Question on CAI & Unichip...How much and how good.

[Bobbyg123]

I'm an older guy, and not into the "cool" mods that a lot of you are. I was when I was younger though. Now most of my money goes into home theater. I am, however, interested in performance mods. What exactly does a CAI do? Secondly, is it a truly appreciable mod? I mean, will I notice it when I hit the gas? Lastly, I know nothing about the Unichip. The same questions apply to that as well. Are these most significant performance mods for the Vibe? Thanks in advance!

[wicked1981]

Quote, originally posted by Bobbyg123 » I am, however, interested in performance mods. What exactly does a CAI do? Secondly, is it a truly appreciable mod? I mean, will I notice it when I hit the gas? Lastly, I know nothing about the Unichip. The same questions apply to that as well. Are these most significant performance mods for the Vibe? Thanks in advance! The CAI replaces the stock air box its less restrictive so it allows more cooler air into the engine giving you a little more hp. If you do intall it you will hear it when you push the gas its loud. Dont know about unichip but I think you only get performace out of it with mods CAI, exhaust if not the gain is minimal. I think .

[Smokin' Rubber]

You will notice a slight difference after you install the CAI but the full horsepower gain won't take place until you get about 100 miles on it.

[Mr. Poopypants]

What does a unichip cost?

[Smokin' Rubber]

I think its around $700

[Mr. Poopypants]

Holy Poop! OK, I don't have that kind of money to just up and drop on a chip.

[Mavrik]

CAI ranges from $150-$450 depending on the brand. My Injen one cost about $360 with tax.And I notice a huge difference with it, not only sound but performance. Of course its not a power machine, but it does have a lot more response.

[Mr. Poopypants]

Oh, yeah my CAI is awesome, but I would still like a little more zip.

[Smokin' Rubber]

If you want more zip get an adjustable fuel management computer to go with your new ECU chip (so you can adjust the fuel/air mixture and bump up the amount of fuel you use alot either than or you can pour in some ethanol into your gas tank lol =D

[goodvibe]

Or remove the crossbars to lower the CD.

[Smokin' Rubber]

Lol exactly

[satur9]

Quote, originally posted by Smokin' Rubber »If you want more zip get an adjustable fuel management computer to go with your new ECU chip (so you can adjust the fuel/air mixture and bump up the amount of fuel you use alot either than or you can pour in some ethanol into your gas tank lol =D the unichip is a piggyback ecu that controls air/fuel,timing,and other things

[drunkenmaxx]

if you ask me, the unichip doesn't sound like a drastic enough improvement to blow the 700+ onjust MHFO

[AKLGT]

perhaps. but spending $1300 for cai, exhaust, and chip combo opposed to $3K+ for a s/c to bring the lower rpm torque to about 155 ft/lbs and high end power to 215-220 hp on a GT vs 165 ft/lbs torque and 176 hp on a base..... is worth the money if you're gonna spend it. as larry even stated, his super s/c xr lost to an xrs w/ the above mods.

[nismo]

One person that would know quite a bit about the Unichip would be trdvibe(Hope). She both on her GT. Ask her.Inder Singh

[Roadpig]

I'll back trdvibe on that....CAI, exhaust & Unichip is all we have since a turbo or S/C is highly unlikely for the GT. Next for me is CAI, and then faaaaaaaaaaar down the road, when I have same cash, the Unichip.

[AKLGT]

yep, plus, think about what you'd have to do to your engine and internals so that your car didn't blow up! new cams, pistons, pulleys, clutch, etc. then engine management. when it's all said and done, you'd have to sink $5K atleast to make it all work

[Celtic_Curse]

[QUOTE=Bobbyg123]I'm an older guy, and not into the "cool" mods that a lot of you are. I was when I was younger though. Now most of my money goes into home theater. [QUOTE]Home theater thing was my first craze. I finished the theater now its on to the car.

[FusionVGT]

If I was looking for a significant increase in power, I'd use N2O.

