I have already searched the forum in regards to my answer so unless someone has a link please feel free to direct me to it as I apologize in advance in case this question has already been asked.

I recently got some upgrades for my C6 grand sport, 1 7/8 Kooks headers and x pipe. Since these were the best bang for the buck upgrades and since I got them for a great price thanks for MDSpeed, this was the 1st thing I purchased.

Usually I purchase the CAI first, however after doing some research, I am a little puzzled when it comes to the vette. I have looked as several different intakes, Hallbee, K&N Varraram etc. (sorry for the name spelling).

Although they provide the filter and the tube one part that just ab every single company leaves out mentioning is the MAF sensor (except for Halltech). My questions is, what MAF sensor will actually trigger the ECU to respond better to the air that coming to the head? If we just plug in our stock MAF sensor to the tube and the filter, I do not see the point of getting an intake aside from the looks and pretending the 5 hp will do something great.

I am more curious ab the maf sensor on the actual intake package that comes with it vs. the tube and the filter; and furthermore how is one intake more better than the other since there is a price increase on some of them?

If you could please give some feedback that would be great,

Thanks in advance,

 

Apparently, you're not giving the stock MAF sensor quite enough credit LOL.

A little FYI, there was a time when people were putting these really expensive aftermarket MAFs on their LSx engined cars and actually LOSING power and drivability from them, some were even nearly impossible to tune correctly.
The stock MAFs on these cars are good/accurate/fully capable until well over 600rwhp.

And with the good cold air intakes there is no "pretending", there can be up to a FULL TWO TENTHS REDUCTION and 1+mph gain in 1/4 mile ET from them. That mere 5-10hp on the dyno does not always tell the whole story.

 

Thanks for the response! I can totally see how someone would lose power when changing the MAF sensor thats if they do not have a tune, it actually happened to me before. Since the ECU does not recognize the new MAF sensor, there is no communication btw the mods and the ECU thus you will lose power and not gain the power.

If I will be just reusing the stock MAF sensor, my whole argument is how I do pay 379 to 500+ for a tube and a filter (some have the heat shield so I guess thats a positive)? A good K&N filter will cost me 60 to 70 meanwhile I can reuse the stock tube or possibly make one that will fit.

I guess my argument is that I do not see a cost benefit between the intake. If you get a filter, and swap it for your stock one made out of paper and get a tune, wont you have the same result vs. if you were to buy a new tube and a filter?

Btw. what exactly would you consider a good air intake and why?

 

In one respect you get very little actual HP gain from a CAI and most of that comes from a filter that simply lets more air pass through without removing most of the dirt.

The real difference, which doesn't show much on a dyno, is that a CAI allows the introduction of cold (ambient) air, rather than hotter air from underhood. Since the timing starts to be decreased at 86* IAT, the cooler intake air doesn't decrease HP.

A filter change alone, such as K&N or Attack Blue will not cure the heat issue, but will still show a dyno increase while filtering out less dirt.

Dyno results are easily manipulated.

 

Be carefull of using the term CAI. Some companys are using the CAI term for any filter change. CAI means COLD AIR INTAKE.

Unless the unit you are talking about has a provision for outside air to enter the filter it's not a CAI, just a filter/box change.

 

100%

I have a feeling that the original poster might not realize this.

 

Don't change the stock MAF

I went with Airaid for 90% of the gains of the best intakes for $225

You need a good tune more than anything