C&L & JLT - Metal Intake VS. Plastic Intake for 2005-09 Mustang GTs

[NJ09GT]

Hey All, Well over the winter expect some posts on 2005-09 Ford Mustang performance items (intake/exhaust/pulleys/tune). Anyway, I am looking to get an intake. I heard C&L as well as JLT are good intakes. Now, is there that much of a withdrawl from using a metal vs. plastic intake? Is it true plastic is better?

[Web-Admin]

Plastic is much, much, much better:

It's lighter
It doesn't absorb heat
It's cheaper


Metal intakes, especially ones that are very close to hot parts like valve covers, will absorb that heat until it becomes roughly the same temperature. Which will heat the air traveling through it, thus pretty much defeating the purpose of a cold air intake.

There is not a single car sold, from Corollas to Ferrari's, with a metal intake. If a plastic intake is good enough for an Enzo, it's good enough for your Mustang.

[JerseyStang07-Brian]

i think metal intakes are more an aesthetics thing but as a 6er i only had a few choices and felt the C&L (which is metal) was the best for me and what i was looking for.

and to cut john off before he starts with the whole v6 vs v8 thing, yes im looking for a v8 but its just not feasible for me at this point

haha now john cant make fun of me!!! MWAHAHAHA

[Jsko]

I have to agree with Mista X, Im currently running one of each, I have a metal BBK intake on my GT. It does absorb a ton of heat, but cosmetically it looks great under the hood.

On the other side I have a JLT also and I think its a great intake. It is a little lighter, however it is a little more expensive then my BBK intake. I think it looks great since you can have them paint matched to the car. The fitment is a little tight but other then that no other problems.

[erzats]

I don't know about heat issues and I guess you have a good point. All I know is that c&L intake weighs a ton compared to the stock plastic one on the 4.6

[Curt@BMCPerformance]

Exactly what mista said. Plastic would perform better, honestly amount of hp lost wil still be negligible but i'd go with the the plastic, its what i chose. The only time i would suggest going with the metal if you have the choice is if you plan on tapping your intake for nitrous.

[NJ09GT]

So whats a good plastic intake for the S197?

[Curt@BMCPerformance]

C&L Racer intake gets my vote, although the JLT is right on par as well, either one you need a tuner as well unless you get the restrictor for the C&L so you can run it without a tune.

ok curt beat me to the punch but im gonna second what he said. While plastic will not absorb heat, If you like the look of metal...the difference is really so minimal in hp. Get what you want.

[Hotshot]

I am partial to the JLT intake. Fewer people have it