This dealership loves the Shaker package

I never said there was a “noticeable” loss. Just like there’s generally no “noticeable” gain in power when installing a CAI. As I stated earlier, the biggest gains I’ve seen in recent years from the addition of an aftermarket CAI system is maybe 10-15hp which in my opinion is far below the threshold of a “noticeable” gain. To be quite honest, where I have seen some see performance gains after an intake system modification, I’ve also seen many that had no gain and even some that experienced a power LOSS.
The main thing you need to understand is the whole purpose of a CAI. The purpose is to lower IAT(intake air temp). Lower IAT equals more power so it’s really quite simple to quantify the efficiency of a CAI, especially in modern OBD cars. In the case of the modern Dodge Shaker cars, it’s been shown that IAT is actually higher than the standard intake cars so...higher IAT equals lower power. Is it a “noticeable” difference? No, definitely not but many people swear (by their butt dyno) that certain mods have made their cars faster. Hey, I swore flipping the air cleaner lid on my Mom’s ‘72 Caprice made it faster!

 

Marketing is wizardry and magic. The modular K&N type air filter was not designed to pull "cold" air. It was designed to increase available air via decreased restriction. CAI (Cold Air Intake) is marketing misinformation. Let's see a (CAI vs stock air box) comparison of fuel/air mixture temps; before being sucked into the combustion chamber. Given the variables involved (e.g. air temp, humidity, rate of flow, engine temp, etc...), I'd say there is little to no performance loss/gain either way.

I never thought about nor expected to get cooler air via the shaker system. Back in the 70's we would just remove the hood. For myself, the shaker system is less about flow restriction and more about appearance. This was true with every motorhead that I ever knew. Whether or not the shaker contributes to lower temps is a matter of indifference. "Cool Air Intake" would be a more apt definition of the acronym; as it truly is the coolest looking system available. I almost forgot... It also shakes!

 

To put things into perspective...

Stock 426 HEMI:
0-60: 5.2
1/4: 13.5 @ 105 MPH
Top Speed: 185 MPH

Stock 345 HEMI:
0-60: 5.1
1/4: 13.6 @ 105 MPH
Top Speed: 145 MPH (electronically limited)

Stock 392 HEMI:
0-60: 4.2
1/4: 12.6 @ 113.8 MPH
186 MPH (electronically limited)

I'm not paying $10k more for a fully loaded Challenger that is 1 second faster. I wanted a fully loaded Challenger that is as fast (faster) my 1968 Coronet R/T, and that's what I got.

btw.. Is that a Merkur XR4Ti in your garage? I had the last year model w/intercooler. I think it had an intercooler? I wanted to keep it, but it just couldn't deal with the Florida heat.

 

Not sure where a K&N filter entered the conversation but I agree with your comment about it. Regarding your statement that a CAI is "marketing misinformation", I would disagree. Some cars will benefit from an aftermarket CAI. That doesn't mean I believe that aftermarket CAI systems are necessarily superior to the OEM intake system on any given car because that would be a heck of a generalization.
The Shaker hood scoop was simply an early CAI that solved the problem of having to reseal the air cleaner and hood scoop everytime you opened the hood. While they may have provided improved air intake efficiency years ago, they no longer do. Whether you care is up to you.

 

As long as it shakes, I'm good.

 

Thanks for that comparison. I really wasn't comparing but it's interesting to see.
Haha, you are the second person to see my 1988 Merkur in that photo. I bought that new in 1988 at the Sarasota Lincoln-Mercury dealership for $14k (list price was $20k) after it didn't sell for about 6 months. Just sat and sat on the lot. It was such a deal I couldn't pass it up. Pretty much loaded and had the 4 cylinder turbo. Very peppy! While I absolutely enjoyed that car for 6 years, the interior literally disintegrated in the FL heat. It was garage kept too but was parked outside at my wife's workplace during the day. Also every component of the a/c system failed over the years. The extended warranty paid for itself many times over. A delightful German car that just could not handle the FL temps, just like yours.

 

Mine was a 1989, which I believe was the last year for Merkur. The interior (door vinyl) was the first to fail in the humidity. I must say, it ran perfectly when I had it in Ohio. As soon as I got it to Florida, things started going wrong. I made the mistake of using a radiator "lubricant" in it, which I suspect may have clogged the intercooler system? At one point it needed transmission fluid of a type that (according to FMC) was no longer available. I needed a pickup truck, so I sold it.

 

See, should have stayed in Ohio.