JoshMac
Well-Known Member
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- #1
UPDATED
Well I couldn't turn down a $25 rebate and $30 in Summit Bucks on the AEM intake. I bought it a couple weeks back and finally got time to put it on the other night. The install was stupid simple, and fitment was good. I followed the included directions best I could, just to see judge how accurate they were. I'm one of those that usually only reverts to instructions after I've mangled it so badly there is no turning back, but I wanted to follow them to try and give a good review. There is so little out there about this intake, that I wanted to take some time in the words of Ole Gregg to "Make an Assessment" If you don't care to read my first novel, here are some quick bullet points.
Getting the OE intake off was as easy as it comes, I don't have any tips or suggestions, If you can pump your own gas, you can have the intake off in about 5 minutes with a bathroom break. The included instructions detailed this process perfectly and left nothing out. The only thing I didn't do is remove the MAF as suggested during this process. I unplugged the harness, but left the MAF in the factory tube. I don't like leaving a MAF laying around "unprotected" so I just left it until it was time to install it into the new tube.
There is an exploded view of the new heat shield and how to "assemble" it. The heat shield fits well, and butts all the way up to the factory "cool air duct" in the radiator support.(see mediocre pic below) The only real problem I have with the heat shield is that the MAF harness runs through the same hole as the tube. I will be keeping an eye on this to make sure there is no chafing of the wires. One other factor I liked was this intake eliminates the sound tube, there is no provision for it on the new tube. The way it does this though is not IMO the cleanest way. They provided a rubber cap to go on the tube at the strut tower.(see pic below) While I would much rather prefer to eliminate completely at the firewall, AEM went a route that is much easier than fighting with that nut on the firewall.
Another small complaint is that the kit included a Torx key to fit the factory MAF screws and included new cap screws for the new tube. However, the new cap screws are a hex head for which they didn't supply a key for. Seems it would have been much more simple to provide a Torx screw the same size as the OE. I was a mechanic for 10 years so I had the correct size tool 2 feet away, just seems it would be better if they would have made them the same as the provided tool.
The most difficult part of the installation was getting the filter between the heat shield and fender. It is not a massive filter, but it is larger than the opening after installing the shield. It took holding my mouth just right to squeeze it in and get it lined up. If I was doing another one I would lay the filter down between the fender and shield as I installed the new shield to eliminate that problem, but I followed the provided directions.
Driving Impressions
The only other thing done to my car(GT M6 3.31 2200miles) is a set of Magnaflow Magnapacks with 4" tips I installed. I did disconnect the battery for a few minutes after the intake install to reset the KAM. I cranked it up and let it idle for the 3 minutes the instructions suggested. I took it on a short 4 mile trip just to make sure the car still ran and check it out. The exhaust over powers the intake noise for the most part, but at 5500+ it does open up and let out that old "4 barrel moan" I love and wanted.
My main question/concern is how will this intake affect IAT's. I have meticulously watched the factory gauge in all types of driving with the OE intake to see how it performed. I DD the car 42 miles a day, with 16 highway and 6 city miles each way and took a 750 mile road trip last week. If I maintain at least 55 mph I saw 6-8 degrees above the ambient reading on the car. On the interstate last week at 80 mph I saw a constant 6 and occasional 5 degree difference between IAT and ambient.
This morning on my drive in, the IAT stayed from 4-6 degrees above ambient. I will continue to watch and see how it performs but so far it has been equal or better than the OE box. One factor I think helps that is the "fender" is open below the filter and pulls air from the bumper area as well.( Like MMR intake) The factory box only pulls air through the inlet beside the radiator support.
More Power?
This what you all want to know, is does it have more POWA? I haven't dyno'd the car, ran it at the strip, played with the track apps or even ran 93 octane in it so I can't give a real world result. I also still think the engine is "freeing up"(only 2200 miles) so there would be no way to accurately judge it. I won't let the reduced weight of my wallet affect the calibration on my butt dyno. Every time money is spent on a "go fast part" you *want* to think it helped, whether it did or not. Does it feel like a new car? No. Does it break loose shifting to 6th? No. Will it and Mobil 1 allow you to beat ZO6's and Hellcats? No. Do I honestly think it *may* have helped? Yes, judging by how the car feels and sounds it definitely added something.
I'm almost done
Overall so far I'm happy, I didn't want the biggest, baddest, loudest, most awesomest intake, just one that was affordable and did not require a tune. I like my warranty, and that and price was the biggest factor in the intake I chose. I will not be tuning the car so I didn't need an intake with removable restrictor. I know I could get more out of the car, but I am not willing to risk a warranty denial due to freeing up that small amount(compared to boost) of power as a tune provides. Not bashing tunes, tuners, or the likes thereof, I just LOVE my warranty. Summit still has $30 if you are interested in this intake, but the AEM rebate ended on 7/31 I believe. I have nothing against AEM or any manufacturer, but I don't run stickers on my car. So I peeled the AEM sticker. Not because I'm embarrassed I bought a ricer intake, just because they didn't sponsor me or give me a free/discounted intake, so why should I advertise their company when I had to pay full price for their goods?
Well I couldn't turn down a $25 rebate and $30 in Summit Bucks on the AEM intake. I bought it a couple weeks back and finally got time to put it on the other night. The install was stupid simple, and fitment was good. I followed the included directions best I could, just to see judge how accurate they were. I'm one of those that usually only reverts to instructions after I've mangled it so badly there is no turning back, but I wanted to follow them to try and give a good review. There is so little out there about this intake, that I wanted to take some time in the words of Ole Gregg to "Make an Assessment" If you don't care to read my first novel, here are some quick bullet points.
