Whats the best bang for buck?

[Zoomer]

I have had my P5 for a year now and was thinking of powering it up a bit. I know a CAI is a must for about 5 HP but was wondering about exhaust and what would be the best exhaust for little $$$??
I also read about exhaust camshaft and intake camshaft for an extra 10-20 HP but that might be a little much $$$$$.
Any suggestions would be helpfull.
What a great forum this is!!!!

 

[ARD MP5]

Definitely the Bosal for a cheap lightweight and very well finished system. Downside, it's louder since it does not have a resonator.

rishie

This is in reference to California editions.

 

[Sir Nuke]

I vote for the Bosal as well...its what my P-5 is sportin now as well...I love it....even the sound....BUT...if its a little loud for you...you CAN get a cone shaped silencer that fits INSIDE the muffler that quiets it down some....you just remove the tip...put it in, and reinstall the tip. the tips hardware holds it all in palce.

 

[Zoomer]

Ok thanks for the muffler tip.
I live in Sask Canada and in the winter we do get snow and sub zero temps and would like to know what Intake system would be best ?? An AEM short Ram or an Injen Cold Air intake?
Thanx again

 

[slowyellowp5]

CAI

You Canadians and your intakes...lol, sorry...

Not everyone will tell you this, but if you are in a very cold climate a CAI is not a good idea. If you get an aftermarket pipe (mine is custom) most for our car seem to be metal of some kind, and as you know most metals can't keep heat like a rubber or silicone can, so it will get very cold and it will generally take longer for your engine to heat up using a CAI which in a sub zero climate is obviously not good.

Other reasons are CAI's in general are kinda more dangerous to have because of the locations the filter is in. For instance if you hit a big puddle your filter will suck water into your engine without a cold air bypass valve to stop it (those don't work that great anyway, for instance if you submerged it on a flooded road you're engine is toast either way).

Now don't get me wrong I am in no way a CAI hater and if it wasn't for the super-hot, super-wet climate of South Florida I would have one too. For instance, if your part of Canada tends to have temperatures between 30-70 all the time, then a Cold Air Intake will make the biggest difference. If you have a dry climate, all the better.

The bottom line is its up to you. One way or another, until you go turbo- or super-charged intakes are only a few HP difference, even though they are usually the most bang for the buck on our engine it seems. A lot of drivers here get the pre-made intakes for our car, but I see identical results from a cone filter and a polished aluminum tube with two 45 degree bends, that fits my car like a glove (the tube is just long enough so it will fit, but it is also right over the little vent/hole for cold air intakes located in the lower-right side of the engine compartment, so as to get a lot of the benefits of a CAI without any of the risks). Also, as opposed to spending $250 on an Injen (they are pretty, though ) I spent $20 on the filter, $35 on the tube, and $15 on the silicone boots and hose (You can also use the stock hose if you are really a penny pincher) and I picked up the little metal rings around the boots for free hehe. I kinda got lucky, but it is one hell of a difference for $70 and a small amount of work, if you ask me.

PS: if you want to see how it looks I'll take a picture for you and send it in.

 

[GReddy917]

Re: CAI

Other reasons are CAI's in general are kinda more dangerous to have because of the locations the filter is in. For instance if you hit a big puddle your filter will suck water into your engine without a cold air bypass valve to stop it

For this to actually happen the "puddle" would have to be over 1 foot deep...with a car at stock riding height.

In reality...unless you live in an area that floods, having a cold air intake on your car will not cause you to hydro-lock your engine if it rains heavy...