Has anyone cut open the plastic piece in behind the grill to open the air flow to the air filter intake? Is this a good idea? I know I have to worry about objects being able to fly in but I was thinking about placing a screen over it. It has to let it breathe a lot better.

Steve

 

I cut a hole in front of the air intake behind the grill.I didn't notice it running any different and I got worried abought rain getting in the air cleaner so I covered it back up.My truck was stock then.It sure looks restrictive in there dosen't it.

 

www.angelfire.com/pa3/spaceace

Pics of a similar mod

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 13-Jul-00 AT 12:15 PM (EST)[/font][p]Boy I wish I had seen the pictures of that before I went out and spent 200 bucks. That looks so simple and very much like it works as good as anything out there for this truck.

sorry I looked!

 

I agree, maybe I have saved $200

 

ditto.
boy, spaceace, sure looks like a straight shot with your exhaust.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 16-Jul-00 AT 06:56 AM (EST)[/font][p]Better ask me. I freelanced there. I used a piece of 1" aluminum bar and folded it around the back half. I used 1 screw to keep it located on the plastic housing. There are 2 existing bolts for a bracket directly under it. You can get the flatstock at any Lowes or home improvement store.

The retainer ring for the filter was cut from the bottom of a 2 gallon paint bucket.

Primative..me Caveman!

 

Complete and success! Went to the local h/w store, picked up a piece of 1" aluminum flat stock for $5.69 and two nuts/blts for $.30 went home and began "fabrication". Took about 30 minutes to figure out how to bend aluminum around cone and to bend back the ends so I could have a flat mounting point to use as an anchor point, but after that, it went smooth and looks great! Had, of course, to take it out for a test spin and sounds superb - like I hear the waaah at WOT!!
I'll find out later about mileage, power increases. But all for $5.99 you can't beat it. And my wife thinks it looks pretty good too!

thanks again, spaceace!

 

I agree with spaceace, especially because I did the same thing. Luckly my nieghbor has a fab shop in his garage. I had already bought my K&N factory replacement filter and set up like this was a lot cheaper. I had the job done in just a few beers!

 

Before the flamers step in....
It probably has NO performance gain whatsoever....
But who gives a crap for $10, it looks good for and lasts for years. You blow that much for a haircut which lasts 3 months at best.

 

As for the performance gain, I can't say it is even enough to feel good difference, but there is a difference depending on how one modified the unit. If you were to replace the Mass Air Sensor with an aftermarket unit it would make the modification to the intake more noticeable.

 

Lets see, lots of warm air from the engine compartment, or colder condensed air from the grille?

I'm glad the Banks PowerPack replaces the filter housing with a larger air inlet (~3.5" compaired to the factory opening of ~2.25").
------------------
Thanks,
Will

2000 F-250 SD Crew Cab, Short Bed, Lariat, 4X2, V-10, Auto, 3.73LS

 

Ok, just got back from an 800 mile trip up in the mountains, and got a 2 mpg gain and estimated 50-60 hp increase due to this. Seriously, there's plently of cool air in the front near radiator, but my main concern, as many have, is simply unleashing the air restriction from the stock inlet. Yes, maybe after spending $100-200 on an OEM part, you may have alittle more something, but like I've said before, I think it's kinda fun to do this type of "good stuff". it kind of reminds me of the days when doing something like flipping the air cleaner lid upside down to give less restriction.

 

Cool air is better, luckily the engine compartment is not sealed and has air flowing through while you are driving. Depending on how one modified the intake (how much cold air is still flowing in from the factory duct to the filter/air intake capability) will determine how well it works.

 

OK, here's the scoop on performance. Just got back from a 7 night, 8 day vacation from Seattle Wa. down through SW Oregon. We took route through Salem/Detroit Lake/Diamond Lake/Rouge River(Florence)/Salem and back home. We were towing our 27' Arctic Fox 5th Wheel. The elevation, of course, varied quite a bit - anywhere from sea level to 7000' elevation (mostly at Diamond lake area)so that made a difference in mpg. Truck weighed in at 6150 lbs with wife and two kids and one half tank fuel, total GCVW was 16,700, hitch weight at 1,730 lbs. We traveled total of 1271 miles, consumed 143.7 gallons - all regular fuel - for average of 8.6 MPG (and $251.00) - lowest was 7.6 and highest was 10.0. There were some pretty good grades which kicked me in 2nd gear sometimes, but for the most part direct (3rd) was more than adequate for the normal grades and OD was very useful in keeping tranny temps down and mileage up. The point of this post is that it is the first long trip I've taken with truck/trailer with the intake opened up and was very curious in seeing the performance characteristics of this setup. I don't have any benchmark statistics before intake (probably not much diff than this) but I thought the overall mpg was exceptional. I was constanstly aware of the power of 10 cylinders though - awesome. I'm a happy camper! Sorry for the long post - I was just excided about the whole ordeal.