Stock Air vs KN Air

[Richy63]

Anyone have a hard number of the HP increase. I just acquired a 300a ALL STOCK and I don't want to change much, tune and radio and speakers and that is about it.

[Gryphonzus]

It adds a few more horsepower. The best thing you can do for your car is buy a tuner and have Mo's speed shop put a tune on it. It makes the car come alive!!!!!

[fastblackmerc]

I'd go with a JLT kit and get a tuner & tuner from Mo's.

[Mr. Man]

Stock air box was designed by Roush and flows pretty good, but it's quiet when you romp on it. K&N and the JLT are similar in performance gains and become more of an aesthetic and price point issue for the purchaser. My only mods thus far are the K&N and a tune from Lidio(Alternative Auto) and I'm happy. If your on a budget your best bet is a tuner.

[RF Overlord]

If you're talking about a K&N CAI, about the only thing it will do is look cool and sound a little more aggressive.

If you mean a K&N drop-in filter, don't waste your money.

[cat in the hat]

Agree that a good tune is the best immediate bang-for-buck.
Next best IMO is control arm / watts link upgrade - it is a huge improvement to these big cars and makes the power you have much more useable.

There was a huge wave of guys chasing small HP gains from bolt-ons like CAI's, underdrive pulleys, water pumps etc. but it crested a while ago. You can spend a lot of dollars on nickel-and-dime gains IMO.

[kirk]

If you're talking about a K&N CAI, about the only thing it will do is look cool and sound a little more aggressive.

If you mean a K&N drop-in filter, don't waste your money.

I have a K&N for the stock setup and have tested it at Milan. Made no ET or MPH difference that I could detect.

[03BlackWindDOHC]

Man. So CAI, pulleys, all a myth? Engine back exhaust and a tune is the best thing until boost? Interesting.

[RubberCtyRauder]

no sense in doing underdrive pulleys if going boost as they will need to be removed or your blower will turn slower which means less power.

Tune and gear swap

[03BlackWindDOHC]

no sense in doing underdrive pulleys if going boost as they will need to be removed or your blower will turn slower which means less power.

Tune and gear swap

Yup. Until you wanna boost, tune, exhaust, and 4.10's. Solid.

[03BlackWindDOHC]

There goes freed up money for my suspension mods!!!!

[MM03]

I just did the K&N CAI, Tune at Marty's & 4.10 gears and It feels like a different car. One thing the tune did is change the shift points and now it doesn't shift into overdrive too soon. The 4.10 gears make it feel like it has 100 extra horsepower. It is so much more drivable, It puts a grin on my face every time I drive it.

[03BlackWindDOHC]

Yeah, after I made my statement, I stayed up all night researching and came to the conclusion that it's all subjective to the person. I talked myself out of a K&N CAI yesterday evening, but by 3am I was back on board. I day actual dyno sheets of before and after. It works! Although, you really want a tune with it to maximize performance.

[Rick@Metco]

If the plan is to add a CAI, I'd suggest JLT over K&N.

[MM03]

Agree that a good tune is the best immediate bang-for-buck.
Next best IMO is control arm / watts link upgrade - it is a huge improvement to these big cars and makes the power you have much more useable.

There was a huge wave of guys chasing small HP gains from bolt-ons like CAI's, underdrive pulleys, water pumps etc. but it crested a while ago. You can spend a lot of dollars on nickel-and-dime gains IMO.



Hi, Can you explain a little more how the control arm and watts link upgrade
helps an unboosted car? I thought it was only helpful if your engine is putting out 450+ HP.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[03BlackWindDOHC]

The Watts linkage and control arms help any car in any situation. It's a considerable upgrade to a car like the Marauder. Those are the 1st mods I'm doing. Although, I'm focusing more on suspension anyway. Want it to be like lifespeed's Marauder. Total carver.

[cat in the hat]

Hi, Can you explain a little more how the control arm and watts link upgrade
helps an unboosted car? I thought it was only helpful if your engine is putting out 450+ HP.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

These are big, heavy cars with pretty fat rides and a lot of slop in the rear end IMO. They are the top of the food chain compared to a PI, or especially a Grand Marq, but there is a lot of room for improvement.

Stock or modified, the car will :
1. Launch straighter.
2. Feel and handle tighter and better at speed, without the boaty-ness.
3. Not get all a$s-happy over expansion joints and every little road thing.
4. Stronger and more confident around curves and ramps, of course.

The CAI's were proven to give you a RWHP increase, and they do look and sound good. I agree that they are worth doing.
Let's say they give you +10 HP to the wheels, Ok ?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I don't get to use that last 10 HP much.
I don't get that deep into it often enough for that last 10 to make much of a difference to me -

- but I use the rear suspension all the time.

[sailsmen]

Performance History
Chip, 4:10 Gears, Under Drive Pullies – 14.274 @ 97.05 MPH
PI Torque Convertor – 13.74 @ 98.33
Vortech Super Charger, Water to Air – 12.287 @ 109.74

[Mr. Man]

These are big, heavy cars with pretty fat rides and a lot of slop in the rear end IMO. They are the top of the food chain compared to a PI, or especially a Grand Marq, but there is a lot of room for improvement.

Stock or modified, the car will :
1. Launch straighter.
2. Feel and handle tighter and better at speed, without the boaty-ness.
3. Not get all a$s-happy over expansion joints and every little road thing.
4. Stronger and more confident around curves and ramps, of course.

