Cold air intake question
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jun 2024
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Cold air intake question
I’ve been researching cold air intakes for my 1989 f250 with an efi 351w and I keep seeing mixed reviews. On one end I see that it gives better throttle response but on the other end I see that it can mess up the fuel/air ratio and cause idling issues. Have any of you guys had experience with either the S&B or K&N intake kits and if so, what have been your experiences? They’re the kits that replace the air filter box with a big red cone filter
Tuned
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 301
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Those are junk. Last thing I would do is put one of them on the throat of a motor I cared about. Besides, factory airbox already pulls air from the front of the grill. These "cold air kits" pull it from under the hood. Leave them to the tuner and sticker crowd. If you want to help it breath a set of long tube headers will give you the best bang.
Last edited by Duke5A; Feb 16, 2026 at 11:29 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 5,070
Likes: 863
From: N.W. Alabama
Junkyard and find a I6, or 460 truck, and take the hose and air box from them, they have a ram air, snorkle, right beside the radiator, and get you a AFE dry air filter, and use the $200 left over to fill both tanks, 2-3 times.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 5,219
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the bronco iirc had a late 90s thing like this too for the normal v8 but it’s rare as hell
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
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OP, I agree with the others. You would be wasting money on an aftermarket “cold air” intake.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2025
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https://shop.broncograveyard.com/mob...uctinfo/30497/ this is the duct.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,524
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From: North Texas
I would skip the high flow filter if that truck is stock and maybe 200hp of fury. That paper one is not restricting you at all. Yes, the 4.9 tube is better and always curious why Ford did not use them on the small blocks.
S&B filters are excellent, their sealed box kits are quality too. I have one on my Suburban and one on the 7.3DI KN filters are eh, their kits are fine too if you do a better filter like S&B or Volant...I just get whatever kit is the best deal and upgrade the filter for vehicles that breathe deep.
S&B filters are excellent, their sealed box kits are quality too. I have one on my Suburban and one on the 7.3DI KN filters are eh, their kits are fine too if you do a better filter like S&B or Volant...I just get whatever kit is the best deal and upgrade the filter for vehicles that breathe deep.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,558
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You need to suck in cold air from outside of the engine compartment, that is the only place cold (colder) air exists.
Your engine is only going to be able to pump a certain volume of air, with a filter or without a filter regardless. Choose your brand.
If you have Mass Air Flow(MAF), do not use an oil soaked rechargeable air filter, as it can foul the sensor.
I did some testing a while ago, and the paper FRAM filter was best for my application with the I6/460 air inlet tube as others discussed. Plus it just looks better under the hood.
Your engine is only going to be able to pump a certain volume of air, with a filter or without a filter regardless. Choose your brand.
If you have Mass Air Flow(MAF), do not use an oil soaked rechargeable air filter, as it can foul the sensor.
I did some testing a while ago, and the paper FRAM filter was best for my application with the I6/460 air inlet tube as others discussed. Plus it just looks better under the hood.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 5,070
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From: N.W. Alabama
I looked for months, for the I6/460 snorkle, and finally just made my own, works well, actually get a little of the old 4 barrel sound, when getting sfter it. pics in very first post see below for link, hope it helps.
5.8 upper/lower flow number results b4/aft dyno - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
5.8 upper/lower flow number results b4/aft dyno - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 28
Likes: 1