How much of a difference does a new air lid make? And what brand/design is the best bet. I never really thought about getting one but I realize just about everyone who has made a post on this site whether having a stock or completely decked out car has a lid listed as one of the things they put on their car. Should I? Will it help that much.....if I do should I throw a K&N in as well? What brand is the best...if there is any difference at all?

 

welcome to the site....

a lid is a lid is a lid...all are the same gains

they are a solid 8-10 hp i would say, not to mention it cleans up the engine bay.

 

Definitely buy a lid, but after you install it and drive the car, you won't feel a difference, but a power gain will be there.

I bought mine for $75 from quartermileperformance.com and it works just fine.

I'd skip the K&N filter. You won't feel anything with it and you'll be lucky to pick up 2 HP. A traditional paper filter will flow just as well and will keep your engine clean without the hassle of having to oil it time and time again.

 

About filters, there is so such thing as a power adding filter. A K&N is only useful because you never have to replace it, just clean it. Paper filters are fine too, but you have to replace them.

Basically, do you want to spend $50 once, or $7 every 5,000 miles?

 

Lid isn't a lid. An article posted revealed different results between GMS, MTI, SLP, TSP, etc. Texas-Speed & Perf. came in 1st and SLP took 2nd. As for the filter: a clean paper filter is no better/worse than any other or even no filter at all on a mostly stock LS1. The size of the filter allows enough air into the motor with little restriction if any. Having a filter is good not only becuase it cleans the air, but straightens the airflow entering the motor (also why there are screens on our MAFs).

 

I never felt much of a differnce with my lid, and but I did with the cutout

 

There's definitely power to be gained from an aftermarket lid and as mentioned before, it really cleans up the engine bay. Just remember the more you mod the car the more restrictive the stock air lid becomes.

Brian

 

"Lid isn't a lid. An article posted revealed different results between GMS, MTI, SLP, TSP, etc. Texas-Speed & Perf. came in 1st and SLP took 2nd"

if i remember correctly it was about a 1-2hp difference from the worst to the best.

i bet if you did the exact same test you would come up with different results.

it is very unlikely that a dyno reads 100% consistent from one run to the next. a few degrees of difference in the engine, outside air, air pressure, and other things that can make small fluxuations.

take 10 bone stock cars, put the same lid on every one and dyno test it i bet you'd get 5 different results within a 1-2hp range.

if you wanna worry about 1-2 hp arguments over which lid is better...have at it.

i say go with which one you like the looks of, or can afford.

 

TSP lids are the best. Why? Because I bought one and because I said so

But I agree with a lid is a lid.

 

Just get the style you like, and check the sponsors for the best price.

 

I also bought a TSP(Texas Speed and Performace) lid and I would reccomend them over all others. They have the best customer service I have ever had in dealing w/ automotive parts. The lid is designed well and fits perfectly and it looks great too. I was also able to put a smooth bellow between the MAF and the throttle body and have no fitting problems at all. I dynoed mine w/ the new lid and gained a little over 10 RWHP. I definately reccomend them. They are a supporting sponsor on this site I believe. http://www.texas-speed.com/ or 806-866-0734.

 

i have MTI clear lid... works great, perfect fit, and love the way it looks...

but yea, a lid is a lid! just get any of them...

-cory-

 

do you live in the desert? There is no reason to change the AIR filter every 5000 miles. When you change your oil, its good to look at it and then decide but not every 5000 miles. I live in Houston. My first stock filter lasted me till 38K miles. The one I have in there currently is clean and is going on 22K miles.
Its a stock replacement AC Delco. The aftermarket filters showed 3rwhp loss compared to the paper filter. I will keep my paper filter and not worry about the hassels of the aftermarket filter cleaning..

Its not a hassel you say.. I say it is. Why? Lets look at the facts..
To clean a K&N for example you need to do this:
1 - remove dirty filter
2 - wash filter with non pressured water flowing through the filter
3 - let filter dry naturally
4 - reoil filter
5 - let oil set and search for areas lacking oil and oil as needed
6 - let oil set again
7 - reinstall freshly oiled and cleaned filter
8 - hope your MAF doesnt get screwed by over oiling the filter..

now compare that to the stock replacement AC Delco filter:
1 - remove old filter and discard
2 - remove new filter from box and install

hmmm... I love my AC Delco filter.. and if your K&N equipped car is faster than my bone stock car.. yay for you... but I bet I can beat you in the filter replacement race.

As for a lid, find out what kind you want (clear, black, carbon fiber look, etc..) and then decide on if you want one used or new.. then look at what name brands are available.. then get what ya want.. simple..

I just wanted carbon look.. got mine used.. its never been installed.. its an MTI.. I had purchased mine only for dyno testing.. its still in a box in the corner of the living room.. (the dyno did show a solid 8 rwhp gain)
I just prefer having my car bone stock.. so when I beat people.. I have no mods and just drive better than them.. hehe

 

it sounds different because to install a lid you are removing the factory silencer that is a part of the stock lid..

I did not like the extra noise at all..