If you had to chose, would it be better for to add a cold air intake or high-flow cat from a performance and HP standpoint and why?

 

I ran no cat. Id rather have no cat because that's one of, if not the most restricting part in any system. Its going to run slightly cooler, sound better plus its way cheaper than high flow cat running a 80$ test pipe.

 

The only problem with running no cat for daily driving, besides not passing any state inspections, is the exhaust will smell much like a go cart or weedeater, I've been told. A test pipe would be better for the track for sure. I need a viable option for daily driving, as well.

For the money, the HF-cat and CAI are about the same price from what I have seen. So, I am just trying to figure out which would give the best HP gains if any.

 

on our cars, the intake doesnt seem to be near as much of a bottleneck as the cat. both are seemingly minimal anyways, but the biggest gains seem to come with catalyst removal and a tune. (anywhere between 40-70 hp/tq increase) instead of worrying about a cai, just get a higher flowing drop-in panel filter (hks is only like 40-50 bucks) and you're all set.

 

You might want to ask Cobb about running a CAI with the tune you have. I believe the stage 1 tune is for factory intake only.

 

Cool. This is what I will do then. I'll get the Cobb HF-cat and HF panel filter and have Cobb tune it to see how many horses they can extract from that setup. I'll get it done in the next week or two and let you know what the results were. Thanks for the assist!

 

yep youd be alot better off with a high flow.

Removing a cat completely will make the car much louder and drone. If youve ever been in a car with a drone youd avoid it with your life.

 

I was thinking a HF-cat would be better also. Thanks!

 

Where did you hear that?

Why would lack of a cat make a 4 stroke smell like a premix burning two stroke.

 

Have you ever had a catless Evo?

It smells pretty bad. I got used to it, so it didn't bother me. But anyone else (besides my girlfriend at the time, who got used to it as well) who would come near or ride in my car hated it.

 

I think it was a salesman for an online shop, can't remember which. Does the exhaust not emit more of an burnt fuel odor? I would imagine it would but I just don't know how much of an odor? Does it? If so, how much?

 

it definitely smells more outside the car, but with the windows closed, you barely even notice it, imo. just more of a raw fuel smell from the exhaust. you even get a bit of that smell from a high flow cat, but not nearly as bad.

also, for comparison, i have smelled catless evos and they seem to be worse than the ralliart so far. it may get worse once more mods and power are added, but its not unbearable i dont think.

 

I can't really smell anything on my IX and I drive around catless all the time.

 

CAI really is worthless when you are running an intercooler, and here is why...

1. Turbo sucks in your nice cool air
2. Turbo turns cold atmospheric air into high pressure + high temperature air
3. High temperature air then enters the intercooler and cools off
4. Cooled off air then enters the engine

You are way better off getting a drop-in filter to increase your airflow, and keep your stock intake.

 

Then explain how most intakes for our car get about 15-20 lbs/tq over stock if it doesnt do anything??