Cold Air Intakes
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1,221
From: Southern Crescent
The 7.3 already has a highly effective cold air intake system. I used to think all those weird boxes and stuff attached to the factory CAI were there to reduce noise, and they do, but the real reason for them is to create "standing waves" or "tuning" that increase the efficiency of the intake and thus the engine. There's some really heavy physics going on here.
Google search "effectiveness of cold air intake systems" and go get some coffee, you'll get an evenings worth of reading.
https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.co...-intakes-work/
https://enginebasics.com/Engine%20Ba...ntake%202.html
https://trucksresource.com/cold-air-intake-systems/
I put an aftermarket CAI and a throttle body spacer on my 5.4 F-150. I think I'll be leaving my 7.3 alone.
But then I might put a 1 in 2 out muffler on it with dual tailpipes, but that's just for looks.
Google search "effectiveness of cold air intake systems" and go get some coffee, you'll get an evenings worth of reading.
https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.co...-intakes-work/
https://enginebasics.com/Engine%20Ba...ntake%202.html
https://trucksresource.com/cold-air-intake-systems/
I put an aftermarket CAI and a throttle body spacer on my 5.4 F-150. I think I'll be leaving my 7.3 alone.
But then I might put a 1 in 2 out muffler on it with dual tailpipes, but that's just for looks.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 71
Likes: 21
From: Woodstock, GA
The 7.3 already has a highly effective cold air intake system. I used to think all those weird boxes and stuff attached to the factory CAI were there to reduce noise, and they do, but the real reason for them is to create "standing waves" or "tuning" that increase the efficiency of the intake and thus the engine. There's some really heavy physics going on here.
Google search "effectiveness of cold air intake systems" and go get some coffee, you'll get an evenings worth of reading.
https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.co...-intakes-work/
https://enginebasics.com/Engine%20Ba...ntake%202.html
https://trucksresource.com/cold-air-intake-systems/
I put an aftermarket CAI and a throttle body spacer on my 5.4 F-150. I think I'll be leaving my 7.3 alone.
But then I might put a 1 in 2 out muffler on it with dual tailpipes, but that's just for looks.
Google search "effectiveness of cold air intake systems" and go get some coffee, you'll get an evenings worth of reading.
https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.co...-intakes-work/
https://enginebasics.com/Engine%20Ba...ntake%202.html
https://trucksresource.com/cold-air-intake-systems/
I put an aftermarket CAI and a throttle body spacer on my 5.4 F-150. I think I'll be leaving my 7.3 alone.
But then I might put a 1 in 2 out muffler on it with dual tailpipes, but that's just for looks.
Thanks for the links!
73 OM de W4SPD
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 667
Likes: 156
In my younger days, did every mod imaginable and without pulling heads, simply using bolt-on mods then headers was the best performance mod.
Never have I felt or seen an improvement in CAI and throttle body spacer unless your willing to go all out on a high octane tune with some timing advance and expensive exhaust system.
Did all the above on my previous 5.7 Hemi and on first run, had to remove TBS due to excessive whistling.
Never have I felt or seen an improvement in CAI and throttle body spacer unless your willing to go all out on a high octane tune with some timing advance and expensive exhaust system.
Did all the above on my previous 5.7 Hemi and on first run, had to remove TBS due to excessive whistling.
New User
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Kitty Hawk
I installed the AFE momentum gt dry filter. Horrible rattle/drone sound when you hit the gas pedal. Would only last for a second and go away and when at a certain cruising speed it would go in and out. Sounds like a heat shield rattle. I put the stock back on. Plus I saw the video of the guy going through the puddle a little fast and the air box got full of water. The stock filter got soaked but saved water from going into the intake. Not so sure if the AFE filter would have kept the water out as good as the stock filter but I don't want to find out. I messaged AFE on the rattle/drone noise and awaiting for a response.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Kitty Hawk
noise 90% fixed...there is a harness connector that was touching the bracket that holds the air box (for the rubber grommets). I wrapped it with a piece of pipe insulation foam and it took away the kazoo sound. I can still feel and here where the sound is. It is a vibration in the air box at a certian rpm and under a certian load as you are pressing the gas pedal. You may not notice if you have louder aftermarket exhaust. I have stock exhaust with the small coffee can resignator in front of the muffler removed so it is just has a little more tone than stock.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 313
Intakes and catback exhaust arent going to gain you anything noticeable but sound. Tuning will get you a noticeable change. check out 5 star tuning, livernois motorsports or palm beach dyno. they all have experience tuning the 7.3.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
Just throwing this out there, I have tunes from 5 Star on my '21. The only thing noticeable is that it shifts a little different. I didn't notice any power gains. If I didn't already have the SCTx4 programmer from my last truck, I would think it was a huge waste of money.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 313
just curious what tune your running. i didnt notice a huge change when i had their tune on my 6.2 either. there was a decent gain of torque down low though. it was a peak 28whp/8wtq change based on the dyno test. my truck also weighs 7500-7700 pounds depending on tools in the truck.so there needs to be a big gain in power to notice it with the weight. my biggest gains so far was long tubes and custom tune.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
just curious what tune your running. i didnt notice a huge change when i had their tune on my 6.2 either. there was a decent gain of torque down low though. it was a peak 28whp/8wtq change based on the dyno test. my truck also weighs 7500-7700 pounds depending on tools in the truck.so there needs to be a big gain in power to notice it with the weight. my biggest gains so far was long tubes and custom tune.
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