Thumbs up for Blackwing!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
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Thumbs up for Blackwing!
I bought a Blackwing from another forum member for $115, since it was time to replace the air filter element, and I figured "might as well go for a lifetime filter." (And I gave my K&N and cut-out lid from my drowned '99 to another forum member when I moved from Houston to the Northwest.)
And after the relearn process:
Man-oh-man, what a difference! I haven't done a dyno, but there is certainly a significant gain in performance throughout the RPM range, especially with the lower winter temperatures (more of the colder air getting into the engine.) The SOTP feeling is great. Tires break-loose easier, so throttle inputs are more important. I haven't checked the 0-60 time yet (I was too busy running 0-60 times in my '69 on the last sunny day, when I clocked 4.701 on my second attempt!)
Had a 50th Anniversary automatic car as a one-week press car, and there's no comparison in performance between a stock auto and a 6spd w/ the intake mod.
I'm sure that most of the big players (Blackwing, Halltech etc...) offer comparable gains, but if you're sitting on the fence, take this auto journalist's advice and buy one, certainly if you can get a great deal on used one like I did!!!
Cheers,
Sam
[Modified by sammyb, 1:07 AM 1/14/2003]
And after the relearn process:
Man-oh-man, what a difference! I haven't done a dyno, but there is certainly a significant gain in performance throughout the RPM range, especially with the lower winter temperatures (more of the colder air getting into the engine.) The SOTP feeling is great. Tires break-loose easier, so throttle inputs are more important. I haven't checked the 0-60 time yet (I was too busy running 0-60 times in my '69 on the last sunny day, when I clocked 4.701 on my second attempt!)
Had a 50th Anniversary automatic car as a one-week press car, and there's no comparison in performance between a stock auto and a 6spd w/ the intake mod.
I'm sure that most of the big players (Blackwing, Halltech etc...) offer comparable gains, but if you're sitting on the fence, take this auto journalist's advice and buy one, certainly if you can get a great deal on used one like I did!!!
Cheers,
Sam
[Modified by sammyb, 1:07 AM 1/14/2003]
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Re: Thumbs up for Blackwing! (sammyb)
The Blackwing is a very nice mod. I too noticed an increase in acceleration (at least a perceived one) after I installed one on my car.
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Re: Thumbs up for Blackwing! (sammyb)
I agree. I've had my Blackwing in my everyday driver for 5 days and about 150 miles and I love love love it. The increase in power thru SOTP in very nice. I'm considering a new exhaust now, and imagine it'll be a tough decision. I like a nice loud rev at acceleration, but it is my daily driver and I don't want to be punished all day at cruising speed, either.
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Re: Thumbs up for Blackwing! (sammyb)
I really like the concept, but because 01 and newer C5s have larger intakes and MAFs, actual HP increases from intakes appears to be minimal at best. When I attended last year's Dyno Day, quite a few 01 and 02 C5 owners had Blackwing and Halltech intakes and cat-back exhaust systems. The highest RWHP I saw with these mods (MN6s) was 1 or two more than my bone-stock figure. In fact, a couple had lower HP figures - go figure.
One thing that was certain though, was that each and every one was louder and more ferocious-sounding than my mouse-sounding exhaust! I guess sound perception counts for something; I just doubt that it translates into an honest-to-goodness seat-of-the-pants HP increase.
That being said, quad-oval Stingers are on my list of future mods.
One thing that was certain though, was that each and every one was louder and more ferocious-sounding than my mouse-sounding exhaust! I guess sound perception counts for something; I just doubt that it translates into an honest-to-goodness seat-of-the-pants HP increase.
That being said, quad-oval Stingers are on my list of future mods.
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Burning Brakes
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Re: Thumbs up for Blackwing! (Dave68)
I've seen dynos showing up to about 10HP gain with intake alone, but I think there are two factors at work here...
1)There is almost a 20HP range that stock C5s fall into. I've seen anywhere from 292RWHP to 310RWHP.
2) Dynos never seem to accurately account for an intake's capability. Figure that colder air rushing into the engine bay at speed can account for small differences.
As for the stock airbox being larger, it's not really larger on the 2002, just has a very small opening. It's still restrictive as heck.
Anyway, I spend tons of time gunning cars at full-throttle in testing, and I tend to drive my C5 almost every day (it's the car I use to transport my 2 year old daughter to-and-from daycare) and while I can't tell you specific gains, because I don't own a GTech, I can tell you that I'm spinning tires at ranges at which I couldn't spin tires prior to the install.
1)There is almost a 20HP range that stock C5s fall into. I've seen anywhere from 292RWHP to 310RWHP.
2) Dynos never seem to accurately account for an intake's capability. Figure that colder air rushing into the engine bay at speed can account for small differences.
As for the stock airbox being larger, it's not really larger on the 2002, just has a very small opening. It's still restrictive as heck.
Anyway, I spend tons of time gunning cars at full-throttle in testing, and I tend to drive my C5 almost every day (it's the car I use to transport my 2 year old daughter to-and-from daycare) and while I can't tell you specific gains, because I don't own a GTech, I can tell you that I'm spinning tires at ranges at which I couldn't spin tires prior to the install.
