Hi all, I am planning some performance work. Right now, the truck (in sig) has a 3 inch downpipe, 4 inch magnaflow exhaust, and this stupid K&N drop-in that the previous owner installed (I know, I know, they STINK). I plan on getting Autometer pyro and boost gauges, and a DP tuner. What should I do for intake? Is it really necessary to upgrade to CAI at my power levels, or should I just get the paper Ford one?
Thanks,
Jack

 

You can go with the 6637. Take a look at my thread on the custom cold air intake for 1 idea.

 

6637 with a Petes filter cover or an AIS system from powerstrokeshop.com

 

If you have a little time, and dont mind a little fabrication, I would look into the OEM 6oh filter. (off of the 03-07 6.0 powerstroke trucks) I really really like the donaldson powercore style filters, which is the same style used on the AIS system. Great used oil analysis', and they last a long long time. They also are said to be best filter and good in the cfm range, untill about 500 hp on the 6oh trucks. Heres a couple of pics. My motors not clean, but its got 190k, and my workhorse.

 

Thanks guys,
This stuff looks like just what I was looking for. I was looking for a cheaper way to go since I have to spend all the $$$ on gauges and a DP tuner, so fabrication and imagination might be the wiser route.

 

I would say you could get the 6.0 set up for free up on the 6.0 forum. Very nice fab up job there Speedy.

 

6637, cheap and every effective.

 

I used a complete 6oh intake, and battery tray, cut it down some, and used some 1.25", or 1.5" Aluminum angle, and some misc bolts, and a 2/0 battery cable with a lug, to bolt to the old B+ lead from pepboys. You dont even need all that much to make it work, just a little ingenuity.


Thank you, I prefer to keep it covered in dust, cant see my imperfections that way haha.

 

Yeah, you might get the 6.0 setup for free but I'll bet a cup of coffee the replacement filters are more than the $35 cost of a 6637...

 

Out of curiosity, was it you that I remembered saying in the military how much dirt you took out of a 6oh filter donaldson, and it was still able to run? I was going to say something about that, but couldnt remember who had experienced that.

 

Thanks guys.
I like both approaches, the "build your own" with the 6637 seems pretty simple, and cheaper to replace filters, but the 6.0 seems like it would pull cooler air, at least in my mind, because it is plastic rather than metal. The 6.0 set-up seems pretty complicated, but I could definitely do it if I had directions to follow. Has anyone posted directions or detailed steps to follow from when they did it? I know where to go for pictures for the other approach, and I think I could make templates for that one pretty easily. Also, kind of unrelated, but is there any way to get a used DP tuner, or somehow get one cheaper? Same with gauges. They are both really expensive!
Thanks,
Jack

 

Yep -- that was me. It was pretty amazing!!

Now, you can use the same (or is it similar?) filter if you buy the AIS for $200 (you get the ~$90 filter with it, and no fabbing). Now, that said, you need to know that there is NO evidence that the enclosed filter works better than the open element 6637. It's been tested, and the 6637 does equally as well or better. The down side is that it will let the turbo noises out. You'll here some really cool noises you've never heard before. You might even wonder if something is broken. I did -- LOL....

Now, you can take my word for it, or take a look at folks' sigs and see how many of us are using it. I'd even venture to say that the 6637 is as common (or moreso) here as the AIS & AFE combined.

In the end, you need to decide if the ~$90 filters will be worth it, because of the "cold air". If you like to fab, there have been a few here that have built a box around the 6637, too. Now you have a CAI with a ~$35 filter. Most of us just run it open. It filters very well, and it definitely performs well that way. If there is a difference, no one has found a way to see it.

 

I thought that was you, my reasoning, for venturing down the path of the 6oh intake was how limited the intake to the filter is on the AIS. The AIS has the same donaldson powercore design, but the opening to it is on the bottom, and the gap to get air into it isnt the largest. Myself and others had experienced maxing out the filterminder with the AIS even with the zoodad and fender sleeve. I wanted that same design, but in a better motion for flow, which is found on the oem 6oh filter setup. Ive ran the OEM, AFE II, AIS, and 6oh, and my favorite is definetely the 6oh. If I didnt drive 30,000+ miles a year out of my truck, I probably would favor the sound of the AFE II, (which is similar in sound to the 6637) because I really did enjoy the sound of the compressor though that filter setup. But I really, really like my 6oh setup. But I suppose Im kinda partial haha.

 

My vote is 6637