Steeda CAI Review and Install Notes:

[Gdyup50]

Anyone with an auto running the CAI w/ tune? Whats your opinion? sharpen up the shifts?

Haven't installed mine yet, but I'll let ya know

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[Sasuketr]

Good new everyone! As some of you know I had issues with the steeda box pushing my hood up at the driver front side. it's now fixed! Steeda got me a new box!

The new box helped! The slight bulge is gone on the front driver side! Also something about the new box in general. It went in without a fight compared to the 1st one.

It's going to be next to impossible to show this but the new one is BARELY shorter than the 1st one. there is a slight bulge you'll see like it wasn't cut evenly across on the first one right at the left corner in the pic. the 2nd box is a flat straight cut at the top at that corner. I believe that is what was throwing everything off. I mean i measured it on both and the old box is slightly taller at that corner as I expected. It's such a small difference it's ridiculous but I guess after then putting the seal on top of it, it just made it even taller.


thanks to steeda and [MENTION=10893]David@Steeda[/MENTION] for getting me a new box promptly!

new one:

old:

I need a favor, can you check the screw halls for the MAF if they reach all the way to the inner diameter of the restrictor or the stack?

I used the original screws for the MAF housing, they were longer but i wonder where they stopped after the engagement! Thanks so much!

 

[Khyber]

i have no clue man, I just snugged them after they stop turning lol. I used the ones steeda gave. I don't have the restrictor

 

[Sasuketr]

i have no clue man, I just snugged them after they stop turning lol. I used the ones steeda gave. I don't have the restrictor

Lol nevermind.

 

[David@Steeda]

I've seen as low as 2 over ambient while driving but most of the time it's 5-7 over.

Sounds right!

Installed my Steeda CAI today and loaded the 93 tune.

Very impressed. CAI install was relatively easy. Took about 90 min.

Tune is really well done. Nice midrange bump for sure. Plus I like the slightly improved throttle response. Not too much just right. Also, shifts seem smoother (manual) now that the revs drop a bit more. Before they held high as others have documented.

Sound is very nice. I might be dreaming but is seems like the exhaust (MagnaFlow street) got louder. More air in more air out I guess.

Overall very pleased! Can't wait to do cams sometime next year. I'd really like to hit 500 whp.

Thanks [MENTION=10893]David@Steeda[/MENTION] for the support on the forum.

Hey glad you're happy with the CAI and tune! We put a lot of R&D into our tunes, glad you like the Steeda driveability/power balance!

 

[Sasuketr]

Sounds right!



Hey glad you're happy with the CAI and tune! We put a lot of R&D into our tunes, glad you like the Steeda driveability/power balance!

David,

I might have a problem with the sealing on the box! Since day one i couldn't actually flush it to the box! My idle in traffic at 55 degree ambient lets say 10 minute wait puts me around 123 degree inlet temperature! Driving above 50 mph i m only 5 to 6 degree above ambient! Is there a way to get another seal? Shall i be worried?

 

[David@Steeda]

David,

I might have a problem with the sealing on the box! Since day one i couldn't actually flush it to the box! My idle in traffic at 55 degree ambient lets say 10 minute wait puts me around 123 degree inlet temperature! Driving above 50 mph i m only 5 to 6 degree above ambient! Is there a way to get another seal? Shall i be worried?

Those numbers are normal, the stock box will reach that high sitting in traffic as well. Ours actually cools down faster once you start moving again when compared to the stock box.

If you guys have any questions, feel free to give our tech line a call and ask for either Matt, Chad or Rod. It's a more immediate way of getting answers/clarity sometimes.

 

[Evolvd]

David,

I might have a problem with the sealing on the box! Since day one i couldn't actually flush it to the box! My idle in traffic at 55 degree ambient lets say 10 minute wait puts me around 123 degree inlet temperature! Driving above 50 mph i m only 5 to 6 degree above ambient! Is there a way to get another seal? Shall i be worried?

That's normal with no airflow, you'll notice your cylinder head temps raise as well. Only way to change the intake temp during idle is to drop the filter below the engine.

 

[alimustafa23]

Since I got this car last year, I always have the 'Guage Mode' on display where I monitor IAT's, Cylinder Head Temps and Air to Fuel ratio. I can assure you that my GT PP with the stock intake was always 12-15 degrees above ambient no matter how cold it was. Also, in traffic it jumped to about 120-130 degrees on a 70+ degree day.

In comparison, the Steeda runs a lot cooler when cruising; as low as 5-6 over ambient. In traffic the IAT seems to climb up to high 130's at times depending on how bad the traffic is. But soon as I start rolling the temps drop very quickly back to normal. I feel this activity and temps are OK and normal.

-M

 

[Sasuketr]

Since I got this car last year, I always have the 'Guage Mode' on display where I monitor IAT's, Cylinder Head Temps and Air to Fuel ratio. I can assure you that my GT PP with the stock intake was always 12-15 degrees above ambient no matter how cold it was. Also, in traffic it jumped to about 120-130 degrees on a 70+ degree day.

In comparison, the Steeda runs a lot cooler when cruising; as low as 5-6 over ambient. In traffic the IAT seems to climb up to high 130's at times depending on how bad the traffic is. But soon as I start rolling the temps drop very quickly back to normal. I feel this activity and temps are OK and normal.

