Sound yes
HP maybe 2-3 on a good cold day
I've one for close to 10 years
Best $$$ per performance would be a hiflow airfilter
And a tune is what will really make a difference.

 

What about throttle response , btw what is a high flow filter ?

 

High flow filter is something like a K&N filter designed to replace the stock paper filter. One of the oiled mesh filters or maybe even foam (if they make those for a drop in)

 

I can't hear mine over the exhaust but made the tone of the exhaust a good amount deeper and less pingy IMHO

 

I went to a high flow filter and used the stock intake.

 

It'll sound a bit different, performance increases will only really happen in your mind's eye though. The tune would help substantially! If you do get a CAI, also get the bypass filter... you'll be glad you did if you ever get caught in heavy rains!

 

I would keep the stock SVT / ST170 and add a drop in filter , the testing I did years ago that did as good as anything I tested

Tom

 

I bought a 04 svt with the aem cai. HATED IT. Every time it rained the car felt like CRAP. Now granted the car was lowered but still. And even after i installed a bypass filter, person who installed didnt do this, it still had a problem. So i would say if your looking for an intake get a short ram with a "box" to keep as much underhood temps away from the intake. But i would DEFINATLEY trust what tom has to say.

 

fitment wise it fits like a glove no aftermarket will come close

 

I really like mine....have had it on car since 2005, just upgraded to the dry-flow filter.

 

So the law of an engine where the quicker you get cool air into an engine , there is ano increase in hp does not apply to the zetec motor with a CAI

 

Yes that would apply to all engines , who said your going to get more or cooler air into the engine ?

Tom

 

I guessed since the location of the cone filter would result in more oxygenated air being sucked in by the engine

 

the stock intake is already very very efficient on the SVT and it is much less prone to heat soak than an aftermarket metal tubing intake. not to mention that it is impervious to hydrolock unless you try to drive through a few feet of standing water. on cold days the aem might make slightly more power than stock until the engine gets fully up to temp and the temperature of the engine bay and therefore the intake get good and hot. during the summer it might actually be worse than stock. cant say for sure on the last though since im no longer running a CAI on mine. ive wanted to run a ram air intake on mine for a very long time though. the SVT intake TB would point the intake tube right out of the engine bay if you were to cut a small hole in the hood. that would be an excellent intake in all but wet weather. no bends and short tubing length and cold air from outside the engine bay. you get the air velocity of a short ram intake and the cold air density of a CAI. THAT would be the best aftermarket intake for the SVT and i think all it would take to do it would be a MAF tube, silicone couplers, ties, some metal or PVC tubing, a way to brace the intake and a good cone filter. and a cutting tool to make a hole in the hood of course.

 

Plus think about this what's hotter the ambient air or asphalt your driving on? So why would you want to put your intake right above a heat soaked ashpalt? And then also a place where I don't see much air getting to. Like I said I've had one and did not like it at all. I would much rather spend twice as much money on a rai. That has a box to surround the filter and has tubes for air to get into.

 

Thanks guys , now its really making sense , wot about a SRI over the stock airbox

 

i have one on my svt. i hate it. i want to get a stock air box with a k&n airfilter. every time it rains the car runs terrible.

 

I have a K&N Typhoon short ram and I love it. In Minnesota you really don't want a CAI hanging down by the ground since 9/12 months its usually either cold and snowy or just wet out and chances of sucking something into it is high because of our road conditions. Either way it makes my SVT sound Beast! [headbang]

 

I have had one for 10 years, it was my first mod a good one. The sound is great! Make sure to get a tune along with it.

 

Tom (or anybody who knows), as far as the K&N drop-in filter having the same gains as a CAI, does that go for all aftermarket intakes?

 

I replaced a CAI with the stock SVT air box and K&N and only heard the difference in the air intake sound. On the other hand my CAI needed alot of attention to keep clean (almost weekly) because of the road tar and gravel so I believe that my Stock air box is superior.

 

Buy it. Sounds awesome at full throttle and helps torque on low rpm.