Hi All,

I'm dropping coin for a CAI. Your opinions are appreciated!

Blackwing vs. Honker on my '02!

Thanks!

-Jay

 

My vote goes to the Honker. I installed one on my 04Z, no problems, no check engine light. I like the fact that the MAF sensor is relocated with the Honker, same location as C6s. Also like the quality of the system and the Green filter that comes with it. The downside is you have to cut a hole in the radiator shroud (be careful going through standing water), and the install will take a few hours. Blackwing is also a high quality filter and can be installed in about 10 minutes. My opinion is that the Honker, Vararam, Vortex Rammer, or any true cold air system will produce a few extra ponies versus the Blackwing. Either one is a winner.

Jim M

 

The honker is more effective IMO because the incoming air is sheilded from the engine bay heat and the design flows more efficiently than stock airbox.

I run the Callaway Honker and so far so good...

 

...this test may be of interest for you:


pssstt. the other one in the test was a B/W

http://www.callawaycars.com/callaway...rC5Article.htm

 

Honker. But be advised they flow so well you may need to get the fuel trims reprogrammed to get the most out of it.

 

Understood. I plan on LG Pros w/ cats, CAI and a dyno tune.

I've been reading everything I can regarding CAI systems...and it's all pretty confusing really.

Everyone has an opinion. I want to benifit from "everyone" so I thought I'd ask for opinions.

I've heard more about the BW but the few comments I've heard about the Honker are very incouraging.

Anyone else want to wade in on this one?

Thanks again!

-Jay

 

Hi Jay,
my .02, FWIW, is that the BW is an excellent unit with OEM quality fit and an excellent filtering media. You will have to deal with the OEM airbridge (not a big performance concern in my mind if your engine is basically stock - I'm not sure how headers will play into the equation) and the MAF location (the Honker is the only aftermarket intake, to my knowledge, that moves the MAF to a supposedly better position, as JimM noted). The only downside is it is "breathing" hot underhood air. While there are countless positions taken by members here as to how problematic this is from a performance standpoint, IMHO this is only a problem (if you wish to call it that) when your car is at a standstill, so yes drag racers will be affected. Once your car is moving, particularly in a Z06 with the open front screens (even though it is supposedly a low pressure area), there is enough air movement to negate the consequences of the filter's location and the attendant "hot" air that would envelop it at rest. (I say this based on a recollection that someone placing some temperature sensors on his car which reflected that while in motion on the road the outside-the-car air temp and the OEM filter location air temp were about identical). So you may lose a few fractions of a second and hp in a race because the PCM is having to adjust fuel ratios/timing etc. from, I'll call it, "hot air mode" to "ambient air temp mode". I'm sure there are other systems that may be worth a few more hp, but you will need to decide for yourself what is important to you (design, cost, ease of servicing, etc.).
That being said, the Honker appears to me to be a great unit, albeit the most expensive around.
All this is just my opinion based on what I've read; my SOTP meter isn't very good! Good luck.

 

Honker all the way !!!! Fit and quality is excellent . Performance is great, It's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for.

 

Hi All,

Thanks loads for the input. I'm gonna go for the Honker

Gawd that sounds silly doesn't it?! Go'n for the 'ol Honker! Some marketing guru at Callaway must have been hitting on the wacky weed when they came up with the product name.

I think I deserve a discount for buying a product...ANY product...named the Honker!

Updates after it's installed.

-Jay

 

very well said!

 

Jay,

Call Corvettes of Houston, they had a special for forum members, 299.00 shipped . May be over with, but its worth a try. Good Luck, Rick.

 

Halltech TRAP over the honker because its cheaper.

 

Yeah Callaway's marketing depertment is smoking something... probably same as the depertment comming up with Burger King's latest work.

Personally I have a Vortex Rammer and Kooks headers.... great setup for my slow '01

W/ the new stuff out... I'd go with the honker and Kooks or LG's.

 

Hmmm, that article makes me wonder if I could build a sheetmetal box for my Blackwing and have it draw air from the same place and get the same result.

 

They make a factory looking cold air cover for the blackwing somewhere. You can make it work just like the BPP vortex rammer.

 

Interesting, I'll look around the web, post a link if you have it!

 

For the Honker? Their website states $490.00 shipped.

 

Yeah...they want some more than a few hundred dead presidents.

I have the Zip Tie mod done with a K&N right now. I'm installing LG Pros w/ cats in a couple of weeks and then taking her in for a dyno tune.

Do you think adding the CAI after the exhaust and tune will make much difference? From what I've read so far...opinions vary widely.

Thanx!

-Jay

 

I have the Honker and I'm quite satisfied with it. Excellent quality and fit. As far as the issue of the Honker price, if you take the price of any other intake and then factor in the price of replacing the air bridge also, suddenly the Honker doesn't seem so expensive.

 

Thanks for choosing the Honker for your Corvette. We know there were several products for you to choose from and we appreciate your vote of confidence. We're certain that you'll be pleased with your decision.

FYI, Reeves Callaway spontaneously came up with the "Honker" moniker when we were developing our air induction system for 1993-1997 Camaros and Firebirds back in 1994. Like the Corvette systems, the F-Body Honker design included a large main air duct, sort of like a huge nose capable of ingesting massive gulps of air, thus evoking the reference to a big "Honker". As product development continued, the name just stuck. We don't have any marketing gurus here, Jay, we're all nerdy engineers. :-)

(In fact, F-Body Honkers are still available from Callaway. They have also been directly copied by couple of other performance manufacturers who actually sell them at a higher price.)