JLT II vs TunableInduction observations
kj_cinci said:
You cannot go wrong with the C&L, JLT or Tun Ind systems... I'd go with one of the later two, and as you see above I picked one, for price and value regarding future mods... There is no replacement for displacement... volume baby! :winks Power is pretty much exactly the same... save a buck and be ready for those P&P heads... headers, what not... :happyhapp
Ok, since I've bought and installed my JLT II then I suppose that I should chime in.
I'm going to compare it to the photos/info of the Tunable Induction because it's at the same price point as the JLT.
Starting at the throttle body adapter, same. nice wide even transition. simple and sturdy.
Throttle body tube, TunInd - 100mm carbon fiber reinforced resin. Looks slick and should stay relativly cool. Has thier logo sticker/badge? in plain view. They claim to have a lot of engineering in their tube to keep it from getting hot.
Throttle body tube, JLT - same size, resin (plastic), nice material, 1/4in or so thick. Show quality painted finish. simple, I like simple.
MAF sensor housing: TunInd - 95mm machined resin (plastic). Plenty big, should be good for 500hp. JLT - 90mm machined aluminium. Plenty big, should be good for 475hp.
JLT's is bonded to the tube, TunInd's prolly is too. TunInd claims to prevent a "hot spot" with their hohum grey colored housing.
Filter, can't see any difference in function. same size, shape and mounting. Both are "dual cone".
Heat shield, TunInd - two sides, one bolt. JLT - one side, one bolt.
TunInd shields air from raidator area and raidiated heat from engine and exhaust. JLT shields raidiated heat from engine and exhuast.
Mounting, throttle body end - same. Filter end, different.
TunInd - supports the sensor housing with the heat shield. now remember there's only one bolt for the shield and it's not exactly right by the sensor housing. should be fine, even if something broke there's nowhere for anything to go.
JLT supports the tube by the sensor on the radiator hose. A section of split convoluted tubing is supplied to slip onto the hose for the tube to rest on providing separation and insulation from the coolant hose from the intake tube. Upon install, I found that when I put the tube on at the throttle body end I could preload the tube so that there was little weight on the filter end so that the coolant hose support really just kept it steady.
Tunable Induction has a lot of theory to back up the engineering on keeping stuff cool but JLT managed to pull more horsepower in the 5.0 Magazine dyno test, go figure.
enough observations, on with the opinions!
I don't like the "tuner" look of carbon fiber, nor the grey color of the sensor housing on the TunInd. True, it could be painted, but why? I like the shiny black painted tube and bright machined look of the sensor housing of the JLT. I don't think it is nessary to shield the filter from the raidiator, I do think it is important to shield from the engine/exhaust. I don't think the raidiator hose will transfer any meaningful amount of heat to the tube of either system. I would not consider an aluminium tube, especially a cast one, because of the heat absorption. I think the TunInd is a more feature rich product, but produced the same results as the JLT. Kinda like a radio that will pick up 100 channels but there are only 10 channels broadcasting.
I would say it's a toss up. If you like carbon fiber then definitely get the Tunable.
Jay Tucker has staked his claim in the CAI market and it is up to others to take it from him. Good luck to them because they will need it and we the consumers will be the winners.
