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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

High Performance Air Intake System.

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Old Jun 23, 2013 | 03:10 PM
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High Performance Air Intake System.

Hi guys!

I have been "pulling my hair out" attempting to find a High-Performance Air Intake System for my 1987 F150 XLT Lariat with a 5.0 Liter A4OD.

O'Reilly ordered a K&N system but it was for an 88-95 and the support bracket would not reach my AC Pump.

Does any company make a system for the 1987 302 EFI?

All input is most welcome.

Thanks!

Mark
 
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Old Jun 23, 2013 | 03:22 PM
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And the dead horse rises once again... Do yourself a favor, don't get any K&N filter or intake, they don't work right with these trucks. Want colder air? get the snorkel (air pick-up) from a I6 300 or a 460 engine, it gets colder air than the stock one your 302 has. If you want it to be even colder, insulate the air tubes going to the Throttle Body.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2013 | 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Encho
And the dead horse rises once again... Do yourself a favor, don't get any K&N filter or intake, they don't work right with these trucks. Want colder air? get the snorkel (air pick-up) from a I6 300 or a 460 engine, it gets colder air than the stock one your 302 has. If you want it to be even colder, insulate the air tubes going to the Throttle Body.
This x2. The factory system is already a true cold air intake system. The only improvements you can make to it are the ones Encho has mentioned. All of the aftermarket systems are worse for the truck. I currently run a drop in replacement K&N filter. I saw NO gains at all by putting it in. The only reason I have one is because I got the filter for $20 new. It will be going away when I MAF swap this winter due to it not fitting in the MAF airbox properly.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2013 | 04:32 PM
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In '87 the air intake box was mounted on top of the motor if you can believe it so it's not much of a cold air intake. If the OP wants an improvment then he could substitute the complete intake setup from an 88 or later truck and use the I6 snorkle as already suggested, at least that will give a true cold air intake but don't expect to feel a difference.. this motor is pretty far from being a high performance motor so there is literally nothing upstream of the camshaft that is in any way restrictive.. even with the '87 setup.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2013 | 04:37 PM
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I do remember seeing that in Steve83's albums now that you mention it. In that case, I would swap in the entire intake system from a later truck.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2013 | 10:10 PM
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Thanks guys! There is 2 boneyards that have several fords. If I understand I can either obtain the complete stock system from either an I-6 4.9 Liter or a 7.5 liter and this should "do the trick."

I did not expect much regarding horsepower or mpg just more of a "free breather."

Thanks again!

Mark

P.S. Which would be better; I-6 or 460 cid?

P.S. 2: This is a California truck so I am also going to remove the smog pump and "all the plumbing" and order a shorter serpentine belt.
 

Last edited by boonslick; Jun 23, 2013 at 10:12 PM. Reason: forgot something
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Old Jun 23, 2013 | 11:42 PM
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If the smog equipment is operational just leave it, you won't gain anything and could even hurt performance and mileage by removing it.
 
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Old Jun 25, 2013 | 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Encho
If the smog equipment is operational just leave it, you won't gain anything and could even hurt performance and mileage by removing it.
Hello and good evening.

I probably should but the charcoal cannister has a hole in the top and some of the other "smog equipment" requires replacing. I do not want to spend a lot of money replacing a system that could be better spent elsewhere.

What do you recommend?

Thanks Encho!

Mark
 
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Old Jun 25, 2013 | 11:00 PM
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Smog parts are inexpensive, and from the 2MPG I lost when I removed my smog equipment I would advice just replacing whatever failed.
 
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