[Evanshall]

basically the chip is worth it if you have a CAI and some extra cash, since hope didnt say it here ill just say it for here hers her own quite on what teh "Unichip" did"I installed the unichip for my GT. Unfortunately, with snow on the ground, it makes it hard to really test it out. According to some recent dynos, it adds about 20% in low end torque and power! Not too much on high end power, but the torque is incredible!"keep in mind like Burning rubber has on his vibe, you can do custom exhaust with larger piping then the magnaflow, but its genrally mroe expernsive and actualy involves talking ot people who work on cars for there job aka speedshop etc

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by FusionVGT »If I was looking for a significant increase in power, I'd use N2O.nos is good for short bursts of power for racing, but not for daily driving. if you want just that burst of power, then yes, nos is good. but if you want something that's a constant increase everytime you drive, then you would want something like the above mentioned mods. yes, the unichip is expensive. had i wished i didn't spend the $600+? yes. but now that i have it, i am not willing to give it up. i'm sure i could probably resell my cai/chip combo to someone on the board, but then i'd just be stock. and i certainly CAN'T have that! LOL

[FusionVGT]

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe »nos is good for short bursts of power for racing, but not for daily driving. if you want just that burst of power, then yes, nos is good. but if you want something that's a constant increase everytime you drive, then you would want something like the above mentioned mods. yes, the unichip is expensive. had i wished i didn't spend the $600+? yes. but now that i have it, i am not willing to give it up. i'm sure i could probably resell my cai/chip combo to someone on the board, but then i'd just be stock. and i certainly CAN'T have that! LOLI was refering to using N20, aka Nitrous Oxide. "nos" is known to blow the welds off your manifold and shoot 10' flames out your muffler, so I agree it's not for a daily driver. To get some extra passing power, I'd be willing to install a kit with 30hp jetting. I'm not sure how long a bottle would last at that jetting, but considering how long it took me to run through 10lb bottles on 150hp jets, I wouldn't worry about being running out too often.

[Evanshall]

Hope would Unichip be worth it if you already had say Intake and exhaust, then its time for unichip?!

[AKLGT]

yes for sure. that's how the guy w/ the xrs has such great numbers. he ran them before and after.... and the lower rpm range torque is how he got such a great response. i've driven a few stock gt's since my unichip and cai combo and i can tell you there is quite a difference. since i don't have an exhaust, i can't say much on that other than i'm sure it'd just add more fun! but no more mods for me right now. saving up for a house and a possible move.

[Evanshall]

hhe, yup, i have to wonder, after doing research im back in the mood to get a custom 70mm cat back(thats the custom part) GReddy EVO II exhaust, i have to wonder if Unichip would be able to get a good chip for that, in your opinion would they have trouble, it would basically be a bigger and better version of the magnaflow(only due to custom axle to cat part if i can find a shop to fabricate the parts)uhg, and if you have it on hand weres there website i should probably talk to them

[Psychobroker]

Quote, originally posted by FusionVGT »I was refering to using N20, aka Nitrous Oxide. "nos" is known to blow the welds off your manifold and shoot 10' flames out your muffler, so I agree it's not for a daily driver. To get some extra passing power, I'd be willing to install a kit with 30hp jetting. I'm not sure how long a bottle would last at that jetting, but considering how long it took me to run through 10lb bottles on 150hp jets, I wouldn't worry about being running out too often.Umm, I thought NOS = Nitrous Oxide = N20 ?? Bedtime reading: http://www.gearheadracing.com/...s.htm

[Psychobroker]

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe »yes for sure. that's how the guy w/ the xrs has such great numbers. he ran them before and after.... and the lower rpm range torque is how he got such a great response. i've driven a few stock gt's since my unichip and cai combo and i can tell you there is quite a difference. since i don't have an exhaust, i can't say much on that other than i'm sure it'd just add more fun! but no more mods for me right now. saving up for a house and a possible move. I also believe he had his chip custom tuned, which will make a difference over Unichip's A/B maps, even when they tune it to your mods (per Jack Friedman). I was just quoted $250/hr by a local shop recommended by Unichip for the custom tune, which could take 2-3 hrs if done from scratch (ie not sent back to Unichip for reprogramming)....$500+ !!! No thanks, I'll take the maps

[FusionVGT]

Quote, originally posted by Psychobroker »Umm, I thought NOS = Nitrous Oxide = N20 ?? Bedtime reading: http://www.gearheadracing.com/...s.htm "NOS" is an acronym for Nitrous Oxide Systems, a subsidiary of Holley (the carburetor people) that sells N2O kits. NOS was the first widely known companies to sell full N2O kits, so their company name became slang for the product. It's similar to how people call photocopies a "Xerox"Umm, here's the source of your reference

[Psychobroker]

Cool, thanks