The BAT MAF adapter costs $39 whether you buy it from BAT, SP Motorsports or CTA Motorsports. The KKM MAF adapter costs $44.95 from KKM. The difference is $5.95.

The expensive MAF adapter is the Mirko Racing at $95. But you can choice from three anodized colors.

A Rubbermaid waste basket costs $23.88 from Samâ??s Club (without the gasket). You can only buy one size that will hold a K & N filter AND fit into the engine bay â??? not ideal. The custom made air box costs $40 and IT IS custom sized as well as being made of TIG welded aluminum with a ceramic coating. The difference is $16.12.

The Green Filter model #2029 (for the SVT Contour) costs $60.61 + shipping from Mirko Racing. The K & N model RE-0950 costs $39.26 (with free shipping) from 4filters.com. The savings is $21.35 (before shipping). But if you swear that the Green Filter is that much better Iâ??ll try it for myself.

Iâ??ve just spent $598 on the MSDS headers and Y-Pipe (group buy price). I will spend another $100 having the Y-Pipe optimized and then another $200 to have the headers and Y-Pipe coated by Jet-Hot. My Bosal Cat-Back exhaust system cost me $495. I am sending my new ($400) SVT upper intake manifold to Extrude Hone to have it max-honed and port-matched to the lower intake manifold, cost $285. I bought a new â??returnlessâ? lower intake manifold for $400 (with fuel rail, fuel injectors & Pro-Flow 75mm MAF meter) and Iâ??m having it optimized by Buckshot Motorsports, cost $160. Then there is the optimizing of my stock SVT throttle body (by Buckshot Motorsports) $65 and the new BAT inlet pipe $75.

So after spending $2,778 on intake and exhaust components you think Iâ??m going to go cheap and save $22.07 on the air box! Remember itâ??s all of the little things that make the big difference. So you have to ask yourself, is it all about doing the job cheap or doing the job right? If you tell me that something is better, Iâ??ll listen. If youâ??re just telling me itâ??s cheaper, I have no interest.

Last point. I paid $7,500 more for my new 1998 SVT Contour than I did for my new 1998.5 Contour SE Sport V6 5-speed. Was it worth it? Oh YES! Iâ??ve already spent more than that just trying to make the SE half as nice as the SVT was stock.

The Original Owner of 1998 SVT Contour #3384 of 6535, Toreador Red/Midnight Blue, Assembled September 3rd, 1997 Also the Original Owner of a 1998.5 Contour SE Sport V6 5-speed, Vibrant White/Greystone Sport Cloth, Assembled August 6th, 1998