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aFe Intake -vs- Whipple Intercooler -vs- Downpipe

Stinger

Stinger

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I'm struggling with the $600 cost for the aFe Momentum GT CAI. After looking at the dyno results I'm not sure the extra power it makes is worth the cost. There's already a K&N filter in my ST now. I have an exhaust on the way. I'm currently tuned for 93oct and plan to run e50. From what I understand the IC may be more beneficial. It never gets really hot here for very long and the weather will cool off soon.

Thoughts? Whipple IC first and wait for CAI. CAI first and wait for Whipple IC? Downpipe? F it all and stay stock? lol
 

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rjacobs

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I would wait on the AFE CAI until people get them in their hands, do a little tuning with them and get some REAL results... because manufacturer claims on CAI's generally never seem to hold up in any vehicle I have ever owned.

With that said the Whipple's have proven themselves to be worthwhile. I basically just got done doing all my data logging with ZFG and he said I need to get a whipple I/C as my temps are causing the vehicle to lose power above 60mph...not a shocker when its in the mid to high 90's for 3-4 months on end here in Dallas. So FOR ME that will be my next mod.
 

twin001

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Whipple first, without a doubt. Consistent lower IATs in all scenarios and conditions will benefit your ST in both performance and reliability. IMO its the perfect "starter" mod to build upon, or if you aren't really looking to do anything else.
 

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zdubyadubya

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IC then DPs with high flow cats (i.e., SPD or FenFab) then Intake. The stock intake is actually really really good. since you are already tuned, you will get to see the improvement after each. DPs with stock exhaust outflow stock DPs with aftermarket exhaust by ALOT. The stock DPs were WAAAAAY more restricting than anyone realized. guys who are running the thermal exhaust or custom 3" setups without swapping downpipes basically wasted their money.
 

twin001

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zdubyadubya said:
IC then DPs with high flow cats (i.e., SPD or FenFab) then Intake. The stock intake is actually really really good. since you are already tuned, you will get to see the improvement after each. DPs with stock exhaust outflow stock DPs with aftermarket exhaust by ALOT. The stock DPs were WAAAAAY more restricting than anyone realized. guys who are running the thermal exhaust or custom 3" setups without swapping downpipes basically wasted their money.
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90% of the reason I ordered the Thermal before I did DPs is because of the F*#%king flex section rattle! That and I don't want to wait for the welds on the OEM center resonator to fail. DPs are coming though! Problem is I'm a DIY kinda guy and install sounds like a bitch.

But yeah, HFCs are more beneficial than a cat-back system.
 

Z

zdubyadubya

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twin001 said:
90% of the reason I ordered the Thermal before I did DPs is because of the F*#%king flex section rattle! That and I don't want to wait for the welds on the OEM center resonator to fail. DPs are coming though! Problem is I'm a DIY kinda guy and install sounds like a bitch.

But yeah, HFCs are more beneficial than a cat-back system.
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I hear ya. The DPs are a huuuuuge PITA. The trick I found on here and used to great effect was to loosen the trans from the supports and drop the tail of the motor a bit to give yourself a little more room. This is not a job you are doing in your driveway. A lift is a MUST.
 

F=MA

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zdubyadubya said:
I hear ya. The DPs are a huuuuuge PITA. The trick I found on here and used to great effect was to loosen the trans from the supports and drop the tail of the motor a bit to give yourself a little more room. This is not a job you are doing in your driveway. A lift is a MUST.
Click to expand...
How long of a job is it doing it your way?
 

twin001

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Ok, who has a lift within ~3ish hours of Cincinnati? Prob just pay a shop to do it. Damnit….
 

Z

zdubyadubya

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F=MA said:
How long of a job is it doing it your way?
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6 hours? Its the passenger side that will get ya. I followed @UNBROKEN 's lead and just cut off the heat shields on the stock downpipes to get more access. Then be prepared to use every single u-joint and socket extension you have in your toolbox until you find the magic combo that gets both leverage and access.
 

