CAI / Exhaust question

[Ironhide]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum, but am on my second RAM 1500 (an '05 5.7L V8 w/ only 29K on it). I swapped out the CAI from my last ram (an AFE), and was thinking about making a few changes to the exhaust. I have heard two trains of thought on this - (1) you will not see any benefits of a CAI, unless you invest in a new cat-back exhaust or (2) you will lose any gains you have made with the CAI if you change the exhaust because all of that extra oxygen is just running out of the system.

Any thoughts /opinions? Thanks!

 

[Budakane]

Welcome to RF, a CAi will always show gains even on a stock motor. As with all modifications each one workds hand and hand with one another. ie-headers, exhaust, etc. Hope this answers your question, if not ask more, and tell us bout this truck, got pics?

 

[ATXHEMI]

A CAI will benefit from a catback exhaust. More air in more air out = more hp. Make sure when you get a new exhaust to replace the factory y pipe. It is very restrictive.

 

[Hemi450hp]

The guys above nailed it. Right now you are bringing more air in, but not able to get it out. Intake and exhaust combo is a great start for mods. After that I would look into a programmer to tie it all together. Between those 3 mods, you will be very happy with the performance gains.

 

[ralaubach]

After that, go to the tranny, after that 4.56, after that, cam, after that forced induction..... FML this is a slippery slope....

 

[ATXHEMI]

After that, go to the tranny, after that 4.56, after that, cam, after that forced induction..... FML this is a slippery slope....

It all depends on how deep your pockets are. Wish mine were a little deeper.

 

[Ironhide]

Thanks

Thanks for the input so far guys.... I should have been a little more specific with main main objective w/ the CAI - I am in search of better fuel economy, so that is why I was wondering about swapping out the exhaust.

For those who asked, here is a pic of the new ride. Looking at new rims and tires next summer, and bed bars to match the nerf bars.

 

[quietpeen]

Welcome to rf. unfortunately you can spend a lot of money trying to get mpg's but IMO its diminishing returns

A good mod to get 1 to 1.5 mpg's would be an electric fan

 

[truckin151]

I will always say it, a cai is a supporting mod. Almost all cai, except for a couple, barely raise mpg and barely raise HP by it's self. When you add a better exhaust the combo feeds off each other, more air in more air out. The mpg issues that happen is due to your right foot, 99.999% of us after installing new parts want to hear the sound and feel the changes, this drops your mpg. If you add a tuner, the mpg tunes are crap. You actually get better mpg for running the premium performance tune than you do running the detuned mileage tune and its usually by quite a significant amount. On the dsp it was a difference between 12mpg and 15mpg for me which more than made up for the increase in gas prices. I guessed the one thing you should look at going into a mpg build is that there is NOT one particular mod that will jump your mpg 5-10mpg. After all is said and done, you can start picking up 1 or 2 here and there but the bulk comes from the driver and maintenance.