Ford Racing CAI on my 2008 SGT - should I upgrade to a JLT?

BoatsHateMe

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Until now, my 2008 5 speed Shelby GT with 39K has been bone stock mechanically. Next week I’ll be changing out a few things - 4:10s replacing the 3:55s, aluminum drive shaft, BBK Tune Length shorty headers and Bilstein rear shocks. I also got the Shelby rear differential cover though that’s primarily cosmetic it does provide some support for the rear end.

this spring (my first season with it after buying it in Dec and storing it I ordered a SCT Tuner with the 91 performance and race tunes. I didn’t expect much and didn’t get much. In fact, after putting it on the dyno last week to get a baseline of where I’m starting at I think I may have gone backwards. It dyno’d at 262 RWHP /286 ft lbs TQ. Those are normal numbers for a stock GT. The SGT should put out 19 mor HP than stock with the FR CAI & X pipe FRPP exhaust but I’m not seeing that so I wonder if the Walmart tune from Bama set me back. After I do the above minor mods I plan on Lito doing the tune.

So, trying to eek out a few more HP, would a JLT CAI give me and advantage over the Ford Racing CAI? I’d imagine the technology has advanced a bit since Shelby put this on 14 years ago. I’m sure I could take this further with TB, intake manifold CMDP etc but for right now I’m just considering the JLT.

What say you?
 

GriffX

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Do the test run Bama recommends with recording a log file, send it to them, they will adjust the fueling.
On the Bama page is a list which parameter to record and how the test drive should be. I have the Ford CAI with 3.72 and charge motion delete plate. It is doing around 325HP (91, at crank) now.
 
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Dino Dino Bambino

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I ordered a SCT Tuner with the 91 performance and race tunes. I didn’t expect much and didn’t get much. In fact, after putting it on the dyno last week to get a baseline of where I’m starting at I think I may have gone backwards. It dyno’d at 262 RWHP /286 ft lbs TQ. Those are normal numbers for a stock GT. The SGT should put out 19 mor HP than stock with the FR CAI & X pipe FRPP exhaust but I’m not seeing that so I wonder if the Walmart tune from Bama set me back. After I do the above minor mods I plan on Lito doing the tune.

So, trying to eek out a few more HP, would a JLT CAI give me and advantage over the Ford Racing CAI? I’d imagine the technology has advanced a bit since Shelby put this on 14 years ago. I’m sure I could take this further with TB, intake manifold CMDP etc but for right now I’m just considering the JLT.

What say you?

I wouldn't trust BAMA to tune a lawn mower.
My advice is to keep the Ford Racing CAI, convert your existing CMCVs into delete plates instead of buying Steeda's, port the stock throttle body instead of wasting money on a 62mm unit, buy Steeda underdrive pulleys (good for 8-10hp and worth the money), swap in the 4.10 axle gears, aluminum driveshaft, and get a tune from Lito that covers all the mods.
Don't waste your money on BBK shorty headers either; ~$400 (plus installation) for a 4hp gain just isn't worth it. Since you need a new tune anyway, get BBK long tube headers instead and plumb in a pair of mini cats between the header collectors and your existing Ford Racing X-pipe. These mods should get you in the 325-330rwhp range at fairly low cost.
 

BoatsHateMe

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Realizing that I’ll get low gains, the BBK shorties are more decorative than anything. Plus they only cost me about $75 using some points I had. It still leaves me in a position that I can do the LTHs, I wasn’t sure if I could incorporate my existing X pipe. Sounds like custom work which I’m not opposed to but I would like t keep any parts on the SGT unmolested in case I ever want to put it back to stock, for collectibility. I know, not likely once I open the lid to the rabbit hole and start marching down into it.

I’ve seen your site Dino and was intrigued by the ported TB. that doesn’t look like rocket science. I’d like to see a video or something instructional.

RE the delete plates. Maybe this has been discussed ad nauseam but because of this video I’m not convinced that while sticking with NA, going with delete plates will serve me well in my search for better low and midrange hp and torque for a spirited driver. I like how Four Eyes documents every step and stage of his build and it seems his results speak for themselves.

I am pleased the the consensus seems to be keep my existing CAI.
 
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I had tried a Bama tune long ago while comparing into Brenspeed and it was terrible. Like the owner of this site said it's not the CAI it's the tune. I know I went from a C/L CAI to JLT 3 CAI and no difference. Now I have a Paxton Supercharger and the CAI that it comes with is small. When I got the Kooks long tube headers it made a big difference so in my humble opinion it's so worth it never the shorties.
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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Realizing that I’ll get low gains, the BBK shorties are more decorative than anything. Plus they only cost me about $75 using some points I had. It still leaves me in a position that I can do the LTHs, I wasn’t sure if I could incorporate my existing X pipe. Sounds like custom work which I’m not opposed to but I would like t keep any parts on the SGT unmolested in case I ever want to put it back to stock, for collectibility. I know, not likely once I open the lid to the rabbit hole and start marching down into it.

