I've been researching the different performance mods for the v10 the past few weeks and noticed there are several different brands and types of intakes- K&N, Air Force One, Airaid, MAC, AFE, and others.

-All have a high flow filter.
-Some have an open element in a box for cold air intake with a high flow intake tube
-Some have an open element in a box for cold air intake but don't sell the intake tube with it (Airaid)
-Some have an open element without a box, but with the tube

Which is best? I thought I wanted the Airaid, but it doesn't replace the stock tube. Which is more important- the tube or the cold air? I notice Air Force One claims it doesn't need the box to isolate for the cold air.

Any help?

 

The V10 intake system isn't really restricted. I'd go with a drop in filter for $45 and leave the rest alone.

 

You could try the above and create your own "Po-boy" FIPK. Using a dremel tool you can cut off the restrictive snorkel to open up the stock intake housing. Add to that the "Zoodad" mod and you will have plenty of cold air heading down the pipe.

 

Both are good. The stock has flow problems due to its according style tube, the box helps keep some of the hot engine compartment air out. But I did the po-boy method and used a k&n filter and cut most of snorkel off. Mine has 1" at the top and 3" on bottom to keep supports and small holes in the side of the airbox intack. I wasnt willing to pay $170 for the k&n tube when I would still have to cut stock mass airflow meter out and bolt to k&n tube. Mine made a great improvement.

 

I have the k&n fipk2 i really like it...a lot, its expensive and im sure the other poor boy methods work just as good but its a great performace kit.

 

Cold air is denser, cold air is better, cold air will hold more fuel for a more complete combustion and increase your efficiency. Not one race car brings hot engine air in from the engine bay. The new GT has an aftercooler to make 550 hp, the not out yet Lightning is purportedly using the a/c system to supercool the air charge in the intake manifold for short bursts of up to 50 extra hp. Get more cold air=go more faster.

 

The stock snorkel brings it's air in from beside the rad, behind the grill, through the core support. It looks to me like the stock setup, however restrictive, brings in cooler air than an open filter in the hot engine compartment.
Watch your K&N filter, I personally know 2 guys that had theirs colapse and suck in dirt.

 

The OEM set up puts the snorkel thru the radiator support and draws air up from the bottom. If you lift up the rubber piece in between the grill and the radiator you can see it very plainly. Right in front of the snorkel is a fiberglass support for the grill and head lights. If you remove the grill and use a hole saw (just like you would use to install a door handle in a door of your house) you can drill a hole in the fiberglass support directly in front of the snorkel. Bt doing this, you are now getting air to the snorkel and air box directly from outside. Absolutely no restrictions. It comes in directly from the grill. I like to think of it as a "Poor Boy Ram Air". Took me 15 minutes and cost no $$$. How can it get any better than that? I had some dark colored screening from a screen window repair laying around so I used a large zip tie and wrapped it around the opening of the snorkel. I know I am getting air directly thru the grill because every once in a while I lift up the rubber flap between the grill and radiator to remove the bugs from the screen I put over the snorkel. Long post, but I hope I have given a good discription of how I did this. I also looked at the K&N FIPK setup, but if you look at their own data, there is no gain in hp until after 3000 rpm. How often do you run over 3000 rpm?

 

from second to fifth

 

Are all years the same as far as the cutting out the fiberglass goes?? I have an 04 4X4 XLT. I was going to buy the K&N FIPK and the guy at the shop told me to just go with the drop in instead.

 

Jim, good info, I'm buying a door handle tomorrow.
Sulco, great answer.

Please, I don't get mad, I've got nothing else to do!
I was serious, good info!!

 

The point was, typically, you are at or above 3000 RPM for short periods of time. For the high price, there is VERY little usable or real world gain by adding a FIPK.