Hey! I'm looking for a CAI intake and a catback exhaust combo that has deeper sound. I guess I don't neccesarily need the catback so I'm open to any options. I don't want my car to sound like a motorcycle as I already have one of those.

I know nothing about cars so any help would be appreciated.

I looked at http://www.hopupracing.com/incoairinsct.html

and http://www.hopupracing.com/aemcoairinsy37.html

I noticed the AEM has more HP than the injen, but not sure if that's all that matters.

Sorry if this is a repost!

Thanks a bunch

IM me at crimeusunz on AIM

 

Injen CAI and axle back are a good combo, I am very happy with mine. I'm not sure but I think that I saw on a dyno the Injen put down more power than the aem did.

 

personally i don't think one cai is much better than another, except for the K&N's flimsy support bracket. i think it is all a matter of brand recognition, reputation. each company is probably using identical parts but with different colors and and possibly materials. i mean, a cai is literally like re-inventing the wheel, there really isn't one that is better than the others. as for different dyno numbers, the topic of dyno pull inaccuracies have been discussed to death, so each company may have just used a different dyno, are only doing a cold run whatever. just pick any quality brand like injen, trd, aem, weapon r, maybe even fujita. just make sure it has two support points unlike the k&n typhoon 69, it is really pretty terrible that they would ruin their rep on the only product they are known for.

 

Honestly, for what you pay, the gains are worthless. The sounds and bling-factor are cool, but you might get a few WHP if you're lucky.

 

Again probably another dumb question, what does whp mean? wheel horse power? To gain horsepower what would you recommend if I'm looking to keep it under a grand. I thought that the cai and exhaust would bump me up 10 - 20 hp..but from what you're saying..maybe not...

Can anyone re-enforce mjv?

 

Yes, WHP is wheel horsepower. Guess what FWHP means.

A CAI, header, and FULL exhaust may bump you up that high, but I highly doubt that you would gain 10 fwhp with an intake exhaust alone. If you go with header, you will get the infamous rasp which can be countered with a resonator. Also pullies help with the delivery of the power. They don't add horsepower and many people argue that they may hurt reliability, but they do increase power delivery.

Do you have a 5 speed?

 

Yes I have a 5 speed.


Doesn't a full exhaust incorporate headers....

hmmm...I'm kinda bummed now as I was gonna ask for a catback and cai for xmas...now i'm debating on if i should just get a new matress instead lol

 

i shouldve went t/c
but if u not into that....
injen is the best (proven with dyno, search its somewhere here)
exhaust /\ /\ /\ MJVsTC's details

 

what do you mean t/c ?

 

the gains made from high performance intakes and exhaust are relative to how much power the engine already makes, and how much of an improvement they make over the stock parts. stock parts are designed to reduce noise and vibration at the expense of performance.
now your engine needs to breath and exhale, the easier it can do this the better it will run, so intake and exhaust upgrades combine nicely for a greater hp boost. so a good intake, headers, s-pipe, mid-pipe (with or without high flow cat and resonators) and exhaust would make a nice boost in power.
the t/c route is very expensive if you want to do it right, and not reccommended for the budget minded/ inexperienced tuner.

 

Thanks for the input Drax...very expensive is not what I want to put into this car...I just wanted a mod for under a grand that would make my car stand out a little bit.

If a full exhaust and a cai aren't going to give me much horsepower...could i essentially just save move purchasing an axle back exhaust or something, and still get the same sound?

Once again...thanks...what does t/c mean?

 

turbocharged?

 

oh wow, i forgot to define t/c, it means turbo charging, just like s/c means supercharging.
the supercharger has the problem of many many failures despite being made my trd and covered by a warrenty, it is also very expensive, and only makes 40 hp for a total of 200 for like $4100. it is nice boost, but you may end up taking your tc back and forth to the dealership for replacements and fixes.
the turbo charger can make alot of hp for up to like 350. but you need a kit, which is expensive, requires professional installation, also, you'll need gauges and sensors not includded in the kit, and a more powerful clutch, costing around 7 grand.
also, both will increase your gas consumption and you will have to use 91 octane.
axel back exhausts aren't very much of an improvement in performance, it is the last part, the exhaust still has to has to get through the headers, s-pipe, and mid-pipe, which is like three times the distance of and axelback exhaust, but yes it can give you a very nice sound, i have trd axelback only on my exhaust side, and it sounds great, i love it.

