greetings again,

I am just curious as to which Air Intake Systems most of you use with the 7.3. It seems the cheepest is the AFE, but I would like to get the best for the money.


thanks,
Trent

 

Cheapest is the True-Flow so far as I know. KN is pretty reasonable as well. The AFE with the Pro-Gaurd 7 filter (stage 2) is pricey. One of the best selling I see today is the new Brute force system with the synthetic dri-flow filter. No oil, no wiped out MAP sensors, no recharge kits to buy or keep in the shop/garage....its a great product. You can also use a KN or a True-Flow drop in filter to replace the stock paper type filters. Myself...I am a fan of the Brute-Force and the True Flow...and I tend to lean at the True-Flow for filtering ability and airflow over the long term. If you want to talk, give me a call and I can go over all your options and tell you what I know of each and what I think...and why I think it.

 

how about the AFE stage 1? seems alot of people use it. I went to the website and looked at the Brute force. Looks like a pretty similar setup? My 7.3 is a 2003, same setup as a 2002?

thanks

 

Yea, same as a 2002. I dont dislike the AFE intakes, I dislike guys oil soaking $120 MAP sensors with the commonly over oiled filters. AFE is as fine of an intake as any, the brute force is just simpler to maintain and does not come with the ability to smoke the map sensor. We carry both of the brands, and I sale many more stage 1 AFE intakes than I do stage 2....purely because of price. The stage 2 is cool, but its hard for many folks to justify the additional cost to get the improved airbox and Pro-Gaurd7 filter. I use a KN system on my wifes 2000 Excursion, and I have over-oiled and taken out a MAP sensor. Its not a cheap little doo-dad to replace. About hundred and a quarter from most places, but I did find Advance Auto Parts has them by Ford, repackaged in a box branded SORENSO and they want about $85 for it....just in case you need one later....lol

 

Trent Fliginger,

The AFE Pro Guard 7 Stage II is the best flowing there is, and the AFE oil is specially formulated to not foul air sensors too! In fact AFE is in existence because the owner used to work at BRAND X filter company, he had a way to stop the oil sensor problem and BRAND X told him they sold all they could why change. PO'ed him pretty much and he started AFE! Been having a hard time keeping up with demand ever since too! The Stage II is expensive but worth it if you tow heavy or have extreme mods! If you have mild mods the Staeg I will do the job too!
Call us if you have any questions etc.

Mark @ DPPI

P.S. - On the Dodge sites a number of owners have reported lower boost PSI with the dry flow type filters, restriction etc as compared to an AFE filter.

 

Mark, you should come down to the V-10 section and ask Captchas about his AFE on his 2005 V-10 and throwing MAF codes.

 

Antelope V-10,

No need the MAS code on a V-10 is usually related to the positioning of the sensor vs oiling.

Mark @ DPPI

 

A very good and cheap intake system for the 7.3 is easy. Get a 6637 filter from Fleetfilter or napa and an optional piece of 4 inch exhaust tubing. You have a great filter setup. It has different names but the most common around here is the Kwik filter. Do a search on that and you get lots of info. I have a section on my site how I did mine, check it out in the Tech section www.bigdaddydiesel.com

 

bigdaddyTank,

You'd be suprrised at what that kind of intake DOESN'T do though. AFE last summer had a dyno day and there were a bunch of Dodge guys claiming their BHAF (big honkin air filter) would out flow the AFE systems. The BHAF is exactly what you described a paper filter with a mandrel tube. They ran the guys truck with the BHAF, then they ran it with an AFE Stage I, made 5-6 more HP with the AFE, no biggie etc. Then the flow benched the BHAF and the even flowed it with the tube only and NO filter. Then the AFE was bench flowed, it out flowed the filter and or just the tube as the AFE system use a full velocity stack inside each conical filter, the stack operates on the same principal as a venturi in a carb from the old days and actually speeds the air to a higher velocity and creates more air flow. So don't be fooled by a large filter and think that it out flows the "engineered" systems like AFE. Also don't be fooled that a lot of the name brands out there flow any better than your set up as they don't have a velocity stack in theirs either.

The upside is the system you have is better than stock and flows more than stock and is very inexpensive too!

Mark @ DPPI

 

I have never been one of those that claimed the 6637 is the best filter setup out there, sure there are others that flow better, and others that are quieter, but like you said it filters and flows better than stock and the cost is very hard to beat. Its a great alternative to those that want a better setup but cant afford or justify the higher cost of somthing like the AFE or AIS.