Western Motorsports CAI installed!!!!!

Well it took me about 3.5 hours start to finish, but she's done and looks factory
I had a few minor holdups, but nothing I couldn't work around and complete. Would I do this install again????? YES!!!!! Now that I know some ins and outs. Along with the SCT X-CAL 2 tune, this baby rocks and rolls now. Took my dad out with me on the test drive. He drove it before these mods so had him along to see the difference. Lots of traffic being a Friday, but I was able to get a few hundred feet of clear road. From about a 10mph roll, I stomped it. It downshifted into first hard, got going quickly and when it shifted into 2nd...it stepped out some By then I was hard on the binders as to not slam into the traffic ahead of me.
Here are install pics and comments.

Before:


The WMS CAI Kit:


The Stock MAF & filter box removed:


Overflow bottle relocated:This is where I hit some snags. First of all trying to drain the radiator while the car is not lifted is somewhat difficult.Very cramped lying on the floor and wedging yourself between the floor and bottom of the fascia. I had one hand on the wrench to turn the petcock and the other holding the hose over a bucket. The small hose in the kit came in extra handy here as I hooked it to the spout just above the petcock. Thought I had all of the coolant out when I removed the lower overflow hose from the connection at the thermostat(had bucket under there just in case). Well, more came out than I anticipated and some spilled on the floor before I got the bucket slid over more. After that, the rest was quite simple. Cut a bit off the factory upper overflow hose and spliced it to the new one supplied in the kit.


I took the rubber grommet from the factory airbox, cut the center out and used it for the new overflow bottle bracket for dampening purposes. The hole in the new bracket is to small to use it as is. After cutting it I placed the pieces on each side of the bracket.


Air fliter on: The clamp they supply to atttach the filter to the MAF had to be loosened NEARLY all the way to just get enough room to force the rubber boot over the MAF.




Spliced wires at MAF harness plug and valve cover:There was only thing that was not right on the wiring diagram supplied from what was actually on the car. Diagram was showing purple/yellow wire on harness, but in fact it was solid red. No matter as long as you know to connect the 2 ends with eachother. There are 6 wires total to splice.(It would've been nice if they at least sent you wires that had the insulation pre cut. That took an extra minute or 2 to do) The wires they supply end up being nearly twice as long as they need to be also. I cut the extra off.








Finished product: Looks VERY factory IMHO:

Looks good.

I would never buy a CAI no matter how well it performed if I had to cut and splice my brand new Mustangs harness......

Thanks Welchy. I did think long and hard about it Dawg... I figure I've spliced several things before putting in car stereos with my friend. As long as it is done correctly, how can it go wrong???? Plus I love the idea of having actual ram air, once I get the ram air box which is now in PA heading here. Dawg, would you install a killer aftermarket head unit if it meant splicing into the factory harness?????

No. I wouldn't.

Looks nice. I am also running the WMS and love it. Looking at your pics, did you heat up the connectors? They will shrink down and seal the ends better.

Looks good! But I'm with Poop, I don't like splicing. Now...if I can buy the harness and make a clean install there, then I'm happy .

wheres the ram air heat shield? vynle

Nope I sure didn't. I could unwrap it and do it. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

Should be delivered on Monday I had to order it seperate as Brenspeed does not carry it. I ordered directly from WMS.

Have you had a chance to drive it yet? Did you also retune the ECM with this mod?

I actually installed the new 87 octane tune around 5pm on Thursday right after it arrived. I noticed a BIG difference over stock. I drove it last evening after the CAI swap and noticed another slight gain. I just now got back from running my tank down low enough to fill it up with 93. I pulled into a parking spot there at the station and uploaded the 93 octane tune. It won't be until tomorrow when I get a chance to go out and about to see that difference.

Who did your tune?

I have the WMS intake and would never look back, but with the blower coming very soon may have to give it up.......

Brenspeed

ShowYa06-- Which blower are you going to use? If it's the Saleen then it will work fine everythings fits together OK > Only thing is you would need is the 95 MM MAF tube from WMSracing.I did a Saleen install on my 05 and had the original 80MM tube.Forget it pegs the MAF senor at 5.O Volts.Couldn't get enough air to the SC.added the 95 mm tube 39 lb injectors and 8lb pulley and dyno's at 427rwhp.Big smile on my face evertime I stomp the gas peddle.

Got the Ram Air tray in this afternoon. Took about 30 minutes to install it. Had to use the Dremel in a few spots for the Hood Latch Lever, Hood Latch itself and the Hood Prop Rod(to bad I haven't already gotten the hood struts and eliminated the Prop Rod).

I personally wouldn't install that. It seems like it could be a lot more user friendly, and avoid splicing the wires. I've install my fair share of audio components, and done my fair share of electrical work, but they typically don't dictate how the car runs.

The splicing of the wires, and the fact that the shroud doesn't really look like it's a "ram air" more than it is a cold air box, would make me avoid this setup personally..... but that's just me.

Thanks for the thorough explanation. I was considering the WMS kit, it is a great concept. I decided to go with the INJEN intake - haven't see anyone else with it and the install is simpler than the WMS. There is even a space for the stock emissions filter in the chrome tubing - LOL

Glad I shed some light for you ShawnyB. I have gotten ideas from many people on here and have been able to also see some other ideas I would have thought about doing untill seeing it here. That is what makes :SNSign: so great...the people and the great hands on info. I know I'm in a very small percentage by choosing the WMS, but I LOVE IT!!!!! I have had absolutely no problems since the install(only been a few days now...but nearly 400 miles). Along with the 93 octane tune from Brenspeed and the 4.10 gears...WOW!!!!!! I have an O/R H on order now too I can't wait to get and put on to wake it up some more both power and sound wise. BTW, mine is the automatic and after these upgrades I don't dread it at all. With the added power and gear it hardly ever needs to downshift unless you get near WOT. It pulls that strong now. With the tune I was able to increase the shift pressure(only upped it 5%). I no longer turn the OD off anymore...something I ALWAYS did up to 55 MPH before. I can't wait to get to the track this spring!!!!!