 

lol i was just reading my last post..i essentially was asking if i would essentially get the same effect and save money just going w/ the cai and axle back....of course there may be a couple hp difference w/ a full exhaust..but how much more money would a decent full exhaust be...I don't really wanna put crap on my car...

can one purchase the trd axle back from anyone but the dealer?

 

yes
http://www.trdsparks.com/index.php
sorry, i do get long winded there, i love my trd intake and exhaust, but i paid full price at the dealership before i found that site, so reap the benefits of the money i sqaundered. the exhaust sounds great, i can't speak for the performance of it because i got it as soon as i got the car, the intake came a few months later, and it was a great add on. you can get all that done for under a grand.

 

no problem with being long winded...i like learning as much as i can about something before i go ahead and purchase it. I find it hard to find all the answers I have...

So looking at the intakes..i noticed they have short ram, and full cai..the full cai is installed w/ an intake behind the bumper...i'm not an auto body mechanic, but i can install something that doesn't need serious work....

i'm assuming if i was to get a full cai i would need to have someone else install it...

Also... I Know i have a lot of questions..so feel free to get aggravated and stop answering..lol

what is the bypass valve, and should i spend money on it

 

to install a cai, you need to take off the driver side wheel and take off the inner fender to install it thought i heard you can get by just slidding it in from the engine compartment. the "advantage" to a cai over a short ram is that the engine draws in air from outside the engine compartment which gets very hot. people argue that the the pipe of a cai gets heat soaked and looses effectiveness, but i an vouche that after my bi weekly two hour commute, the cai pipe in my tc is barely warm to the touch when i get out and pop the hood feel it. only slightly warm, but not heat soaked.
the trd intake can be installed as either a short ram or cai.
as for a bypass valve...i think that is a for superchargers and turbo chargers as an alternate path for the air to go when you close the throttle otherwise that compressed air would like i don't know explode, anyway, you don't need one with an n/a set up. (before you ask n/a stands for naturally aspirated, as in non f/i or forced induction whichs means t/c or s/c which for review means turbo and super charging.) lol

 

haha! Ok last question for the night, and then I'm going to bed! Now I'll have something to read at work tommorrow

I was just looking at Megan exhausts. It sounds pretty nice. Any comment on that brand? Also, with a catback exhaust...does that mean my cat's are going to be removed when I put the new exhaust in making the car unable to pass inspection?

Thanks again as always, and i bid thee goodnight

 

no, catback exhaust means that it goes from the outlet of the cat to the final vent to open air, so you will still be able to pass emissions inspection and not get a cel (check engine light).
scion tc's have two cats, a pre cat in the headers, and another one in the mid-pipe.
currently i have trd intake and exhaust installed on my car. in my garage i have a set of monster motor works headers and s-pipe that came with with an anti fouler to prevent a cel because they don't have a cel. and lastely, i have mid-pipe that will connect the s-pipe to the axel back exhaust, now the mid pipe has no cat, and will cause a cel, and also living in maryland, i can't pass emissions inspections if my cel is on, and don't have a cat. so i am taking the mid-pipe to be fitted with a high flow cat before the 02 sensor, and also install an 18 resonator to mellow out the infamous rasp that is accompanied by combining after market headers and exhaust.
i called meineike and they said it would be like 600 for installing the headers, s-pipe, and mid-pipe with a high flow cat and resonator. also, remember that when you order exhaust, to make sure to get gaskets or else your exhaust will leak. i forgot to do that, but they should arrive tomorrow!
and don't feel bad about asking questions, that is one of the main points of this site, just remember to use the search function first or else everybody will _____ at you and admistrators will lock the thread.

 

i would recommend injen.. there's sticky with the intake test...K&N messes up the A/F ratio.. for exhaust its personal preference of sound.. either way basic bolt ons do give power.. not much.. without a header and full exhaust tho..