popular mods? - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Ace1USMC · 01-24-2013, 11:43 PM

Guys, I'm sure I'm gonna stir up a hornet's nest with this... but a CAI is the biggest waste of money until your engine is seriously in need of air. A buddy of mine has the same car I do (SS, LS3), and we've both installed the EXACT same headers, camshaft, timing chain, rocker trunions, and the EXACT same tune. We both had our cars dyno'd on the same dyno. He has a CAI, I have the stock air box. He made 3 more peak HP, but I made 4 more peak torque. I'd call that a wash. Not worth the $200-300. Save that money and put it towards funds for something you'll enjoy and feel more - like a good stereo, LT Headers, shifter, etc. I'm sure a lot of guys will be up in arms over this, but the dyno results are what they are. Unless your car is breathing DEEP like a camshaft, heads, intake, throttle body, long tubes, no cats, 3" exhaust...you don't benefit anything with a CAI. That's my story, and I'm stickin' with it.

BLESSINGS!
Sam

thepirate · 01-25-2013, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace1USMC

Guys, I'm sure I'm gonna stir up a hornet's nest with this... but a CAI is the biggest waste of money until your engine is seriously in need of air. A buddy of mine has the same car I do (SS, LS3), and we've both installed the EXACT same headers, camshaft, timing chain, rocker trunions, and the EXACT same tune. We both had our cars dyno'd on the same dyno. He has a CAI, I have the stock air box. He made 3 more peak HP, but I made 4 more peak torque. I'd call that a wash. Not worth the $200-300. Save that money and put it towards funds for something you'll enjoy and feel more - like a good stereo, LT Headers, shifter, etc. I'm sure a lot of guys will be up in arms over this, but the dyno results are what they are. Unless your car is breathing DEEP like a camshaft, heads, intake, throttle body, long tubes, no cats, 3" exhaust...you don't benefit anything with a CAI. That's my story, and I'm stickin' with it.

BLESSINGS!
Sam

Correct me if i'm wrong because i'm going off of what other people have told me, but in the scenario above, i completely agree and understand that you're not going to see much of a difference from having a CAI vs not having one with all those mods. But i've always been told that if your car isn't heavily modded, like a stock car vs one with only a CAI, you will notice a difference and see some gains.

To my understanding, if your car is heavily modded, each mod dilutes the gains of the other mods, but if you only have one mod (like a CAI) it's kind of the "beginning" of the gains and you'll see more out of it. I hope this makes sense.

camaro_RS · 01-25-2013, 10:04 AM

As for appearance mods you're getting a 1LE so there is a lot taken care of already! Hood, wheels, and calipers already look great! Mods such as window tint, changing up gold bowties, spoiler, rear diffuser, side skirts might be the only things you will want to adjust. Maybe the grille.

cadyshac · 01-25-2013, 10:12 AM

Get a CAI, do a few cosmetic mods such as the AAC sidemarkers.

Go to Camaro5fest, drool, take notes, drool, take pics, drool by then you will know which way you want to go.

MikeSVX · 01-25-2013, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace1USMC

Guys, I'm sure I'm gonna stir up a hornet's nest with this... but a CAI is the biggest waste of money until your engine is seriously in need of air. A buddy of mine has the same car I do (SS, LS3), and we've both installed the EXACT same headers, camshaft, timing chain, rocker trunions, and the EXACT same tune. We both had our cars dyno'd on the same dyno. He has a CAI, I have the stock air box. He made 3 more peak HP, but I made 4 more peak torque. I'd call that a wash. Not worth the $200-300. Save that money and put it towards funds for something you'll enjoy and feel more - like a good stereo, LT Headers, shifter, etc. I'm sure a lot of guys will be up in arms over this, but the dyno results are what they are. Unless your car is breathing DEEP like a camshaft, heads, intake, throttle body, long tubes, no cats, 3" exhaust...you don't benefit anything with a CAI. That's my story, and I'm stickin' with it.

BLESSINGS!
Sam

You shouldn't be running the same tunes. Two cars are never the same. Plus the CAI on his car means his tune should be different then yours. Thats why I like dyno tunes better then mail order tunes. Dyno tunes are tailored to specificly to your car to help you get the most. Mail order tunes are a little generic and give you a boost in power, but you could be getting more.

Mohamed Sharaf · 01-25-2013, 10:50 AM

I am as new as you

and I'll be going with exhausts first

dkp2LT · 01-25-2013, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevyman2

Tint for starters...

+1.

I've gotten to the point that any Camaro w/o some sort of tint just doesn't look right.

Mohamed Sharaf · 01-25-2013, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkp2LT

+1.

I've gotten to the point that any Camaro w/o some sort of tint just doesn't look right.

