aFe intake: very surprised...

[Blacksport]

I picked up an aFe intake because I found out Summit is an aFe dealer and I could sneak one on my company credit card, LOL.

The thing looked pretty good when I got it, but the hardware was crappy, so I replaced most of it with good stainless stuff...the cover bolts are 5/16", so now you need a 3/16" allen wrench in your tool kit...

Installing it over the weekend was a pain...it's not a perfect fit, but barely okay, and the big, soft gasket that connects it to the throttle body; well, it kinda bothers me, but I think it'll be okay...the MAS attachment was not that great either...

The big surprise came when I took it for a spin...my P3cars digital gauge was showing no CEL's, good news...so after a 6 mile warmup, I ran it hard up the I95 ramp...

I believe, like many on this and other forums, that an air inlet box is basically going to give you no extra power, or at very best, a few HP's...well, I'm here to tell you that I no longer believe that...this thing has apparently added some real horsepressure that you can feel...and the sound is utterly amazing...

Now, keep in mind that I have headers, no pre-cats, no secondary OS sensors, a straight-thru Borla, and a stage 3 intake, so maybe I just freed up some power that was bottle-necking at the intake; I don't know and don't really care...I just love the way it runs and sounds now...

[Taskmaster]

The SI makes power (I tested it), the other ones...I'm not so sure, but I believe they need a spacer to work right.

And yes, I'm sure the intake was a bottleneck if it was stock.

[chris82]

You should get retuned

[louie12345]

We don't need retune just for cold air or high airflow intake filter. The car has a mass flow air sensor and the ecu is compensating for it.

[Blacksport]

I'm already figured for hi-flo intake...besides, don't want any changes...it's really fast now...

Couple of notes if you have the aFe intake:

Drill a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the air box right where it sits on that round bumper...this will help you make sure it's sitting on the bumper properly. That bumper has many holes in the bottom so you can adjust the position.

There are 2 bolts that hold the air box to the car...do not tighten these past the point where they touch the grommets; use blue Loc-tite. This will allow the air box some movement.

The big, soft silicon "adapter" that sits between the throttle body extension and the aFe intake tube is a somewhat bad setup. The outer clamp is supposed to hold both in place, but I don't trust it...do this:

Make sure the TB extension is on properly and the clamp is tight.
Rub some black silicone sealant on the inside of the soft aFe adapter and push it on the TB extension. Clean any sealant up and let it dry for 3-4 hours or overnight. Now, you can install the aFe intake tube and clamp, and you don't have to over-tighten the clamp because the adapter will be held in place with the silicon sealant.