- Pros
Fits great, 9/10
Dry Filter, I have always ran K&N in everything, but hate an oiled filter on a mass air car.
Sound Tube eliminated
No tune required
Low Cost, about the cheapest intake, which if not getting a tune how much gain is really to be had?
Sounds great, that nice 4 barrel "moan" I wanted
So far IAT's have stayed equal or slightly better than OE.(while moving)
- Cons
MAF harness shares same "hole" as tube, worried about possible chafing.
Sound tube delete is not as clean as removal at the firewall, but much is easier.
The few other little complaints I had are not cons, just mistakes made by AEM that could have made the install more streamlined.
Getting the OE intake off was as easy as it comes, I don't have any tips or suggestions, If you can pump your own gas, you can have the intake off in about 5 minutes with a bathroom break. The included instructions detailed this process perfectly and left nothing out. The only thing I didn't do is remove the MAF as suggested during this process. I unplugged the harness, but left the MAF in the factory tube. I don't like leaving a MAF laying around "unprotected" so I just left it until it was time to install it into the new tube.
There is an exploded view of the new heat shield and how to "assemble" it. The heat shield fits well, and butts all the way up to the factory "cool air duct" in the radiator support.(see mediocre pic below) The only real problem I have with the heat shield is that the MAF harness runs through the same hole as the tube. I will be keeping an eye on this to make sure there is no chafing of the wires. One other factor I liked was this intake eliminates the sound tube, there is no provision for it on the new tube. The way it does this though is not IMO the cleanest way. They provided a rubber cap to go on the tube at the strut tower.(see pic below) While I would much rather prefer to eliminate completely at the firewall, AEM went a route that is much easier than fighting with that nut on the firewall.
Another small complaint is that the kit included a Torx key to fit the factory MAF screws and included new cap screws for the new tube. However, the new cap screws are a hex head for which they didn't supply a key for. Seems it would have been much more simple to provide a Torx screw the same size as the OE. I was a mechanic for 10 years so I had the correct size tool 2 feet away, just seems it would be better if they would have made them the same as the provided tool.
The most difficult part of the installation was getting the filter between the heat shield and fender. It is not a massive filter, but it is larger than the opening after installing the shield. It took holding my mouth just right to squeeze it in and get it lined up. If I was doing another one I would lay the filter down between the fender and shield as I installed the new shield to eliminate that problem, but I followed the provided directions.
Driving Impressions
The only other thing done to my car(GT M6 3.31 2200miles) is a set of Magnaflow Magnapacks with 4" tips I installed. I did disconnect the battery for a few minutes after the intake install to reset the KAM. I cranked it up and let it idle for the 3 minutes the instructions suggested. I took it on a short 4 mile trip just to make sure the car still ran and check it out. The exhaust over powers the intake noise for the most part, but at 5500+ it does open up and let out that old "4 barrel moan" I love and wanted.
My main question/concern is how will this intake affect IAT's. I have meticulously watched the factory gauge in all types of driving with the OE intake to see how it performed. I DD the car 42 miles a day, with 16 highway and 6 city miles each way and took a 750 mile road trip last week. If I maintain at least 55 mph I saw 6-8 degrees above the ambient reading on the car. On the interstate last week at 80 mph I saw a constant 6 and occasional 5 degree difference between IAT and ambient.
This morning on my drive in, the IAT stayed from 4-6 degrees above ambient. I will continue to watch and see how it performs but so far it has been equal or better than the OE box. One factor I think helps that is the "fender" is open below the filter and pulls air from the bumper area as well.( Like MMR intake) The factory box only pulls air through the inlet beside the radiator support.
More Power?
This what you all want to know, is does it have more POWA? I haven't dyno'd the car, ran it at the strip, played with the track apps or even ran 93 octane in it so I can't give a real world result. I also still think the engine is "freeing up"(only 2200 miles) so there would be no way to accurately judge it. I won't let the reduced weight of my wallet affect the calibration on my butt dyno. Every time money is spent on a "go fast part" you *want* to think it helped, whether it did or not. Does it feel like a new car? No. Does it break loose shifting to 6th? No. Will it and Mobil 1 allow you to beat ZO6's and Hellcats? No. Do I honestly think it *may* have helped? Yes, judging by how the car feels and sounds it definitely added something.
I'm almost done
Overall so far I'm happy, I didn't want the biggest, baddest, loudest, most awesomest intake, just one that was affordable and did not require a tune. I like my warranty, and that and price was the biggest factor in the intake I chose. I will not be tuning the car so I didn't need an intake with removable restrictor. I know I could get more out of the car, but I am not willing to risk a warranty denial due to freeing up that small amount(compared to boost) of power as a tune provides. Not bashing tunes, tuners, or the likes thereof, I just LOVE my warranty. Summit still has $30 if you are interested in this intake, but the AEM rebate ended on 7/31 I believe. I have nothing against AEM or any manufacturer, but I don't run stickers on my car. So I peeled the AEM sticker. Not because I'm embarrassed I bought a ricer intake, just because they didn't sponsor me or give me a free/discounted intake, so why should I advertise their company when I had to pay full price for their goods?
Sponsored
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