Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance Does the intake make a noticeable difference?

I've found all kinds of information on various intake setups for the Duratec. But none of them mentioned the most obvious thing--how do they affect performance? Is there a noticeable improvement, or do people just install them for the looks & sound?

Mine made a huge difference for low end power and there is some top end too but my most noticible gains were low end where i the engine is at 2000 rpmspinning the tires off the start, and i wouldn't even hardly squeak before. Do it, you will not be sorry. The sound down at low rpms is awesome too. My stock filter was dirty so others might not notice the same difference as I did but you can't really go wrong for $60-80,depending on where you get the maf adaptor.

Agreed. But it's important to note that this is true with our set-up. There are other cars that show significant increases with a CAI.

I see where you guys are coming from but the reason mine made such a difference was because the stock air filter was so dirty. And once you get going the K&N is not too noticible thinking about it again but being the fact that I couldn't get wheelspin before I put it in but I could after means that my stock filter was pretty bad. Not going to argue with the guy who knows more about my car than i do (Ray), but its at least amusing to think that I got more power than I really did.

Thanks for the info everyone. The stock intake looked to be pretty well-designed to me, I guess it is.

On my car, the Stock air box was crap, utter crap. So i went with the tried and True BAT MAF adapter, and a K&N Ru-1785, its a conical filter but its got more airflow room i think. anyways, i didnt notice any top end power, the car is basically the same for anything above 4k rpm's, but i really noticed a difference in low RPM's, from a stop i can squeel the tires now (i have an ATX) and the sound makes me wanna jump for joy everytime i hear it. It was worth it in my case, it was fun to do and sounds great and i got some MPG too.

The "CEG" recommended short ram setup will garner about 3-5 FWHP over the stock setup with a paper panel filter.

of which that won't enable a "tire squeeling" maneuver in, and of, itself...

the intake IS worth a few ponies, but is most efficient when coupled with a well-planned exhaust, and BASIC MAINTENANCE!!

Ray

I certainly did not notice any power increase. I don't doubt 3-5 hp on the top, and real gains with a good exhaust, but I didn't notice it. I did notice improved throttle response. I have a Demon-style heatshield that closes off the whole side of the engine bay where the airbox and battery used to be. With a much larger air mass to suck in when the throttle plate is cracked, I get more instant-on power. It's small, but definetly perceptible. At the first autocross with the intake, I had to modulate the pedal just a tiny bit more than before to avoid spinning on corner exit. However, if I didn't have a lot of seat time in this car flicking the throttle open and shut around tight courses, it wouldn't be too obvious. The difference I get when the air cools down in the fall is much more noticeable, both in power and response. What I did notice, along with everyone else, was the sound. I had a co-driver, and as he came by my worker station into a sweeper, the car just roared like never before. It sounds very healthy and powerful, not raw. So power, maybe; throttle response, yes; noise, oh my my!