I’ve seen your site Dino and was intrigued by the ported TB. that doesn’t look like rocket science. I’d like to see a video or something instructional.

RE the delete plates. Maybe this has been discussed ad nauseam but because of this video I’m not convinced that while sticking with NA, going with delete plates will serve me well in my search for better low and midrange hp and torque for a spirited driver. I like how Four Eyes documents every step and stage of his build and it seems his results speak for themselves.

I am pleased the the consensus seems to be keep my existing CAI.

Porting the TB is a piece of cake if you have a die grinder, carbide cutter, and sanding rolls.

TB_Stock_v_Ported.jpg

As for the delete plates, I'm living proof that they DON'T cause a loss of low rpm torque so don't be afraid to do them. A good tune will take care of that and I suspect Four Eyes didn't retune in his case. Like you, I've been following the power mods he's done to his 3V and one mod definitely not worth jumping straight into is a cam swap.
 
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GriffX

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You can port your TB even more by cutting of the upper half of the throttle body shaft (I've done this on my supercharged Mercedes).
I got my first tune from Doug at Bamachips and they were good. After AM took over the tunes were awful. The TB response was unpredictable. I don't know how Lito does the mail-in tunes, but I think if you have mods like no charge motion valve, CAI, X-pipe and so on, a mail-in tune cannot deliver good results without doing log file test runs.
In my opinion the conclusion from the video above is not fully true. He should have done a correction of the tune for his car. The use of a charge motion valve is a clever solution. You can get rid of the secondary air injection system and lower fuel consumption in low rpm and cold engine. Unfortunately, the 3V intake is doing this with a flap and not a slide like the late Coyote engines.
With the closed motion plate you get a fast lean mixture on one valve and on the other a slow rich. The slow rich stays in the middle of the chamber and burns better in cold engine condition (no need for secondary air injection).
BTW: I would love to see the different fueling maps from different tunes, but I don't have the equipment to read out the ECU.
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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I don't know how Lito does the mail-in tunes, but I think if you have mods like no charge motion valve, CAI, X-pipe and so on, a mail-in tune cannot deliver good results without doing log file test runs.

Lito is the best 3V tuner in the business. You'll begin by providing him with a list of your mods so he can email you a suitable base tune file. Once you've uploaded it to your ECU, he'll ask you to perform some datalogs and send him the datalog files. He'll use those to update the tune and the process will be repeated until Lito is happy that the tune is fully optimized (usually maximum three revisions).
 

Laga

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Lito is NOT mail order tunes. They are data log tunes. You record the parameters of YOUR car while it is operating, and email them to him. It is exactly like a dyno tune, only with a slight delay for the email.
I have had a Bama tune ( OK for the time ). A Brenspeed tune ( total horseshit ) and Lito. He has done the tunes for my supercharger, my camshafts, and my E85 conversation. And once my engine with forged internals is broken in, he will be retuning that one.
 

GriffX

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Ordered my Lito tune today :chewie:
How much is it?


OT: I did a bit2bit comparison of a tune vs. stock for a Siemens ECU which was a lot of work and I was totally disappointed because only 10 numbers in fueling were changed, they sold it for 1000$, no log file feedback, no iteration.
Unfortunately, no idea how to read out the Ford ECU.
 

BoatsHateMe

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How much is it?


Bolt ons: 150USD
Cammed: 200USD
Boosted: 350USD
Add-ons/extras:
Nitrous: +50USD.
Extra tune for ethanol NA cars and nitrous: +30USD
Extra tune for ethanol boosted cars: +50USD
Decel popping: +25USD
Dyno appointment: +75USD
(this is if you want me by the PC at a given time for a remote on a dyno or just want to finish a car sooner)
 
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Not trying to hijack the thread by any means, but let me know how the tune went. Im getting new motor put in as we speak and i already contacted Lito about the tune and so far Im very impressed with response times and how helpful he is with answering all the dumb questions i have lol, cant wait to get an actual tune once motor and blower are in
 

GriffX

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That's a reasonable price range. For me drivability is an important factor, not the final HP number. Germany has lots of Stop signs. Stop'n'go performance was horrible with the Bama tunes.
Please do a report of the Lito tune afterwards, Thanks.
 
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So does my Brenspeed tune suck? I thought it was pretty good. If I got a Lito tune I have to hook my Chromebook to do this data log? I'm over 60 years old and can't say how smart I am on the computer.
 

Laga

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Well, don't know what to say but I'm not sure how to get this tune from Lito exactly. Can you PM me with more details and price? To be honest, though it runs pretty strong and I'm not racing it on the interstate and neither am I saying you aren't speaking the truth. Never mind I went to the website.
 
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