While Ford did a great job with our favorite pony car we feel (and I'm betting you do, too) that it could use just a little more power. Thankfully the aftermarket has done a spectacular job giving Mustang owners dozens of choices when it comes to aftermarket parts. This particular guide we'll deal with Cold Air & Ram Air Kits.
Even from the factory, Ford realized that cooler air from the inner fenderwell was better than hotter air from the engine compartment. With Mass Air Flow metered systems, the airbox also serves the purpose of protecting the incoming air from becoming turbulent due to a air flow disturbance called 'fan wash'. When air is pulled from under the hood in a MAF metered system, a shield must be used (see Ram Air System below) as the fans, both electrical and mechanical (clutch or flex) can cause the air going into the intake system to become turbulant & confuse the MAF sensor. To prevent this from the factory, the OEM setup pulls air through a restrictive air box/ silencer device (designed to quiet down intake noises) and an undulating rubber hose system. While it's adequate for some Mustang owners, we performance minded drivers see an area which could definitely use improvement. To make the ultimate decision, we have to decide what's most important to you, the end user. Is it looks, performance, cost or a bit of all three?
There are several options to choose from:
JLT True Cold Air
JLT's kits are made from PVC Plastic tubing and are of a large diameter. The PVC piping addresses two of the performance concerns related to intake tubing. First, it is plastic and as such, it's not subject to the heat soak cast aluminum and other metal tube can suffer. We're trying to cool the intake charge, not heat it up, right? Secondly, the inner tubing is smooth and of a large diameter, preventing the tumbling effect the undulated tubing from the factory causes. They come in gloss black but can be color matched to your vehicle for an additional charge of $25 or $45 for Mystichrome. The cost for the gloss black versions range from $185-$249 -- Carbon Fiber kits are also available for some models.
JLT True Ram Air
The Ram Air kit from JLT is another option. It's a shorter version of the CAI but it doesn't enter the inner fenderwell, while it does pulls air from it. The real benefit to the RAI kit is that you can pull your front headlight while at the track and get a Ram Air effect, where the movement of the car causes the air to be 'rammed' into the filter and through intake tract. These kits range from $104-$185
BBK Cold Air Kits
BBK's kits offer a highly polished chrome plated tube and shield to give you that 'pop' under the hood. The BBK kits are easy to install as on some applications, the filter is the only part that is mounted in the inner fenderwell. The tubing looks great, espcially on that show car. The tubing diameter is a larger and more of a straight shot than the OEM setup and, of course, there is a lack of bumps on the inside of the tubing. It is metal so it may suffer from some heat soak after long periods of driving. They range in price from $165.95-$199.95
UPR Products
UPR has a similar kit to the BBK setup except they use an aluminum tubing that is polished for great looks without the big price tag. Their kits also use also smooth, larger diameter tubing and are reasonably priced, with a cost of about $132.95
C&L Racing
C&L was one of the first companies into the Mustang performance game with their line of MAF meters. They have since developed their own line of inlet pipes to fill the void left when replacing the meter on your Mustang. While these are not true Cold Air Kits, they warrant mentioning as a cheaper alternative to a full intake system. Most are cast aluminum with the exception of the extremely popular Racer System for the 05 Mustang GT. C&L Inlet Pipes run from $90-$269, with the Racer System coming complete with a shield, a MAF housing, plastic inlet tube & large conical air filter.
K&N Performance
K&N has also been on the scene from the begining with their panel style and conical filters. They have come out with a line of FIPK kits or Fuel Injection Performance Kits. These are also not 100% CAI kits, while they do get their air from the inner fenderwell. Many of the kits for the later model Mustangs (late 90's to 07) were developed by Ford with finicky computer/air metering systems, causing simple modifications like CAI kits to generate an MIL or Malfunction Indicator Light. This would require the owner of the car to get a tune for the vehicle to make sure that the air fuel ratio is in check. K&N FIPKs do not require that. They're one of the few manufacturers whose CAI kits do not require tuning. Their kits are made from ABS plastic to prevent heat soak and they also include a K&N filter, of course. Costs range from $199-$260
Airaid
Airaid, like the K&N unit does not require you to get a tune for your Mustang. They have kits for the 05 Mustangs and can be installed in under a 1/2 an hour and will not cause an MIL. The Airaid kits are also made of ABS plastic to prevent heat soak.
This is by no means a complete list or guide, but I hope it helps you make your decision. If I can answer any more questions, don't hesitate to contact me!
Orignal From: What Cold Air Kit should I buy for my Mustang?
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