I want to install a cold air intake, does anyone know what whould be the best kind to install? I,m not a big fan of k&n. and if anyone knows some good canadian links to order from? some installation pics would be great to! thanks. 2001 f350 7.3ltr

 

Probably the two most popular TRUE cold air intake systems, at least among this forum's participants, is either a Donaldson PowerCore technology system or an AFE system. There is also a growing crowd of us who are building custom cold air boxes around the 6637 open element, but it is not an "off the shelf" kind of approach it sounds like you may be wanting to get.

The PowerCore technology is available in two formats... either a retrofitted stock intake from a 6.0L engine or the AIS upgrade which is designed specifically for the 7.3L engine. This technology offers the highest dirt filtration efficiencies and has excellent airflow capabilities. This system, though the highest efficiency, is also about the most costly, and it also uses expensive filter elements which are disposable.

AFE systems come in Stage 1 or Stage 2 levels of performance, and also offer multiple filter element designs (5-layer gauze, 7-layer gauze, oiled, and dry). These filter elements are all reusable.

To find links, you can search on Google for "AIS", "AFE", "ProGuard", etc.

 

And the S-B systems are very good also, theres been some test on here and this system had great air flow and filtration per Gene, been flawless for me. It is an oiled filter media and washable so no more buying a filter again. Take a look and don't mind the filterminder, the directions said to put it there if I didn't want to use it, didn't want to drill a hole in my intake tube.. It has a big cutout at the bottom and towards the fender and a snorkel to the front of the grill..

 

Holler at Clay(Riffraff Diesel Performance)He will get you his kit or something else you may like.

 

My vote is for the S&B if I wasn't running the 6637.

 

I am still a die hard fan of the 6.0 retrofit. Like Pete said, pretty much as good of filtration as you can get, and the 6.0 filter is oriented the correct way, to allow more flow. It takes a little fabmastercation, but well worth it.

 

Cut a hole in front of the snorkel and the AIS intake is a cold air intake through the grill bulkhead. That is what I have on mine. Bulkhead is plastic so it is easy to cut out around the snorkel tip.

 

I'm leaning toward buying an AIS, I like the stock look and filtration. My only concern is possible restriction. Does anyone have any cfm numbers for the AIS yet? I've done a few searches and have found nothing as to actual numbers. I rarely use my 120R setting on my DP Tuner and mostly use 80E and tow (12,000lbs regularly). I've got the stock air box currently and am looking to get more out of my set up without noise in the cab.

AFE would be my second choice but I hear it's louder in the cab and I am not looking for that. Is it considerably louder than stock? Sorry for the long blurb.

 

I'm also considering changing air filter setups. I currently have a Tymar open element filter. It's definitely better than the bone stock setup, but I've started thinking more and more about the effectiveness.

I mean we all know that cooler air is what we're after because it's denser and allows more to get into the engine. This is also why we go with bigger intercoolers. Also the net result is lower egt's. But with an open element filter, we're drawing air from inside the motor compartment which in theory is much warmer than the air coming into a cold air setup. So you'd think that a cold air unit, whether an AIC, AFE or equivalent, 6.0 retrofit, or a modified stock intake with the same flow specs as the Tymar or 6637 would be better. This is because you're flowing cooler air at the same rate, which should result in cooler manifold air temperatures.

So I'm kicking around relocating the driver's side battery, moving the Tymar open element filter up at more of an angle so that it's got more room around it, and then building a full enclosure lined with some dynamat heat resistant material. Or switching completely to a AIS or AFE. The other option I'm toying with is removing some restrictions within the stock airbox and see how it flows and with what temps compared to the open element filter.

 

You know Pete makes a cover for those too Mike.

 

Yes sir, been wanting to ask him for awhile and did just that the other nite. Can't beat the extra filtration and nice looks to boot.

 

When I had my AIS, it would peg the filter minder. My truck is a pretty heavy one (9k+, scale verified) and tows skid loaders, etc. The AIS did not cut it for me, even with the zoodad, and fendersleeve. Others have had better success then me. Could have been a fluke. The 6oh setup has the same filtering efficiency as the AIS, and is much cheaper then the AFE, other then its a little more work, Im not sure why the AFE would be the choice over the 6oh setup. I have ran the AFE II, stock, and 6oh. 6oh being my favorite of all.

 

Mike-

Have you ran the Tymar or 6637 at all? If so, was there a difference between it and the 6oh?

 

Another vote for S&B. They have excellent flow and filtration numbers and replace the entire airbox and battery tray.

 

So in order to use the 6.0 setup, it looks like you have to switch to the early 99 style intake tube (shorter than the later style), and it looks like you plumbed in the stock CCV (evident by the dirty, oily boots ). I wouldn't do that if I tried this approach, but the question I do have is what is that large hose on the front end of the filter? Looks like a small radiator hose or something. What's it for?

I have a buddy that I might be able to talk out of his stock 6.0 system, so I'm curious. And does it just lay in there or did you have to come up with some custom brackets? Does the actual intake sit where the stock snorkel comes out?? May be something for me to try relatively easily to see if there are any differences in the air temps post-I/C...