Blackwings- are they any good?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 987
Likes: 1
From: Braidwood Il.
Blackwings- are they any good?
I have a chance to buy a used blackwing filter system, I would like to know if it will improve performance and maybe increase mpg.
I also have on my vette now a TI exhaust.
Thanks
I also have on my vette now a TI exhaust.
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,066
Likes: 9,829
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
They generally give somewhere between 10 and 15 HP at the rear wheels depending on the car. Their history goes back to early part of the C5 era and there were a number of dyno tests in the 98/99 time periods that showed them superior to the dual K&N intakes and other under the hood units, etc. You would probably see more gain on a C5 Vs the C5 Z since the Z had a less restrictive air cleaner.
Bill
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 66
From: Middletown CT
If you can pick one up at a good price, go for it. IMO it's a worthwhile investment.
Make sure it comes with the proper coupling for your year. ,97-2000 needs one style, and 2001-2004 uses a different coupler for the larger diameter MAF.
Make sure it comes with the proper coupling for your year. ,97-2000 needs one style, and 2001-2004 uses a different coupler for the larger diameter MAF.
Le Mans Master
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I have had one on my 99 for 9 years...and just put one on my 07 Z06 that I picked up used.
IMO well worth it in the fact that the price of a new filter for my Z is right at $115 from the dealer so do the math....even if you gained 0 HP it would be worth it in the long run
IMO well worth it in the fact that the price of a new filter for my Z is right at $115 from the dealer so do the math....even if you gained 0 HP it would be worth it in the long run
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
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I have had one on my 99 for 9 years...and just put one on my 07 Z06 that I picked up used.
IMO well worth it in the fact that the price of a new filter for my Z is right at $115 from the dealer so do the math....even if you gained 0 HP it would be worth it in the long run
IMO well worth it in the fact that the price of a new filter for my Z is right at $115 from the dealer so do the math....even if you gained 0 HP it would be worth it in the long run
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
There was one on my car when I bought it,,seems fine to me!! Horse power increase claims are "optimistic" to say the least!! Most people don't realize a stock ECM tends to run fat on top end on a full time street car. When multiple dyno runs are made the ECM "learns it is going to run wide open and adjusts air/fuel at WOT and picks up peak HP/TQ,, So they are not lying about HP gains,,just little or none is actually due to the filters or cat back systems. Mine picked up 15.4 HP and 21.15 TQ over 13 dyno pulls in one afternoon.The only thing done to it was putting the throttle to the floor to 6,100 RPM 13 different times!!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
when i got mine i looked at the vararam and the callaway Honker. i went with the honker due to build quality. the vararam's are better now and if i could do it over i would go with the vararam. the blackwing looks like a good "first step" for the aftermarket industry but IMHO there are much better and newer designes out there.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: St. louis, Missouri
The throttle response is a little better, but I had one and switched to a Vararam. Which cost the same as a new Blackwing and is alot better