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MattC0509

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rjacobs said:
I would wait on the AFE CAI until people get them in their hands, do a little tuning with them and get some REAL results... because manufacturer claims on CAI's generally never seem to hold up in any vehicle I have ever owned.

With that said the Whipple's have proven themselves to be worthwhile. I basically just got done doing all my data logging with ZFG and he said I need to get a whipple I/C as my temps are causing the vehicle to lose power above 60mph...not a shocker when its in the mid to high 90's for 3-4 months on end here in Dallas. So FOR ME that will be my next mod.
Click to expand...
I'm over in Fort Worth and I installed the Whipple IC at the beginning of July and the difference especially at highway speeds was definitely noticeable. It felt like it was accelerating with much more ease.

I currently have Thermal downpipe back exhaust, Whipple IC and ZFG 93 tune and I ordered the afe Cai. I'm wondering what the best downpipe option would be and will it be a noticable boost in performance.
 

Z

zdubyadubya

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As I said above, you will be astounded at the difference downpipes make. You can’t go wrong with either FenFab or SPD. They use different cats but both use good high flow ones
 

UNBROKEN

UNBROKEN

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zdubyadubya said:
As I said above, you will be astounded at the difference downpipes make. You can’t go wrong with either FenFab or SPD. They use different cats but both use good high flow ones
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the difference is body size and cell count. FenFab uses a smaller 300 cell cat that may or may not need defoulers installed. No big deal for most people. SPD uses a larger 400 cell cat that won’t need anything.
 

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zdubyadubya

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UNBROKEN said:
the difference is body size and cell count. FenFab uses a smaller 300 cell cat that may or may not need defoulers installed. No big deal for most people. SPD uses a larger 400 cell cat that won’t need anything.
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I knew there was a difference but just didn't know the details. Thanks for that!

I can CONFIRM, the FenFab requires defoulers.
 

twin001

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where did you get the defoulers for the FenFab DPs from?
 

F=MA

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I asked the same question. Z told me "you will need them for the catted ones. Fenfab sends them with the DPs in a small envelope in the box. The kit he sends comes with three orifice sizes. Z ended up needing to use the smallest orifice.
 

OP
Stinger

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F=MA said:
I asked the same question. Z told me "you will need them for the catted ones. Fenfab sends them with the DPs in a small envelope in the box. The kit he sends comes with three orifice sizes. Z ended up needing to use the smallest orifice.
Click to expand...
What are “defoulers”?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

F=MA

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Google says - The defouler will move the secondary O2 Sensor away from the direct flow of gasses in the catalytic converter which will trick the computer into thinking that there is still restrictions in the cat therefore keeping the Check Engine Light from coming on.
 

T

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What this means is that the secondary 02 sensors are expected to see a difference between the gas content from the primary 02 sensor to the secondary one due to the cat's effectiveness. If you need defoulers, then the computer doesn't see the same tolerance it expects. Changing orifice size or relocating them out of the downstream flow fools the computer. The same thing can be done with a catless system. Why give even more people ammunition to complain about our ability to modify our vehicles by buying something that requires a band-aid?
 

Z

zdubyadubya

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TMac said:
What this means is that the secondary 02 sensors are expected to see a difference between the gas content from the primary 02 sensor to the secondary one due to the cat's effectiveness. If you need defoulers, then the computer doesn't see the same tolerance it expects. Changing orifice size or relocating them out of the downstream flow fools the computer. The same thing can be done with a catless system. Why give even more people ammunition to complain about our ability to modify our vehicles by buying something that requires a band-aid?
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I didn't know this ahead of time. Had I known, I would have purchased the SPD units. I love this industry and racing and want to see it continue. I assumed that since they were catted that I was "modifying while still honoring the spirit of the law". I 100% support the EPA's mission and agree that while CARB is definitely going too far, its more because they are idiots who don't understand cars.
 

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zdubyadubya said:
I didn't know this ahead of time. Had I known, I would have purchased the SPD units. I love this industry and racing and want to see it continue. I assumed that since they were catted that I was "modifying while still honoring the spirit of the law". I 100% support the EPA's mission and agree that while CARB is definitely going too far, its more because they are idiots who don't understand cars.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 

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