I know CAIs are minimal gains at best i have installed them on a couple cars and seen little if any gains and i have heard plenty about people getting them and not gaining much at all but heres my question

i found a K n N CAI for the 460 SD all it does is put a cone air filter where the air box (that im sure is restricting flow especially with my exhaust set up) is. so its drawing from under the hood i realize that CAIs don't draw cold enough air to get gains that way but wont i lose power even with the increased flow because its drawing hot air from under the hood?

heres the link- its the second set-up down on the list Flowmaster Exhaust System - Flowmaster Muffler - Cold Air Intake

 

you won't be doing yourself any good getting the cold air kit from k&n because of the reason you stated. You would be much better off just getting the drop in filter from k&n and using the stock air box, the design was pretty decent already in those trucks

 

The word cold is not correct with these systems, they should say outside.
All CAI system take air from outside the engine compartment as they say instead of from inside the engine compartment.
My 1995 truck comes stock with the air coming from outside the engine compartment and is above and near the radiator.
Most CAI say they take the air at a low point on the front from outside air, not good for off road playing.
I do not see where they would gain anything other than the air filter will let more air pass into the engine. That would mean it has bigger holes in it and would shorten engine life.

There is a warm air system out that will take air from inside the engine compartment and will give better gas mileage at some lost in power.

 

thanks yea i have a KN drop in filter and i have looked at the box close before just had a thought that a cone right on the end of the tubes would give enough added flow to get more power

and subford putting the airfilter under the car is the main reason i dont like alot of them because soon as it rains you better have a sharp eye for puddles

 

I ran with just the K&N drop in filter for years thinking the same as you guys. Then I broke down and bought the K&N Kit with the cone filter and it made a HUGE difference. The throttle response is incredible and it had to have added quite a bit more power. My truck's acceleration is much improved, from a standing start or when passing.

The stock box and filter is like trying to breathe through a straw, very restrictive. It really blew me away how much difference it made. Haven't done a mileage test but the extra power and quick throttle response are well worth the price in my book.

 

I hope your not a k&n rep cuz now I feel like I have to try it

 

Yeah OK.. all that means your stock filter was clogged

 

All that K&N kit with the cone filter does is suck in a bunch of hot air, since hot air is less dense than cold air, it does not help you make power. The stock air box with a good performance filter will flow enough air for a fairly built motor. I'm with Conanski, your K&N drop in filter must have been never been cleaned and was probably all clogged up.

 

NO, I don't work for K&N, and my stock replacement K&N filter wasn't clogged. I never noticed much difference before and after newly cleaned. I had 2 filters so I could let one dry and drive at the same time, and probably cleaned them more often than most people. When I put the open filter on there was a HUGE immediate improvement in throttle response, PERIOD!

My set up is a little different than most as I have fiberglass flared fenders and no inner wheel wells, so the filter has access to outside air, BUT I didn't change over until I had run the old air cleaner like that for a couple months.

If you look at the actual size of the inlet on the stock air cleaner, and the amount of filter area compared to an open cone, the difference is huge. The air tube that feeds the air cleaner is restrictive with all the bends, bellows and small opening. It really is like breathing through a snorkel, the longer it is, the smaller the diameter and the more bends, the harder it is to pass air through.

I'm making a true cold air set up to feed cooler air to my filter for better power to go with the great throttle response.