Hey guys,

Got the MRT CAI installed today and it's really awsome....

When I first got it, its all in pieces, and reminded me of lego
The install didn't take that long, and I took my time, just to make sure everything fit properly.

Pros:
-Looks really nice. The polished pipe looks great and the airbox/heatshield is a nice looking touch

-Starting it up after install, just revving it, I didn't notice any sound change, but INSTANTLY noticed a throttle response change for the WAY better....

-Taking it for a ride, the throttle response is so crisp now...a definate bonus

-Noise, wow...the car sounds mean especially in the mid range RPMs ... I noticed a more menacing growl than before...I gotta driveby the boys and see what the exhaust sounds like now....cause on the inside, it sounded way meaner at those RPMs...very cool.

-NO TUNE REQUIRED... so for those who want a CAI without tune... you have another choice out there. There IS a tune that Scott said would be available on the Diablo site eventually....10-12 straight bolton....25 with tune. (don't know if those are RWHP or FWHP

Cons/Gripes:
-the airbox looks great, but it feels...light (this is not THAT bad of a thing) but I felt like I was gonna break or snap it...its VERY thin plastic. And the carbon fiber motif looks good, but its not real CF...(minor gripe...what can ya do...)

-with 6 hose clamps and no real stops or ruts to make sure they are in the right spots to hold them in place....I have this strange fear that I didn't tighten them enough or something... some 'guide ruts' would have been nice in the rubber. And the fear of the air filter falling off or something (as it too is hoseclamped)

-Power Steering resevoir relocation. Its a necessary evil on this system, and it was the hardest part of the job (getting it where its suppose to be...or where at least I thought its suppose to be)
Now with the CAI in place and it relocated 'down' an inch with a new bracket...the resevoir is now tipped slight (so the reading is slightly wrong) and you can't really open the cap. If you wanted to put more fluid in, you'd have to unclamp the CAI and pull part of it out to get at the resevoir... And the fact that its SUCH a tight fit, its very close to the coolant hoses....

Final Thoughts:
Don't get me wrong, I love the look, design and function of the unit.
The Pros definately outweigh the cons. On my 20 minute cruise after....my smile didn't go away hearing and feeling the new grunt, and the improved throttle response is great.
Great job to Scott Hoag and the MRT Gang for engineering such a great product....

Here are some pics for ya of the finished product, and the relocation of the Power Steer resevoir.

 

That looks really good.

 

looks good, but I would not tolerate the PS rezervoir in that area, that tight., To even check it, U have to pull your air kit? or partially? ...I'll pass THAT could get old real quick.
there are other spots to relocate PS reservoir


Looks nice though

 

Thanks for the thorough write up. It's looks great! Sounds like a great option for someone not wanting to flash.

 

Now there are at least 3 companies that do not need a reflash:

MRT, K/N, and WMS

Like Scott Hoag said, it's basically how its engineered dictates whether it needs a tune or not.

Yeah, the PSteering resevoir relocation...bit of a pain...
To get at it...2 hose clamps, remove pipe....

 

Pete, another big thank you for the detailed and objective writeup. The kit with the carbon fiber looks great.

The coolant line touching the the PS reservoir does bother me though. Some factory HP GM cars come with PS coolers as an option, so heating the fluid more than it already is can't be ideal, especially if you're going to do any road racing.

 

Great write-up! Thanks! That is one mean looking kit too.

 

WOW! That thing is HOT.

Did reading the instructions make your lips tired?

 

Yeah, and my left hand from doing all the clamping/tightening

The instructions were clear, but pics would have been nice...no biggie.
I'm more of a visual person than reading

Yeah it looks stunning in person.
Its amazing what a polished pipe can do

 

I like it! , I believe rpm outlet makes a stainless ps reservoir and looks skinnier, also looks like it would relocate position you may want to check it out. Good luck

http://www.rpmoutlet.com/05gtsteel2.htm

 

Looks good pete Did you notice the increase in power over 4k?

Also, the 10-12 was supposed to be rwhp/rwtq based on what I understood.

 

Oh yeah, it pulls harder....when it sounds meaner..its working harder

 

Looks great! I'm still researching all options tho

 

No problem man...

This weekend will be my first REAL drive with it.
I haven't driven the stang in 2 weeks other than quick runs to get groceries etc.

This weekend is gonna be a 700km jaunt

 

Boomer,

Do you have any more comments about your MRT intake since your jaunt?

 

Yeah, I drove this weekend around 768km

The MRT looks great, feels great...but now I'm used to it already..
I NEED MORE
I like the response those...thats a great feeling

 

Did you purchase the intake from MRT? Are there any other retailers who offer this intake at a lower cost than MRT?

FYI, Doug at Bama told me the following: "The MRT was safe if you ran it without tuning but it was around 13.3-13.7 at WOT and the midrange was kinda lean too. Now with tuning it made the largest gains at around 282 rwhp and 300 rwtq with a simple 87 performance tune."

"For me, I would go with the MRT, it was a snap to install and would be even easier to remove if you had to and made 20rwhp and 20rwtq over the entire curve over stock."

 

Yeah, I'd be curious for an 87 Octane tune....

13.3 - 13.7...
Thats not dangerously lean though is it?

 

He didn't refer to it as being dangerously lean like he did about the MAC intake "The WOT a/f was 14.8 without tuning which is dangerously lean. When I did get it safe it made about 10rwhp and the same in tq."

Did you acquire yours directly through MRT or are there other retailers who offer it at a lower price?

 

Mine was right through MRT....

So it sounds pretty safe that you can run it without a tune like MRT states.

The engine doesn't go into any safemodes or CEL when running from paritial throttle to WOT... I'm assuming the MAC probably threw a code.

Would the computer not throw a code if its in dangerous limits?