Winter Mod Help
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Winter Mod Help
Trying to decide on what christmas gifts I'm going to give my baby, and need some opinions on a couple things.
1. CAI, which one? I'm really liking the looks of the chrome tube CAI on that auction site. But after looking at some of the Vararams and Blackwings, my mind is torn. Not worried about HP gains, just want something that breathes well, filters great, and looks good under the hood.
2. Headers. Too many choices out there. Gimme some opinions, and keep it under a grand for the system. Doing install myself, so I know things are done right.
3. Possible changing out the 2.73 gears for something a little lower. What is a good compromise between off the line get up and go, and still retain decent mileage on the highway? I'll be taking several lengthy trips next spring,, summer, and fall, and I'm not too keen on giving up the 30 plus MPG. Is there a decent middle ground for our cars?
Thanks for any, and all, input. Merry Christmas everyone!
1. CAI, which one? I'm really liking the looks of the chrome tube CAI on that auction site. But after looking at some of the Vararams and Blackwings, my mind is torn. Not worried about HP gains, just want something that breathes well, filters great, and looks good under the hood.
2. Headers. Too many choices out there. Gimme some opinions, and keep it under a grand for the system. Doing install myself, so I know things are done right.
3. Possible changing out the 2.73 gears for something a little lower. What is a good compromise between off the line get up and go, and still retain decent mileage on the highway? I'll be taking several lengthy trips next spring,, summer, and fall, and I'm not too keen on giving up the 30 plus MPG. Is there a decent middle ground for our cars?
Thanks for any, and all, input. Merry Christmas everyone!
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,582
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From: Converse TX
If you do not car about max hp and like the look of the chrome one get it, but seems you are after some other hp mods so maybe the blackwing is in order. Headers lots of good ones, LG, AR and Kooks come to mind. If you want decent mileage instead of 3.42 go with the 3.15 gears and you will be happy all the way around
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My recommendations - Blackwing or Vararam; Dynatech Supermaxx, LG or AR headers, and either 3.42 or 3.73 rear gears.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
If you do not car about max hp and like the look of the chrome one get it, but seems you are after some other hp mods so maybe the blackwing is in order. Headers lots of good ones, LG, AR and Kooks come to mind. If you want decent mileage instead of 3.42 go with the 3.15 gears and you will be happy all the way around
Last edited by sneakelman; Dec 4, 2007 at 09:27 AM.
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,582
Likes: 1,692
From: Converse TX
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The dual snorkle filter system is not a C.A.I. It is simply a filter. The only true C.A.I.'s are the Vararam and the Callaway. The Blackwing is a great filter, it breathes good, and filters out even the finest particulates, but it isn't a C.A.I. system either.
As far as gears - most everyone that I have ever spoken to, the best compromise for economy and improved off the line acceleration is probably the 3.42
Headers - lots of choices. Kooks, LG and AR are all great choices.
As far as gears - most everyone that I have ever spoken to, the best compromise for economy and improved off the line acceleration is probably the 3.42
Headers - lots of choices. Kooks, LG and AR are all great choices.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The dual snorkle filter system is not a C.A.I. It is simply a filter. The only true C.A.I.'s are the Vararam and the Callaway. The Blackwing is a great filter, it breathes good, and filters out even the finest particulates, but it isn't a C.A.I. system either.
As far as gears - most everyone that I have ever spoken to, the best compromise for economy and improved off the line acceleration is probably the 3.42
Headers - lots of choices. Kooks, LG and AR are all great choices.
As far as gears - most everyone that I have ever spoken to, the best compromise for economy and improved off the line acceleration is probably the 3.42
Headers - lots of choices. Kooks, LG and AR are all great choices.
But it does look good in the engine bay.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I had one - though the one I had was not the one from that auction site. It worked okay - but frankly I like the Blackwing better. It uses a better filtering media. I think the Blackwing looks factory and does a far better job of breathing than the OEM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Thanks for the pics!
Who's got other ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
#1 I have a Callaway Honker and think good of it.
#2 I don't have headers yet but will in the near future have ECS install American Racing headers, high flow cats and X pipe.
#3 This is a great mod for a mildly modded C5. I have 4.10s in my MN6 Vert and really like the change. (3.42s recommended for A4 cars)
It will be interesting to see the many variations in advice on this thread. Good luck with your choice.
#2 I don't have headers yet but will in the near future have ECS install American Racing headers, high flow cats and X pipe.
#3 This is a great mod for a mildly modded C5. I have 4.10s in my MN6 Vert and really like the change. (3.42s recommended for A4 cars)
It will be interesting to see the many variations in advice on this thread. Good luck with your choice.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
#1 I have a Callaway Honker and think good of it.
#2 I don't have headers yet but will in the near future have ECS install American Racing headers, high flow cats and X pipe.
#3 This is a great mod for a mildly modded C5. I have 4.10s in my MN6 Vert and really like the change. (3.42s recommended for A4 cars)
It will be interesting to see the many variations in advice on this thread. Good luck with your choice.
#2 I don't have headers yet but will in the near future have ECS install American Racing headers, high flow cats and X pipe.
#3 This is a great mod for a mildly modded C5. I have 4.10s in my MN6 Vert and really like the change. (3.42s recommended for A4 cars)
It will be interesting to see the many variations in advice on this thread. Good luck with your choice.
Hey bud, my neck has been surgically repaired once already, you tryin to get me to break it again? 
Maybe it was the 4.11s I used to run in my 1/4 mile car that did it? NAHHHHHH. No really, I've heard the 4.10s are great in the MN6. I wonder if the 3.42s work out to somewhere close to the ratio when you're in 6th versus when I'm in OD cruising down the road, as far as RPMs? Just something else to think about while it snows today.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
4.10s!?! Hey bud, my neck has been surgically repaired once already, you tryin to get me to break it again? Maybe it was the 4.11s I used to run in my 1/4 mile car that did it? NAHHHHHH.
No really, I've heard the 4.10s are great in the MN6. I wonder if the 3.42s work out to somewhere close to the ratio when you're in 6th versus when I'm in OD cruising down the road, as far as RPMs? Just something else to think about while it snows today.
Hey bud, my neck has been surgically repaired once already, you tryin to get me to break it again? Maybe it was the 4.11s I used to run in my 1/4 mile car that did it? NAHHHHHH. No really, I've heard the 4.10s are great in the MN6. I wonder if the 3.42s work out to somewhere close to the ratio when you're in 6th versus when I'm in OD cruising down the road, as far as RPMs? Just something else to think about while it snows today.