Originally Posted by gsxr750

One important thing you guys are missing is that, when most of these air filter and exhaust system companies started marketing their products. Most of the name brand products did actually provide some significant power gains, from the late 60's -80's. But this was the time when went from a 1969 425hp mustang to a 1980 mustang 2 with barely a 150 hp due to emission control. Unrestricting these low hp engines by changing the intake and exhaust and simple cam, change gave vast hp gains.
Most of this held true until the late 80's when car manufactures started producing true factory hi performane cars once again, a lot of research and developement went into extracting as much hp as they could and still make the car affordable and reliable to drive on the street.

So in the old days you could take a 200 hp chevy 327 in camaro base model, change the carb, manifold, install headers, change the came and you then had a motor with over 300hp.

Now jump to the late 90's - present factory sports/ muscle cars are producing easily 300-425 hp for most model and you still have these airfilter and exhaust companies trying to sell you on their 5-10 hp gains, marketing them as if your going to get the feeling of turning your pussy cat into a tiger with a few bolt on mods. Or that you will get the same power gains your father achevied on his 60's or 70's muscle cars.

What these companies focus on is the fact that a lot of the performance car buyers will do a few mods when they first get the car and target these buyers with these bolt on or decorative add ons to make their cars stand out from the rest. While making quick money off them.

Overall from seeing that even the cheapest drop cleanable air filters cost you about $110 a set and you can buy 2 replacement fram filters at wally world for around $18. With most of the responses showing that you only get about a 5-10 hp gains the best systems, it make more sense to stick with OEM or Frame quality air filter replacement.

One other note motorcyle air filters are behind the engine and a cars is directly in the front where it is actually bumber mounted where it is exposed to large amounts of air and dust coming into the engine bay area, specially with these front mounted bumper air filters, the splash guards they give you with these kits are meant to stop rain or water from entering the intake , not dirt.