The CAI's were proven to give you a RWHP increase, and they do look and sound good. I agree that they are worth doing.
Let's say they give you +10 HP to the wheels, Ok ?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I don't get to use that last 10 HP much.
I don't get that deep into it often enough for that last 10 to make much of a difference to me -

- but I use the rear suspension all the time.I was stuck in the Giraud Ave chaos again today. If I lived in Philly I'd seriously look into buying a lawn tractor to get around, can't go much faster.;)

[03BlackWindDOHC]

These are big, heavy cars with pretty fat rides and a lot of slop in the rear end IMO. They are the top of the food chain compared to a PI, or especially a Grand Marq, but there is a lot of room for improvement.

Stock or modified, the car will :
1. Launch straighter.
2. Feel and handle tighter and better at speed, without the boaty-ness.
3. Not get all a$s-happy over expansion joints and every little road thing.
4. Stronger and more confident around curves and ramps, of course.

The CAI's were proven to give you a RWHP increase, and they do look and sound good. I agree that they are worth doing.
Let's say they give you +10 HP to the wheels, Ok ?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I don't get to use that last 10 HP much.
I don't get that deep into it often enough for that last 10 to make much of a difference to me -

- but I use the rear suspension all the time.

That's what I was trying to say, haha. Hit it on the head! I'm doing suspension mods 1st. Twisties till I die!! Lol

[fastblackmerc]

Would you rather have these on the rear:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Control%20Arms/Upper.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Control%20Arms/Upper.jpg.html)

Or these?
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Metco/Rear_ctrl_arms.gif (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Metco/Rear_ctrl_arms.gif.html)

I'd also do Addco sway bars and the Metco Watts link and driveshaft hoop.

[03BlackWindDOHC]

Would you rather have these on the rear:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Control%20Arms/Upper.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Control%20Arms/Upper.jpg.html)

Or these?
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Metco/Rear_ctrl_arms.gif (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Metco/Rear_ctrl_arms.gif.html)

I'd also do Addco sway bars and the Metco Watts link and driveshaft hoop.

Hell yeah! Can't wait to get mine!! Anyone have any dyno information on underdrive pulleys? I can't find any and I've been told by a LOT of cats that they're useless. Waste of money. This is coming from tuners that work on Marauder's hella, too. I'm conflicted.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Underdrives not worth it..You wont feel any difference..Not worth the $$ for minimal gain. Put money towards tune,metco

[03BlackWindDOHC]

Underdrives not worth it..You wont feel any difference..Not worth the $$ for minimal gain. Put money towards tune,metco

What I thought. They put hundreds of thousands if not millions in R&D on these cars. I think we all forget that every now and again, haha!

[RF Overlord]

Hi, Can you explain a little more how the control arm and watts link upgrade helps an unboosted car? I thought it was only helpful if your engine is putting out 450+ HP.Improved handling benefits any car.

The factory control arms are one step above tin-foil. Replacing them with more robust units keeps the car flatter in turns. The improved Watts link give the car better response when changing directions suddenly, like during an avoidance manoeuvre.

[RubberCtyRauder]

What I thought. They put hundreds of thousands if not millions in R&D on these cars. I think we all forget that every now and again, haha!


Marauders are sort of a hodgepodge of off the shelf equipment, cop tail lights, cv inspired rear cover, marquis grille and headlight shape, same doors, body, hood etc. pretty much a mach 1 motor with driver side intake. same exact control arms and watts link as cv, gm, cop cars. slightly lower front suspension springs, slightly different rear air springs, same trans mission, same rear axle with 3.55 ratio that many cop cars used. most interior items are marauder specific in terms of appearance.
The R & D for the marauder wasn't excessive I don't believe, but we still like them:banana2:

[03BlackWindDOHC]

Marauders are sort of a hodgepodge of off the shelf equipment, cop tail lights, cv inspired rear cover, marquis grille and headlight shape, same doors, body, hood etc. pretty much a mach 1 motor with driver side intake. same exact control arms and watts link as cv, gm, cop cars. slightly lower front suspension springs, slightly different rear air springs, same trans mission, same rear axle with 3.55 ratio that many cop cars used. most interior items are marauder specific in terms of appearance.
The R & D for the marauder wasn't excessive I don't believe, but we still like them:banana2:

Agreed, but it doesn't feel like how GM uses off shelf parts.

[Mr. Man]

Marauders are sort of a hodgepodge of off the shelf equipment, cop tail lights, cv inspired rear cover, marquis grille and headlight shape, same doors, body, hood etc. pretty much a mach 1 motor with driver side intake. same exact control arms and watts link as cv, gm, cop cars. slightly lower front suspension springs, slightly different rear air springs, same trans mission, same rear axle with 3.55 ratio that many cop cars used. most interior items are marauder specific in terms of appearance.
The R & D for the marauder wasn't excessive I don't believe, but we still like them:banana2:You need to ask Steve Babcock about the costs associated with getting the Marauder to production even though it's parts bin car, it'll blow your mind.

[RubberCtyRauder]

You need to ask Steve Babcock about the costs associated with getting the Marauder to production even though it's parts bin car, it'll blow your mind.

I'm sure there is costs, just not the same as if it was a new chassis, new, this, new that etc..

[Ken]

Would you rather have these on the rear:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Control%20Arms/Upper.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Control%20Arms/Upper.jpg.html)

Or these?
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Metco/Rear_ctrl_arms.gif (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Metco/Rear_ctrl_arms.gif.html)

I'd also do Addco sway bars and the Metco Watts link and driveshaft hoop.If you're running the originals, you may not realize how worn out the bushings are. My 04 had in excess of 135k miles were so worn, salt from original owner didn't help, but heat or just sitting, can't be much better.