1st 2012 Mods / CAI & Borla Duals
09-20-2011, 11:56 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 45
1st 2012 Mods / CAI & Borla Duals
Working on my Retro-Rod look this weekend I installed a AFE CX2-Pro Dry CAI and Borla Dual axle-back exhaust.
The AFE was a fairly easy install (except they sent me a tube missing the grommet hole for the crankcase return I had to do myself) and a pretty clean look installed. With the S.Fla weather an issue I didn't want anything that extended down to avoid possible hydro-lok issues. I'm not building a race car here just a little better breathing.
The Borla is a no-brainer install too if you have jack stands, lube spray and a big pry bar for the rubber hangers.
Together the sound is mellow and very complementary with one not overpowering the other. I did some highway & around town driving and while you can hear them both at various times it's a pleasant tone (no raspy s*it-can sound). Accelerating to highway speeds I did notice a bit of a drone at about 71-72 mph but it goes away as the speed levels off and you don't really hear much more from the exhaust unless you're pulling a grade or something like that. All & all I'm happy with these mods!
Now maybe a shift ball http://www.flameball.com/Abstract/ad-8.htm and I'm good to go
The AFE was a fairly easy install (except they sent me a tube missing the grommet hole for the crankcase return I had to do myself) and a pretty clean look installed. With the S.Fla weather an issue I didn't want anything that extended down to avoid possible hydro-lok issues. I'm not building a race car here just a little better breathing.
The Borla is a no-brainer install too if you have jack stands, lube spray and a big pry bar for the rubber hangers.
Together the sound is mellow and very complementary with one not overpowering the other. I did some highway & around town driving and while you can hear them both at various times it's a pleasant tone (no raspy s*it-can sound). Accelerating to highway speeds I did notice a bit of a drone at about 71-72 mph but it goes away as the speed levels off and you don't really hear much more from the exhaust unless you're pulling a grade or something like that. All & all I'm happy with these mods!
Now maybe a shift ball http://www.flameball.com/Abstract/ad-8.htm and I'm good to go
09-22-2011, 12:00 PM
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 45
One benefit I'm noticing daily is since adding the duals my gas milage has gone up by around 8mpg average. I had the CAI on for a few days before I got around to installing the duals and I thought I actually lost a couple of mpg but once I put the duals on it seems like the entire package balanced out.
As most guys that have ever successfully built high performance / race cars knows, having everything balanced works best (ex. a huge cam with a small uncalibrated carb and stock headers will probably be slower than what you had) and this CAI with the Borla duals seems a perfect match.
I've been looking at 31-40 mpg consistantly around town w/ some hwy driving looking at the car driving steady (not accelerating or decelerating). I'll run a hard calculation on the next fill-up but what I'm seeing on the guages is significant enough to post.
As most guys that have ever successfully built high performance / race cars knows, having everything balanced works best (ex. a huge cam with a small uncalibrated carb and stock headers will probably be slower than what you had) and this CAI with the Borla duals seems a perfect match.
I've been looking at 31-40 mpg consistantly around town w/ some hwy driving looking at the car driving steady (not accelerating or decelerating). I'll run a hard calculation on the next fill-up but what I'm seeing on the guages is significant enough to post.
09-25-2011, 09:43 PM
#6
One benefit I'm noticing daily is since adding the duals my gas milage has gone up by around 8mpg average. I had the CAI on for a few days before I got around to installing the duals and I thought I actually lost a couple of mpg but once I put the duals on it seems like the entire package balanced out.
As most guys that have ever successfully built high performance / race cars knows, having everything balanced works best (ex. a huge cam with a small uncalibrated carb and stock headers will probably be slower than what you had) and this CAI with the Borla duals seems a perfect match.
I've been looking at 31-40 mpg consistantly around town w/ some hwy driving looking at the car driving steady (not accelerating or decelerating). I'll run a hard calculation on the next fill-up but what I'm seeing on the guages is significant enough to post.
As most guys that have ever successfully built high performance / race cars knows, having everything balanced works best (ex. a huge cam with a small uncalibrated carb and stock headers will probably be slower than what you had) and this CAI with the Borla duals seems a perfect match.
I've been looking at 31-40 mpg consistantly around town w/ some hwy driving looking at the car driving steady (not accelerating or decelerating). I'll run a hard calculation on the next fill-up but what I'm seeing on the guages is significant enough to post.
09-26-2011, 01:23 PM
#8
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Boiling Springs, SC
Posts: 19
AJ Gil - when did you pick up your xB? I had to wait over 6 weeks for my xB because I was trying very hard to get a Super White '12 but it seemed that I might as well be trying to get a Pepto Pink Lamborghini. I settled on the Classic Silver Metallic, and I am happy with the color but I do envy the Super White.
09-26-2011, 03:05 PM
#9
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 45
I did some inquiries online and a local dealership here in the Ft Lauderdale area had 2. I bought it 1st week in August. I"m pretty sure it just came off the truck because there was no dealer detailing (and I didn't have to pay for it lol). That was all they had and when I was back there last week there were none on the lot.
09-26-2011, 06:08 PM
#10
Obviously, tire pressure comes into play -- I just realized a couple weeks ago I'd allowed my usual 35psi to dip to the 30-31 region. Pretty sure that cost me my missing 2mpg last summer (compared to previous year)
. Some people like to raise the tire pressure a lot, trouble with that is it makes the vehicle less safe due to poorer traction in emergency maneuvering/braking and on wet/slick roads. Two other effects being shorter tire life and a much harder ride.
09-28-2011, 05:49 PM
#14
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 45
09-29-2011, 01:24 AM
#15
! Yep, there are definitely faster machines on the road, but there are plenty slower too (though I admittedly get passed a lot given my generally laid back driving style). Performance mods are nice though, every once in a while, when circumstances merit, they can make a useful difference 
!
12-11-2011, 02:05 AM
#16
And trevors, your mostly stock, barely 200whp gsx is hardly very zippy
12-11-2011, 07:18 AM
#17
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,059
Jk. I think what we all really want is people not making unsupported claims and fooling the new people who don't know about bolt-ons. It's our duty to make sure the ignorant don't have a following lol
12-11-2011, 10:48 PM
#18
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 628
People value different things. I don't care if I can't beat a Mustang, but I don't wanna get smashed on by a cube or a hamster. lol In all seriousness folks are just lookin for a lil more-styling, power, noise, etc.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
