AM 2011 Mustang GT: Prototype CAI & Dyno Tune - Huge Power Gains!

[AMChrisRose]

At AmericanMuscle, we're Mustang people. We support do-it-yourselfers by offering tech articles, installation guides, and now product information and real-world results for the 2011 Mustang.

Once our Bama Custom Tuning team got their hands on our 2011 5.0 GT, they couldn't wait to get started installing and testing the exclusive prototypes we've been helping develop. We can't tell you about all of them yet, but there is one we can share with you--a prototype C&L CAI. Think a custom tune and a CAI can't give you impressive hp gains? Think again. Here's our dyno breakdown:

· Stock – no modifications: 363RWHP / 331RWTQ
· Factory tune, Prototype C&L cold air intake: 374RWHP / 338RWTQ
· Bama Custom Tune, stock Airbox: 379RWHP / 357RWTQ
· Bama Custom Tune, Prototype C&L cold air intake: 385RWHP / 362RWTQ

All tunes are not created equal, check out our blog (with video!) here to see why Bama Custom Tunes are ahead of the curve.

 

[GrnBullitt08]

Nice gains. Im looking into grabbing a 2011 here soon. Good info to know when it comes time for modding.

 

[fdjizm]

Nice gains chris, you guys are one of the best tuners out

 

[2011CS]

At AmericanMuscle, we're Mustang people. We support do-it-yourselfers by offering tech articles, installation guides, and now product information and real-world results for the 2011 Mustang.

Once our Bama Custom Tuning team got their hands on our 2011 5.0 GT, they couldn't wait to get started installing and testing the exclusive prototypes we've been helping develop. We can't tell you about all of them yet, but there is one we can share with you--a prototype C&L CAI. Think a custom tune and a CAI can't give you impressive hp gains? Think again. Here's our dyno breakdown:

· Stock – no modifications: 363RWHP / 331RWTQ
· Factory tune, Prototype C&L cold air intake: 374RWHP / 338RWTQ
· Bama Custom Tune, stock Airbox: 379RWHP / 357RWTQ
· Bama Custom Tune, Prototype C&L cold air intake: 385RWHP / 362RWTQ

All tunes are not created equal, check out our blog (with video!) here to see why Bama Custom Tunes are ahead of the curve.

Chris is the "after" results with 87 Octane or 93 Octane?

Was the baseline at 87 Octane or a 93?

Just curious why the base tune had a 11HP gain from the CAI, yet the tuned version had only 6HP gain, I'm thinking maybe the other 5HP came from fuel?

Jeff

EDIT:

I just watched the video again and I seen the 93 octane was used for the end results, I read that going from 87 to 93 octane on a stock car is worth 6HP, does that mean the tune and CAI is only adding 16HP?

Here:

http://forums.themustangsource.com/f726/87-vs-93-octane-dyno-graph-484635/

 

[hawkeye18]

Why does everybody baseline with 87 and do "after" runs with 93? Kinda BS if you ask me.

 

[Hufen]

I read through it a couple times but didn't see it mentioned. Is the AM car auto or manual?

Thanks

 

[AMChrisRose]

Our car is Automatic and 93 octane was used on both the baseline as well as the after runs. I feel uncomfortable putting 87 octane in my lawn mower... I wouldn't do that to a new 5.0!

There's a 22RWHP gain from the CAI/Tune... 16RWHP on just a tune with nothing else done....

Now keep in mind these are peak numbers... at 5400 RPM, there is a nasty timing dip from the factory... we picked up over 27.8RWHP at this point!

 

[RetroGT2006]

Interesting. Very nice CR!

 

[351inside]

so is it for sale already

 

[AMChrisRose]

We will be offering this intake very shortly. I believe the Blog post says 3 weeks or so, and we're going to possibly set up a pre-order deal.

 

[19COBRA93]

I feel uncomfortable putting 87 octane in my lawn mower... I wouldn't do that to a new 5.0!

Just throwing this out there, as I'm sure you know, but the octane rating has nothing to do with the quality for the fuel. Not only that, but most lawn mowers have a compression ratio of 8.5:1. So not only should you run 87 octane in them, but they'll run better and cost you a little bit less as well.

As for the 5.0L, yes you can run '87 octane in it with no problems at all, but if there's power to be had by running it (which there isn't on a lown mower engine), then obviously 93 octane is the best choice.

All I'm saying is 87 octane isn't the crap fuel it's made out to be. It just doesn't work well with forced induction (and high octane -in a non TVCT system).

 

[Blxcklist]

WOW great numbers!

 

[RedMustang]

Nice gains

 

[beefcake]

yep, 6hp for an intake is not looking like a good value at 3-400

 

[NastyStang113]

All tunes are not created equal, check out our blog (with video!) here to see why Bama Custom Tunes are ahead of the curve.

So are you saying that your tunes are better than everyone else's?

 

[2011CS]

Our car is Automatic and 93 octane was used on both the baseline as well as the after runs. I feel uncomfortable putting 87 octane in my lawn mower... I wouldn't do that to a new 5.0!

There's a 22RWHP gain from the CAI/Tune... 16RWHP on just a tune with nothing else done....

Now keep in mind these are peak numbers... at 5400 RPM, there is a nasty timing dip from the factory... we picked up over 27.8RWHP at this point!

I'm not meaning to beat up on your statement, but the baseline horsepower number you posted is exactly the same horsepower as shown on the graph I posted.....which was 87 octane.

Anyways....

Any reason why the CAI picked up more horsepower on the factory tune than the "upgraded" tune?

 

[beefcake]

I'm not meaning to beat up on your statement, but the baseline horsepower number you posted is exactly the same horsepower as shown on the graph I posted.....which was 87 octane.

Anyways....

Any reason why the CAI picked up more horsepower on the factory tune than the "upgraded" tune?

because it alters the tuning a little bit by changing from the stock configuration.

 

[2011CS]

because it alters the tuning a little bit by changing from the stock configuration.

I get that Terry, but wouldn't the intake of air give at least equal gains?

I mean 11 HP gain from baseline by letting the engine breath better should be consistant with the upgraded tune.

Going back in time to carbed engines, we used to reach a point where the next step was induction gains and I see a reversal here.

If the engine is tuned to maximize power, adding the CAI should give a bigger increase than when the tune is stock because now that extra air is really adding a benefit.

It just doesn't make sense to me.

What does make sense is this:

We had a baseline 87 octane (like the graph I showed) of 363, we added a CAI and we used 93 Octane to get to 374. Overall the CAI was worth 6HP in either configuration.

I don't believe otherwise, because this is the only thing that makes sense.

 

[AMChrisRose]

I'm confused? The intake picked up 11RWHP by itself with the "no-tune" insert in it. It picked up 22RWHP with the tune. These were also peak numbers, not the numbers throughout the curve which were much higher....

2011CS - Was that car a manual? Your car on 87 should be somewhat similar to an Automatic on 93... our results are in line.

Nasty, lol you're always drumming up some trouble!

 

[AMChrisRose]

Any reason why the CAI picked up more horsepower on the factory tune than the "upgraded" tune?

This is a common problem. We have alot of customers who will take the gains from each part and "stack" them on top of each other. My CAI will get me 20, the exhaust will get me 10-15 and the tuning will get me another 10. So that means I'm going to get 40-45. Not neccessarily true.