Evolvd
Instigator
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2015
- Threads
- 149
- Messages
- 5,547
- Reaction score
- 3,738
- Location
- Northwest Florida
- First Name
- Brian
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Shelby GT500
- Thread starter
- #1
After installing my Corsa Sport cat-back I got a little mod bug and decided my K&N drop in filter wasn't going to cut it. So Wednesday I got online and ordered the Steeda cold-air intake (no tune required). Two days later the box was at my door (I live in FL so it was a short delivery time).
Fast forward to this morning and I decide it's time to tackle the install. I used Steeda's own Youtube video plus the included installation instructions.
- First off...that damn rubber trim around the top of the air box...man what a pain in the ass! LOL It took me the better part of an hour to get that thing on. The corners tend to bunch up on the inside and makes it hard to get it seated correctly. But once installed it looks really nice and gives it a smooth factory-like finish.
- The restrictor tube is a snug fit and if you didn't know any better the velocity stack looks completely normal with it installed. I recommend popping your oil fill cap off and using a little motor oil to lube the o-rings. The restrictor slides right in after that.
- The velocity stack and the elbow tube don't quite match up at the same angle when securing them together with the supplied coupler. It was off a few degrees but I made it work.
- PCV hoses...so the first one I took off I ended up busting the retaining u-clip because I couldn't rotate it enough to pop it loose. Looks like I'll be replacing one of those when the Ford parts counter opens up, but for now the hose isn't going anywhere. The large PCV hose took me a few head scratches to realize how it comes off but once I figured it out (slide the gray tab counterclockwise when looking at the end) it popped right off.
- The MAF wire is tight...I mean really tight to get it around the new air box and plugged back in. I wiggled the wire bundle as much as I could but it's still a bit taught. The plug that secures the wire bundle to the air box wasn't quite matched up with the hole so that added even a little more pulling and tugging to secure it.
- I left the sound tube installed because I was getting inpatient and didn't feel like unclipping it and dealing with the supplied firewall plug. Maybe later I'll pull that ugly looking contraption out but for now it stays.
Overall Impressions:
The air box and elbow are molded ABS plastic and look really good..I mean like "came from the Ford factory" good. Also Steeda had the forethought to put a drain hole in the bottom of the box should any water make its way into the hood vent and into the box....nice!
The supplied PCV couplings and velocity stack are all machined billet and are matte polished, so no buffing or polishing needed.
The filter is MASSIVE! This thing could probably hold a King sized cup from Burger King.
The sound! Wow...just, wow! This CAI definitely adds some grunt to the overall sound of the motor coupled with the howl from my Corsa exhaust. The intake temps were lower, I noticed 5 degrees above ambient. No driveability issues noted, throttle response is the same as stock. I'll get to a dyno at some time to run another baseline and see what I picked up.
So ratings....from 1 to 5, 1 being crap to 5 being awesome:
Design, fit and finish: 4.5 (due to the elbow and velocity stack not quite matching up flush)
Sound: 5
Install time: 4 (only because of that damn rubber trim)
Cost: 5 (compared to other CAI systems available I think the look of this one screams "factory supplied part")
Overall I give this a 4.75, as in almost perfect but just a few minor issues that negated a full 5.
I highly recommend this CAI to anyone looking to upgrade their CAI and Steeda has AWESOME customer service.
Fast forward to this morning and I decide it's time to tackle the install. I used Steeda's own Youtube video plus the included installation instructions.
- First off...that damn rubber trim around the top of the air box...man what a pain in the ass! LOL It took me the better part of an hour to get that thing on. The corners tend to bunch up on the inside and makes it hard to get it seated correctly. But once installed it looks really nice and gives it a smooth factory-like finish.
- The restrictor tube is a snug fit and if you didn't know any better the velocity stack looks completely normal with it installed. I recommend popping your oil fill cap off and using a little motor oil to lube the o-rings. The restrictor slides right in after that.
- The velocity stack and the elbow tube don't quite match up at the same angle when securing them together with the supplied coupler. It was off a few degrees but I made it work.
- PCV hoses...so the first one I took off I ended up busting the retaining u-clip because I couldn't rotate it enough to pop it loose. Looks like I'll be replacing one of those when the Ford parts counter opens up, but for now the hose isn't going anywhere. The large PCV hose took me a few head scratches to realize how it comes off but once I figured it out (slide the gray tab counterclockwise when looking at the end) it popped right off.
- The MAF wire is tight...I mean really tight to get it around the new air box and plugged back in. I wiggled the wire bundle as much as I could but it's still a bit taught. The plug that secures the wire bundle to the air box wasn't quite matched up with the hole so that added even a little more pulling and tugging to secure it.
- I left the sound tube installed because I was getting inpatient and didn't feel like unclipping it and dealing with the supplied firewall plug. Maybe later I'll pull that ugly looking contraption out but for now it stays.
Overall Impressions:
The air box and elbow are molded ABS plastic and look really good..I mean like "came from the Ford factory" good. Also Steeda had the forethought to put a drain hole in the bottom of the box should any water make its way into the hood vent and into the box....nice!
The supplied PCV couplings and velocity stack are all machined billet and are matte polished, so no buffing or polishing needed.
The filter is MASSIVE! This thing could probably hold a King sized cup from Burger King.
The sound! Wow...just, wow! This CAI definitely adds some grunt to the overall sound of the motor coupled with the howl from my Corsa exhaust. The intake temps were lower, I noticed 5 degrees above ambient. No driveability issues noted, throttle response is the same as stock. I'll get to a dyno at some time to run another baseline and see what I picked up.
So ratings....from 1 to 5, 1 being crap to 5 being awesome:
Design, fit and finish: 4.5 (due to the elbow and velocity stack not quite matching up flush)
Sound: 5
Install time: 4 (only because of that damn rubber trim)
Cost: 5 (compared to other CAI systems available I think the look of this one screams "factory supplied part")
Overall I give this a 4.75, as in almost perfect but just a few minor issues that negated a full 5.
I highly recommend this CAI to anyone looking to upgrade their CAI and Steeda has AWESOME customer service.
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but decided against it. Went back home looked again with a flash light and found it just sitting on the serpentine belt. One in a million chance lol