An air intake system is a crucial part of a vehicle build.  It is typically one of the first performance parts to be installed, as it nets a decent horsepower increase with little install effort.  Also, intakes are easy on the wallet and can increase fuel economy as well as a distinct growl from under the hood.  We joined up with Airaid to showcase their new ultra clean 2011 GT intake system and also the harness the full power potential with an SCT custom tune from Brenspeed.

Following the natural progression of modifications to our 2011 GT project “Wild E. Coyote”, we took the next step by installing Airaid’s MXP cold air intake system with SynthaMax oil-less air filter. “The SynthaMax non-oiled is a two layer, fully synthetic filter,” said David Edelman of Airaid.  “It offers slightly easier maintenance in regards to cleaning – Simple Green or dish soap works great when it comes to cleaning the filters. Let it soak in and wash it from the inside out, with the SynthaMax, you are skipping that third re-oiling step.  For those of you that still prefer a oiled filter, Airaid offers those as well.  Edelman explained, “The SynthaFlow is four layers of cotton gauze and we incorporate a fifth layer synthetic material on the inside.”

The Airaid MXP comes with everything you need, including a torx bit to remove the stock MAF sensor bolts (that are replaced by allen head bolts). The Airaid molded air intake box affixes directly to the stock cold air intake ducting and uses the stock air box mounting locations. The air box seals tight to the hood to insure a minimal amount of engine heat makes its way to the filter. The high flow air filter has a six-inch opening that necks down to four-inches with the included velocity stack.

Airaid's "Modular Venturi Tube" (MVT) eliminates the need for a tune.

The included “No Tune, Modular Venturi Tube” insert reduces the inner diameter of the intake pipe and eliminates the need for a intake-specific tune, though it can simply be removed if you plan to program the PCM with a custom-tailored tune. “The MVT allows for proper air/fuel ratios and MAF sensor functionality on a stock vehicle,” said Edelman. “This will eliminate the concerns of throwing a check engine light or idle issues. For those that want to get really radical with their modifications, they can easily remove the MVT and go with a full custom tune.” The intake will hook up to all the standard vacuum ports for manual and automatic transmission-equipped Mustangs as well as the sound tube (that can be capped).

Airaid MXP Cold Air Intake Install – Part Number 451-264

• Synthamax high flow air filter
• Injection molded intake pipe that is larger than stock
• Includes all stock intake vacuum line hook up locations for manual or automatic transmission Mustangs
• Molded intake box seals to the hood with a weather strip and utilizes the stock cold air intake ducting
• “No Tune Insert” uses the stock PCM programming or can be removed when using a custom tune.

Installing the Airaid MXP Cold Air Intake

Outside a basic set of hand tools, the kit comes with precise directions and all the parts you need to install the air intake system. The process sounds drawn out below, but it takes less than an hour to install the Airaid intake.

The first course of action when working on the engine bay of the Mustang in pretty much any circumstance is to remove the stock engine cover and the negative battery terminal. Thanks to the Ford Racing strut tower bar design, the cover will come off without having to remove it.

Remove the sound tube by pulling back the spring clamp with a pair of pliers. The crankcase vent tube and brake aspirator line (automatic only) will remove by hand. Next loosen the band clamp that holds the intake to the the throttle body and the intake pipe to the with a flat head screw driver. The intake pipe should now lift completely out.

To remove the air box, start by pulling back the red tab on the MAF sensor and carefully pry the retaining tab off the intake. There is one more retaining tab for the sound tube that will free up the tube. There is only one 10mm bolt that holds the intake in place - pull the intake towards the back of the car slightly then up to help free it from the air intake ducting. Reinstall the intake grommets from the bottom of the intake air box back into the sheet metal of the Mustang.

As we mentioned before, the Airaid intake comes with a cap to eliminate the sound tube if you desire. The crank case barb will need to be installed and also the one below it if you have an automatic, if not, a very tight fitting plug will take its place. Lastly, install the No Tune insert, lining up the hole for the MAF sensor, succeeded by the MAF sensor and the supplied allen bolts. At this time we loosely fit the coupler to the throttle body with the included band clamp.

To prepare the intake box, install the velocity stack with the three allen head bolts and then slide the rubber coupler and two band clamps over the velocity stack outlet.

The airbox fits perfectly onto the stock intake grommets and is additionally secured by reusing the stock 10mm bolt. Install the supplied weather stripping to the top of the air box - this helps seal the box to the hood and away from the hot engine bay heat. Lastly, the sound tube retaining clamp will install into the large hole on the new air box.

Install the intake pipe into the the velocity stack coupler first and then rotate it down to the throttle body and tighten the band clamps. Reinstall the sound tube, crank case breather, and brake aspirator line (automatic). Lastly install the air filter over the velocity stack, hook clip in the MAF sensor plug, and the engine cover...you’re done!

We installed the intake system with the Mustang still strapped to the DynoJet with the hood open and no fans. Despite not getting a forced cold air charge to the intake, we managed to pick up an average of 6HP and 5 lb/ft of torque at peak to the rear tires. There is no doubt we are leaving power on the table here without having a proper dyno fan to simulate the cold air charge.

Outside of the power improvements, the Airaid intake really makes the Mustang sound more aggressive.  It denotes a deep rumble at low RPM and followed by a screaming growl as it creeps towards redline.

We hooked back up with Brent White at Brenspeed to supply us with a custom Airaid intake tune for our SCT SF3 that would require us to remove the No Tune insert. With the insert removed, the Mustang thundered all the way to 7300 RPM and netted a new increase of 20HP and 14 lb/ft of torque! The tune coupled with the Airaid intake would push us over the 400RWHP mark with 401HP and 382 lb/ft on 91 octane fuel – simply amazing gains. The Brenspeed tune maximizes the use of the additional incoming air by adjusting the timing a few points while leaning out the Mustang’s very conservative air/fuel ratio.

A gain of 5HP and 4 lb/ft on the dyno without dyno fans with the Airaid intake. Adding the Brenspeed custom tune netted a new total gain of 20HP and 14 lb/ft. Click the picture for a larger version

Satisfied with an Hour’s Worth of Work and 400RWHP to Boot

Airaid couldn’t have made things much easier with the design of their MXP intake system for the 2011 Mustang GT. The new one-piece air boxes house Airaid’s SynthaMax air filter which, when combined with their molded intake tube, provides improved horsepower, torque, and MPG. “All our systems are designed in CAD,” said Edelman. “From there we have a Rapid Prototype Machine that will make sample pieces and from there we spend a great deal of time making sure that everything properly fits for each application.” The SynthaMax is an optional no-oil filter upgrade for their intake systems that makes maintaining the filter a breeze.

While we did do various dyno runs with and without the velocity stack installed, in the end we netted a total gain of 20 horsepower and 14 lb/ft or torque with the intake and custom Brenspeed SCT tune, for a total of 401HP and 380 lb/ft or torque, plus a sound emitted from the engine bay that will certainly turn all the heads of bowtie owners as you fly by them!