ok. so just for giggles, i went under the hood today and started to fiddle around with some stuff on my 1990 f150. i was taking a good look at all my intake setup (stock) and wondered whether taking the snorkel off would help. so i did, and now it seems to run a little louder and cooler (when i get on it, it sounds like i still have the k&n fipk on it sort of.) anyway, i was wondering if anyone knew of any other really quick fixes/changes that can be done to it. mainly just looking to try stuff that would let it breath better, be louder, get better gas mileage, or just plain run better. just thought i'd ask.

whiteboyslo

 

What is a "snorkel?" I am also interested in easy and quick performance for my 1992 I-6 Ford Flareside. A friend of mine has a 1995 I-6 F-150 and he put a throttle body spacer with a spiral cut into it and he said he gained a few MPG and it took off better. Just something to think about........I think he bought it from JC Whitney, but I am not sure. If you really want one, I can ask him where he got it.

 

Of course it is breathing better but what is getting sucked into the engine? Go with a K&N filter for better air flow and it is safer too. The quickest easiest performance boost is 93 octane fuel.

 

Higher octane fuel will get you no where with performance this is a sad misconseption. The only thing a higer octane will do is prevent detonation because it is more stable. If your motor is meant to run on 87 93 wont help!

 

92fordflareside-
the snorkel is just the plastic air tube that runs from the front of the grille into the underside of the airbox. all it takes to take it out is to remove the screw that holds it in (right behind the grille). as far as getting extra crud in the air box, i guess it would make it more vulnerable, but it probably just means i have to keep a steady eye on the filter. as long as i keep it on the road, which i typically do, it should be fine.

 

Done the snorkel removal trick on mine. Much better especially around 2500-3000 RPM's. I already have a Flowmaster muffler welded in and am getting ready to butcher a set of Autolite plugs to see if sidegapping really works.

89 F150 4x4 300/4 speed 33.12.50 w/Rancho lift 3.55 gears
82 Mustang GT 302 C4 + nitrous=FAST
91 Mustang GT basic bolt ons- GM Eater

 

I did the K&N filter a year ago and didn't seem to notice any difference. A while ago I put the paper filter back in. Then it seemed the truck was a bit sluggish. Last night I put the K&N back in and took off the snorkel. The snorkel is about 22 inches long and where it enters the air box was bowed in causing some restriction. Anyway, this morning I drove it and it seemed to run a lot better and sounds better too. As far as sucking dirt, I guess mud could splash up from the tires, perhaps a shield or something is in order. What about rainy days and mist in the air? Did the 22-inch snorkel help to condense the mist so it drained out instead of collecting on the filter? I don't think it matters. Probably the biggest concern is that the snorkel is to get cooler outside air as the underhood air can be a lot hotter and thus less dense. The cooler air packs into the cylinder better. Hey! With the snorkel off I can reach right into the side of the air box. This summer when its 90 or so I might poke a small flat (so as not to restrict air flow) ice block in there to see if it cools the air and boosts power. There were no screws on my '95's snorkel. It just snapped into the air box and once that end was out the front just slid out of the grill area. Worst part was working the thing out from between all the hoses, brake lines, etc.

 

Figuring that I will need the cooler outside air in the summer, I put my snorkel back in, but with some modfications. Where it enters the air box it was bowed in, restricting flow. I trimmed the sides back about 1.5 inches to get rid of the bowed part, leaving the ends in place as they hook into the air box. On the other end of the snorkel the opening is pointed sideways--at the back of the headlight--and the only air flow is from the bottom behind the bumper. Here I cut off the end of the snorkel so the opening is facing forward and even with the inside edge of the old opening. Next I removed most of the fasteners from the plastic piece that directs air from the grill to the radiator and bent that piece out (left) so it is wedged behind the grille leaving about two inches of grille opening that the air is forced to the right (passenger side) where my nice new big opening to the snorkel is. Haven't had good chance to test it but ran pretty good this am. It certainly will get more air.

 

Well, I know what I'm doing tomrrow morning. I'd love to install a FIPK Gen II on my 96 I-6, but oh wait, K&N doesn't make 'em for this truck, nor does AIRRAID. *sigh* Any rate, tomorrow the snorkel goes off and I begin research on a custom intake manifold from filter to the throttle body.

Hey, TAULPAUL or whatever your name is, did you mean a literal block of ice?

Later,
-Nick.

 

Yes, but probably would need a cooler full of ice cubes with the intake passing through to really cool down the air. But if that would help, then why don't our vehicles run faster on cold winter days compared to summer? Would have to look up the difference in air density to see if it is significant.