Need CAI & Tuning Advice
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 317
Likes: 42
From: HOMESTEAD FLORIDA
Need CAI & Tuning Advice
My car is a 2008 LS3 Z51 manual, with npp, bone stock till now. 
I'm about to install a set of LT headers, with off road pipes but keeping the npp.
First Advice: Does an aftermarket CAI makes a big difference vs. the stock air intake system? It is my understanding that the Z06 comes with the same air intake system, based on that, I can assume that the stock air intake is good enough, up to 500+ hp. If so, what are your recommendations for an easy to install CAI?
Second: I know that I need to get it tune right after the headers installation. What are your recommendations for this car with just headers and maybe a CAI?
Mail order tune, street tune, or DiabloSport canned tune?
Looking forward to solid scientific advice . . .
I'm about to install a set of LT headers, with off road pipes but keeping the npp.
First Advice: Does an aftermarket CAI makes a big difference vs. the stock air intake system? It is my understanding that the Z06 comes with the same air intake system, based on that, I can assume that the stock air intake is good enough, up to 500+ hp. If so, what are your recommendations for an easy to install CAI?
Second: I know that I need to get it tune right after the headers installation. What are your recommendations for this car with just headers and maybe a CAI?
Mail order tune, street tune, or DiabloSport canned tune?
Looking forward to solid scientific advice . . .
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 235
Likes: 21
id go with a street tune over the two other options.
Halltech beehive intake is easy to install my tuner had to adjust my fuel trims by 6% after i added it ( headers and tune before) intake id either go halltech or vararam. From what ive read you can do about half of what a intake would do by propping the radiator shroud open. im sure others will pop on with more scientific advice. i will say i didnt notice the intake very much it is faster seem to be in the upper rpms. intake temps were similar proped shroud vs halltech but it does pull in more air with the halltech from what my tablet shows.
Halltech beehive intake is easy to install my tuner had to adjust my fuel trims by 6% after i added it ( headers and tune before) intake id either go halltech or vararam. From what ive read you can do about half of what a intake would do by propping the radiator shroud open. im sure others will pop on with more scientific advice. i will say i didnt notice the intake very much it is faster seem to be in the upper rpms. intake temps were similar proped shroud vs halltech but it does pull in more air with the halltech from what my tablet shows.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,728
From: Atlanta GA
Diablo sport canned tune will not work......but you can get a mail order tune from Diablo Lew if you are going to go that direction
Knowing that I am going to have to DYNO tune or use HP tuners when I finally decide to install my cam I chose to use a Diablo INTUNE and a Diablo Lew mail order tune. Not a bad option if all you are going to do is headers and a CAI
I loaded the high 93 Octane Diablo tune first , drove the car for 100 miles to let the fuel trims settle in , data logged the car , sent him the file , drove it for another 100 miles , data logged it with a few wide open throttle sprints and sent that to him, loaded the new tune he sent back , you can repeat this procedure as many times as you like in the first year and then he charges a nominal sum after that ( you wont need more )
This is basically the same procedure you would do if a shop street tuned your car and I am very happy with the way the car runs
As far as the CAI , the factory LS3 CAI is good but its not so much about air flow as it is about turbulence around the MAF sensor and reduced IAT temps . Some CAI can cause surging that is more noticeable in a stick car than a automatic hence the reason why the factory intake on a LS3 has what is known as a HEMHOLTZ resonator on the air bridge and as you know your car will pull timing when ingesting hot under the hood temperature air .
I have a Vararam and I do not get the surging that other brands cause and I have measured the IAT's and the timing and know that mine is working as designed , in the summer here in GA I am here to tell you it is a gain you can feel in the seat your pants
Dave
Dave
Knowing that I am going to have to DYNO tune or use HP tuners when I finally decide to install my cam I chose to use a Diablo INTUNE and a Diablo Lew mail order tune. Not a bad option if all you are going to do is headers and a CAI
I loaded the high 93 Octane Diablo tune first , drove the car for 100 miles to let the fuel trims settle in , data logged the car , sent him the file , drove it for another 100 miles , data logged it with a few wide open throttle sprints and sent that to him, loaded the new tune he sent back , you can repeat this procedure as many times as you like in the first year and then he charges a nominal sum after that ( you wont need more )
This is basically the same procedure you would do if a shop street tuned your car and I am very happy with the way the car runs
As far as the CAI , the factory LS3 CAI is good but its not so much about air flow as it is about turbulence around the MAF sensor and reduced IAT temps . Some CAI can cause surging that is more noticeable in a stick car than a automatic hence the reason why the factory intake on a LS3 has what is known as a HEMHOLTZ resonator on the air bridge and as you know your car will pull timing when ingesting hot under the hood temperature air .
I have a Vararam and I do not get the surging that other brands cause and I have measured the IAT's and the timing and know that mine is working as designed , in the summer here in GA I am here to tell you it is a gain you can feel in the seat your pants
Dave
Dave
