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CAI and SRI thoughts and opinions

4424 Views 13 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Playwithmymind
Hey guys I thought I would start a thread so everyone can voice their opinion on which intake they have and what kind of difference it made to your car so when new people come in this can help them decide what they want.

As for me I have never had a SRI on any car I have owned. I have only had a CAI on them so I don't know what that intake will do or the true difference is between them. On my car the CAI has helped the turbo spool up faster due to being able to breath and has a stronger mid and top end range on it. I have also noticed throttle response is way better then stock. I do get the loud jet fighter sound on start up and when driving. I like it because people look at the car like somethings wrong or that it must have some serious power lol.

So everyone that has a intake post up what you have and thoughts!

I may try mine as a SRI to see if there is a difference.
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Just in time!

I just got home from my test drive with my new 6th element SRI and with the involuntary BPV mod (didn't realize that there was no port for the recirculation hose). I am just impressed with how angry this thing sounds! It howls like a jet and the BPV mod makes that thing hiss super loud when you let off the throttle.

I have only ever run SRI in my cars out of fear of water logging my motors during the winter.

The biggest performance gain I notice is throttle response. I feel like this is a good starting mod for people who want a noticeable and immediate gain in drivability and fun factor.

FYI it took only about 20 min to put on too even with a hot motor to dodge. I just couldn't wait no patience.

Hope that helps a little
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From what I read the sri can pull too much hot air from the engine compartment and actuallt cause a loss of power. Any one experience this? Im also trying to decide what's best
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From what I read the sri can pull too much hot air from the engine compartment and actuallt cause a loss of power. Any one experience this? Im also trying to decide what's best
I also hear once you do a fmic it really doesn't matter which one to use
From what I read the sri can pull too much hot air from the engine compartment and actuallt cause a loss of power. Any one experience this? Im also trying to decide what's best
That may be true once you start to drive from sitting still for too long, but once your moving and air is flowing around the bay its just a tad warmer that a cold air kit.
Our SRI kit made power consistently over stock, even with multiple runs on a dyno with a tiny fan. Dyno sheets are in our section of this forum and on our website on the intake product pages.

I also hear once you do a fmic it really doesn't matter which one to use
Correct, once you have a quality intercooler, the temp concern from the intake isn't as important.
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well I think I'm the the only one running the a non 6th element SRI OR CAI.. Im running a Injen Cold Air intake.. in black... one outher user had the First version.. of this product and did a neat side by side view of how small it was compared to the 6th element.. one.. 3 in to 3.5 inch.. mine is the version 1.5 that so far not made it to production.. its a 3.25 inch.. so its in between.. the original and the six element piping.. dyno results were in the 12 to 15 hp range with a 120 degree intake temps.. on a 75 degree day.. 6th element are at that level.. its more a matter of style.. both are black.. mine is just power coated metallic black like or door handles and mirrors.. and 6th is his crinkle black.. I would say at this time the 6th element is the best CAI you can buy.. get the CAI and if you don't like it just make it a SRI.. both products do this and the price point is nothing.. for the convertibility.. and remember to do the intercooler resonator delete pipe as well.
thoughts on sound.. a SRI will be a tad quieter then a CAI.. its more because the placement of the filter.... in the sri is rite under the hood and sound mat.. wile in the cai it near the fender and front bumper cover.. to my ear both are loud .. and sound like darth vader taking a long inhale.. until you go full throttle than its all turbo spool.. and cold stars are hella loud..
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It's hard for me to tell right now with the tune limiters being knocked around. (we think) I'm traditionally a CAI guy, but right now the SRI seems a lot smoother(not perfect still, but better) and the throttle response is instant with SRI. I know you aren't having that issue Aaron, but then you have your exhaust opened up. My engine is sucking in all this air on a stock exhaust... I'm wondering if that might be a slight issue. Between that second cat and the crap axle back.
Shouldn't make that big of a difference where the restriction is Forte5 still has the stock DP with the cat right at the turbo (worst restriction in the exhaust) and is opened up a little after that but is still limited to the flow of the stock 2.25" system. You could gut your second cat and it would not only change the sound of the car but it is also the largest restriction you have at this point. Before I scraped my stock axle back I cut it open to see how it was routed internally and I have to say it looked no more restrictive than the pipe feeding it.

The only thing I didn't like about the bolt on DP that are sold is they still taper down to 2.5" to match stock system.
I just gutted my second cat today after a fresh oil change. It did help smooth out the top end further, toe in throttle response was a touch better. I honestly think I'm just hitting limiters but its hard to find time to get my computer to John at the moment! Doesn't the axle back taper down size wise a bit from the midpipe? I have to imagine getting that muffler off helps a bit, but your right ultimately a 3" custom will yield best results.
I just gutted my second cat today after a fresh oil change. It did help smooth out the top end further, toe in throttle response was a touch better. I honestly think I'm just hitting limiters but its hard to find time to get my computer to John at the moment! Doesn't the axle back taper down size wise a bit from the midpipe?
Right at the flange where the axle back bolts on. I don't remember if it was on the mid pipe side or on the backside.
I think it's the axle back when it bolts to the mid pipe is where it shrinks down even more.
The pipe going into the muffler is 2.35", and the pipes coming out of the muffler are 2"
Yup to small
The 2 2" pipes after the muffler will flow (636 CFM) almost as much as a single 3" (747 CFM) so I wouldn't consider that to be a issue but the 2.35" pipe that gets pinched to 2" right after the flange is where the restriction is and restricts the whole exhaust to 318 CFM. After you do the math for cfm intake and fuel mass the stock exhaust will start to choke at 144 HP. The stock mid pipe being 2.35" is tuned right for stock HP ratings 455 CFM and 210 HP (this is not accounting for restrictions like the cat). The more you can improve the exhaust the more you will notice a smoother power band and better response at higher RPMs.

For a while I thought the ECU was what was holding the car back but once the intake and exhaust are opened up it really comes to life. Next thing to upgrade is the stock aluminum intake tube feeding the turbo that narrows down to 2.5" so having that 3.5" SRI is only good to a point. The ECU still has limitations but with a little finesse and attention in the right areas I will see 250 WHP on a stock ECU lol.
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