-M

Great news thanks guys, thanks David:

 

[Khyber]

you don't want the airfilter that low either unless you love removing the bumper cover and or fender well to get to the filter... i did that on my last car and only way to get to the filter was removing the bumper cover.... never again...pita and waste of time

 

[BluByeU]

Thanks to [MENTION=11520]Blitz[/MENTION] for the install today. There were zero problems with the install & Lund tune via the nGauge. The butt-o-meter definitely could sense additional h/p. Going thru all gears I can feel the increase in power. Also installed the even flo thermostat, CHT are reading lower than before. Like others have stated if in stop-n-go traffic the temp will rise a bit. If moving my CHT is around 195-200-ish.

We opened up the grill a bit w/a dremel to increase airflow as well. Overall I'm very satisfied with the seat-of-the-pants performance. [MENTION=10893]David@Steeda[/MENTION].
Looks like LTH may be the next mod
Edit: Sorry about the size of the pic!

 

[Cascadia_302]

Thanks to [MENTION=11520]Blitz[/MENTION] for the install today. There were zero problems with the install & Lund tune via the nGauge. The butt-o-meter definitely could sense additional h/p. Going thru all gears I can feel the increase in power. Also installed the even flo thermostat, CHT are reading lower than before. Like others have stated if in stop-n-go traffic the temp will rise a bit. If moving my CHT is around 195-200-ish.

We opened up the grill a bit w/a dremel to increase airflow as well. Overall I'm very satisfied with the seat-of-the-pants performance. [MENTION=10893]David@Steeda[/MENTION].
Looks like LTH may be the next mod
Edit: Sorry about the size of the pic!

Nice color combo goin on there.:cheers:

 

[David@Steeda]

Thanks to [MENTION=11520]Blitz[/MENTION] for the install today. There were zero problems with the install & Lund tune via the nGauge. The butt-o-meter definitely could sense additional h/p. Going thru all gears I can feel the increase in power. Also installed the even flo thermostat, CHT are reading lower than before. Like others have stated if in stop-n-go traffic the temp will rise a bit. If moving my CHT is around 195-200-ish.

We opened up the grill a bit w/a dremel to increase airflow as well. Overall I'm very satisfied with the seat-of-the-pants performance. [MENTION=10893]David@Steeda[/MENTION].
Looks like LTH may be the next mod
Edit: Sorry about the size of the pic!

Looking good, Rob! Welcome to the team, enjoy! :cheers:

 

[BC]

Got my CAI and tuner on Thursday. Emailed my tuner info Friday morning and had the tunes emailed back from Steeda by Friday afternoon. Great service!

Installed the CAI this morning, took me a couple of hours.

1) Yes the rubber is hard to get on the box with the corners being the hard part. But I snipped the inside part of the U channel which sits inside the box (not the rubber seal itself) and this made it easier to bend around the inside corner so that it would not pinch. It stays on the box just as well.

2) I ended up removing the 3 screws where the OEM air channel is supposed to snap on to the Steeda air box. Then I used 2 short screws and screwed the Steeda box on to the OEM air channel. It seemed too loose to me just snapped on, so the screws hold it in place better.

3) The fit was great. Didn't have any problems closing the hood and all the included parts, fasteners and screws were correct.

4) Didn't have a problem with the MAF wire...it had plenty of slack to attach to new Steeda box and to tube.

5) I did end up breaking one of those flimsy little black Ford U type fasteners that go over the PVC connector to hold the tube in place but as someone pointed out already AutoZone sells those. Not exactly but close enough. After the install I went there and bought a pack of them (3/8" Ford type)

6) At first I was thinking I should put in the restrictor in case it didn't run right with the new tune. That way I could set it back to stock without having to go back to OEM intake. But the restrictor was extremely tight trying to get in in and I knew it would be a pain to get out afterwards. So what the heck...decided to go without the restrictor.

7) Got the CAI installed and then installed the tune from the SCT. That's a little scary but I remember it was scary on my 2006 Mustang GT and my Jeep too. It went fine no issues....only took about 10 minutes at the most.
I had asked Steeda for 91 octane tunes, one for restrictor IN and one with restrictor OUT. Since I didn't install restrictor I went with restrictor OUT tune.


I'd have to say that I am very happy with the results and the car runs great. Other then a few minor things listed above I really had no issues with the hardware install nor the SCT X4.

I'm not going to get dyno'd. I just judge it by the difference I feel and I'd have to say it made a significant difference!
Feels like it woke it up for sure. I haven't pushed it hard yet but I did do a couple of runs and it was noticeable improvement. Plus it broke tires a lot easier from 2nd to 3rd shift...and they spun quite a bit more than before. I didn't mind that because before I might get 2 or 3 wheel hops at this point. But not this time...just smooth spinning until it caught grip.

Some say it makes the exhaust louder but I don't think so. I have Borla S type and the exhaust sounds the same...I think it's just the added roar of the CAI you hear when you get on it.

All in all very happy with this CAI and tuner package.
Thanks Steeda ...and thanks David for your all your help!

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