Where I live I have the option of having a tint from 3M, Ziebart, Drive7, or VCool. Which would be the best in your opinion, and may others say their opinions too

And I mean the 00 tint

mth35115 · 01-25-2013, 11:44 AM

The first mod iI did after tint was a CAI, and on a stock engine, it sounded more agressive and seemed to have more power. I don't know if it did make more power, but it made my smile just a little bit wider.

MotorCity · 01-25-2013, 04:32 PM

im seeing alot on the skip shift eliminator and did some research about it last night. sounds to me like that 2nd and 3rd gear lockout is annoying. definitely gonna install that right away along with tints and a cold air intake. headers always sound tempting too!

MotorCity · 01-25-2013, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mth35115

The first mod iI did after tint was a CAI, and on a stock engine, it sounded more agressive and seemed to have more power. I don't know if it did make more power, but it made my smile just a little bit wider.

cold air intakes will give you some extra power depending on what brand you got. usually anywhere between a 10-20hp increase

MotorCity · 01-25-2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camaro_RS

As for appearance mods you're getting a 1LE so there is a lot taken care of already! Hood, wheels, and calipers already look great! Mods such as window tint, changing up gold bowties, spoiler, rear diffuser, side skirts might be the only things you will want to adjust. Maybe the grille.

yea I'm thinking of putting on a ZL1 rear diffuser since it wraps all the way around the bumper and looks a tad more aggressive, along with the ZL1 rockers. makes everything flow nicely with the black front lip

MotorCity · 01-25-2013, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tj@LSRPerformance

CAI's and suspension are great choices.

Enjoy those Michigan roads ... should be warm soon enough!

TJ

haha these Michigan roads can be horrible in certain places. i won't let my Camaro see a winter. so much salt

scubadoo7 · 01-25-2013, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotorCity

im seeing alot on the skip shift eliminator and did some research about it last night. sounds to me like that 2nd and 3rd gear lockout is annoying. definitely gonna install that right away along with tints and a cold air intake. headers always sound tempting too!

I did the skip shift right away. Only a $19 part. Sure wish I could delete the "hill assist".

01-24-2013, 11:43 PM	#15
Ace1USMC Drives: 2011 Camaro SS LS3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Conifer, CO Posts: 236	Guys, I'm sure I'm gonna stir up a hornet's nest with this... but a CAI is the biggest waste of money until your engine is seriously in need of air. A buddy of mine has the same car I do (SS, LS3), and we've both installed the EXACT same headers, camshaft, timing chain, rocker trunions, and the EXACT same tune. We both had our cars dyno'd on the same dyno. He has a CAI, I have the stock air box. He made 3 more peak HP, but I made 4 more peak torque. I'd call that a wash. Not worth the $200-300. Save that money and put it towards funds for something you'll enjoy and feel more - like a good stereo, LT Headers, shifter, etc. I'm sure a lot of guys will be up in arms over this, but the dyno results are what they are. Unless your car is breathing DEEP like a camshaft, heads, intake, throttle body, long tubes, no cats, 3" exhaust...you don't benefit anything with a CAI. That's my story, and I'm stickin' with it. BLESSINGS! Sam __________________ By His wounds...

01-25-2013, 10:04 AM	#17
camaro_RS Emerald Coast Camaros Drives: A lot of show, not much go. Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Emerald Coast Posts: 3,388	As for appearance mods you're getting a 1LE so there is a lot taken care of already! Hood, wheels, and calipers already look great! Mods such as window tint, changing up gold bowties, spoiler, rear diffuser, side skirts might be the only things you will want to adjust. Maybe the grille. __________________ -White Mary Jane....build thread [COTW 6/11/12] :

01-25-2013, 10:50 AM	#20
Mohamed Sharaf passionate Drives: 2012 IOM 2LT/RS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Riyadh Posts: 113	I am as new as you and I'll be going with exhausts first __________________ I love you my precious

01-25-2013, 11:44 AM	#23
mth35115 Drives: 2010 Camaro rs/ss inferno orange Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 232	The first mod iI did after tint was a CAI, and on a stock engine, it sounded more agressive and seemed to have more power. I don't know if it did make more power, but it made my smile just a little bit wider. __________________ HOT ROD SS MTH35115

01-25-2013, 10:12 AM	#18
cadyshac It's in the hole! Drives: '11 2SS L99 SGM, '18 2SS, M6, HWSE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,401	Get a CAI, do a few cosmetic mods such as the AAC sidemarkers. Go to Camaro5fest, drool, take notes, drool, take pics, drool by then you will know which way you want to go.

01-25-2013, 04:32 PM	#24
MotorCity Drives: BRM 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Detroit Posts: 113	im seeing alot on the skip shift eliminator and did some research about it last night. sounds to me like that 2nd and 3rd gear lockout is annoying. definitely gonna install that right away along with tints and a cold air intake. headers always sound tempting too!