said, how do you really know if the FRPP flash tool, is really safe. Because they say it is.

Just because it's emissions legal, and has a conservative tune. Doesn't necessarily mean, that it's safe. For it still modifies the stock ECM timing, and air/fuel curves. In fact. I've even heard, the air/fuel was running way too rich on some vehicles, after being dyno tested. So If you really think that's safe. Think again.

At least an aftermarket tune, can be adjusted. Where on the other hand. the FRPP flash tool, clearly cannot. In the meantime, you have to re-flash back to your stock tune, and then send your flash tool back to FRPP. For re-calibration.

Oh and btw: Scott is also correct, if the dealer didn't install the FRPP CAI they can definitely gripe about it !

 

Because they pay the $millions for the recalls. If an aftermarket company ever saw a forced recall campaign like that, they'd be out of business. Poof!

But Ford does things for cost reasons first and foremost. They are a company historically run by cost conscious decisions, not sales conscious decisions. So it could be assumed that the enthusiast would realize better performance gains with an aftermarket tune & CAI than with a Ford one that is constrained by a salaried legal staff kept on retainer.

But the everyday consumer wouldn't invest the time or extra-time in figuring all this stuff out or posting on enthusiast forums. So if the system spurted out an anomaly, they'd go and gripe to Ford, who's legally responsible for providing the safe vehicle.

It's up to us to make our cars unsafe enough to be fun.

 

I'm sure Ford's durability requirments are pretty much off the scale compared to the average aftermarket guy as well. I've read articles where factory engines have been run at peak torque, peak horse power and peak engine speed for hours on end (24 seems to be a number tossed around alot). Imagine having to run an engine for 72 hours on a dyno then paying for the dyno time and fuel used.