Hurst short throw shifter or Airaid CAI?

[dagolfguy]

Originally Posted by scrming

That is true! There are other things to considering adding a CAI... Looks and sound are factors too!

You said it. I pre-ordered the CAI inc unit based on nothing more than the pictures of the V8 unit. But, since I ordered the entire car based on nothing more than pictures I guess that's fitting.

[scrming]

Originally Posted by rcracer78

I have both and I would be torn between the two. However, prior to installing my CAI, I installed a Solo Performance Mach-X catback on my LS3, which added a little more power and bad a** sound. When I installed the Airaid CAI, my LS3 turned into a whole new engine! Seriously, this engine came alive and sounds scary at WOT! Makes my palms sweat.

Even on your V6 you'll see a tremendous increase in performance with a catback/CAI combo.

define "tremendous"?

[TJ91]

Originally Posted by rolnslo

Exhaust is definitely number 1 on my list but....whatever I get with this money has to come from West Coast Camaro or the cost comes out of my pocket. They've got an axle-back kit from Bassani but it's for the LS3 and Bassani said they currently don't have plans for a V6 kit. I did consider just getting the LS3 kit and getting it installed on my V6 with some sort of 2.25" to 2.5" adapter but I'm still leaning towards the cat-back from SOLO or maybe MBRP.

Ugh, why is it so hard to choose how to spend someone else's money?

Yeah im going towards the Solo exhaust too, Screamings exhaust sound great and definitly is great considering the price, but the Solo exhaust sounds beefy. I say go for the intake!

[rcracer78]

Originally Posted by scrming

define "tremendous"?

Tremendous: fearful, particularly large/enormous, marvelous, wonderful

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[scrming]

Originally Posted by rcracer78

Tremendous: fearful, particularly large/enormous, marvelous, wonderful

-

Ok... well then that's not the kind of gains you are going to get from an exhaust and a CAI with this car... I think tremendous will possibly come with the release of a tuner...

[calflan]

I don't see the big advantage of Catback vs. Axle back. The circumference of the pipes can be expanded and you can elimiante the H tube with a X, but is there THAT much more benefit from these changes ?? I'd think the axle back does plenty to save the extra cost of a catback.

... And as far as short throw vs. CAI, definitely CAI. I have a short throw on my list too, but the CAI was higher priority and I'm glad for it. See a power and mpg increase. MPG seems only a bit (city was 19 - 20, now seems more 20 - 22; Hwy was 27-30, now more consistently 30) but every little bit helps and for the increase in power PLUS a tad mpg increase, it's worth it.

[rolnslo]

Originally Posted by calflan

I don't see the big advantage of Catback vs. Axle back. The circumference of the pipes can be expanded and you can elimiante the H tube with a X, but is there THAT much more benefit from these changes ?? I'd think the axle back does plenty to save the extra cost of a catback.

... And as far as short throw vs. CAI, definitely CAI. I have a short throw on my list too, but the CAI was higher priority and I'm glad for it. See a power and mpg increase. MPG seems only a bit (city was 19 - 20, now seems more 20 - 22; Hwy was 27-30, now more consistently 30) but every little bit helps and for the increase in power PLUS a tad mpg increase, it's worth it.

The only reasons I've seen/heard/read so far for going with a cat-back vs. axle-back is sound quality and drone. The cat-back systems usually eliminate the stock resonators and replace them with pipe, replace the stock H-pipe connection with an X-pipe, and usually but not always (Solo Performance) bump up the pipe diameter from 2.25" to 2.5". It seems odd to change the pipe diameter considering the pipes leading from the manifolds to the stock H-pipe are only 2.25" and that's what the cat-back pipes connect to. Bigger pipes don't equal better exhaust gas scavenging unless the stock pipes were undersized (which at 2.25", they aren't for the power of the V6).

I am planning on doing something with the exhaust and am starting to wonder if getting the CAI now would be a better in the long term. The Hurst shifter would be fun but provides no tangible gains in performance or fuel economy.

[calflan]

Originally Posted by rolnslo

The only reasons I've seen/heard/read so far for going with a cat-back vs. axle-back is sound quality and drone. The cat-back systems usually eliminate the stock resonators and replace them with pipe, replace the stock H-pipe connection with an X-pipe, and usually but not always (Solo Performance) bump up the pipe diameter from 2.25" to 2.5". It seems odd to change the pipe diameter considering the pipes leading from the manifolds to the stock H-pipe are only 2.25" and that's what the cat-back pipes connect to. Bigger pipes don't equal better exhaust gas scavenging unless the stock pipes were undersized (which at 2.25", they aren't for the power of the V6).

I am planning on doing something with the exhaust and am starting to wonder if getting the CAI now would be a better in the long term. The Hurst shifter would be fun but provides no tangible gains in performance or fuel economy.

You're right, I forget the resonators under the belly as well. So a catback does in fact pull two sets of resonators and add a muffler or resonator in the back .. which will also decrease backpressure, but still worth the expense between a catback and axle back ??? I tend to think not.

Given the call between a CAI and exhaust, I'd probably lean toward CAI as well. Seems more 'felt' power increase for the driver but I say that not having an exhaust system, so not a fair call.

The shifter, as you point out, fun but no gains.

[ckaram]

Anyone put the Hurst short throw in a V6 yet?

[kga10734]

Get the CAI, you will enjoy it more then a new shifter. Just a word of caution, you thought your foot was heavy before, wait till you get a little more power under the hood.

[Xanthos]

I vote for the shifter, personally.
- X