Will These Mods Help?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
save your money on the CAI....... cut the snooter off the front of the intake over, and call it good. the V10 intak is pretty stream line right from the factory. i installed one about 5 years ago for a guy, and it make little to no difference over the stock tube with a k&n filter on it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: central Louisiana
there is a tube that goes threw the fire wall into the grill area on the front of the air intake housing, it goes right behind the left headlight.........
take the cover off, and cut the tube off where it's about even with the tip of the cone of the air filter....... it opens up the front enough to get alittle more air.
it one of those free mods, that won't hurt to do, then one day when you get to it, you can do the "ZOODAD" mod on the side of the grill for some more air flow.
all that added together will be just about as good as an actual CAI and A LOT cheaper. if it were light out i'd go take pics of mine..... maybe i can get a couple when i get home from work for ya!
take the cover off, and cut the tube off where it's about even with the tip of the cone of the air filter....... it opens up the front enough to get alittle more air.
it one of those free mods, that won't hurt to do, then one day when you get to it, you can do the "ZOODAD" mod on the side of the grill for some more air flow.
all that added together will be just about as good as an actual CAI and A LOT cheaper. if it were light out i'd go take pics of mine..... maybe i can get a couple when i get home from work for ya!
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
I would recommend NOT cutting up the stock airbox. It pulls ambient temp air when moving. Cutting off the end may make it not pull the coolest air possible.
If you do get a CAI, the Volant really is the best option...even though I don't think they're worth the $$.
If you do get a CAI, the Volant really is the best option...even though I don't think they're worth the $$.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: central Louisiana
i'm not saying cut it all off........ just the end tube..... it was the first free thing i did to my ex once i took possession of it. i can't say there's any seat of the pants feel of power gain, but i haven't had any bad issues with either of my V10's from doing so. all i can vouch for is my experiences with doing this.
when you do the zoodad mod as well it will help bring more air in too. i still have yet to do the zoodad to either of my V10's...... might do that this week if i get time at work.
i don't drive with a heavy foot and only drive 17 miles one way to work, but i'm getting a steady 15.5-16mpg out of my excursion, and 14mpg open and 12 towing about 3K with my F250 with 39's. i don't see any ill effects from it.
when you do the zoodad mod as well it will help bring more air in too. i still have yet to do the zoodad to either of my V10's...... might do that this week if i get time at work.
i don't drive with a heavy foot and only drive 17 miles one way to work, but i'm getting a steady 15.5-16mpg out of my excursion, and 14mpg open and 12 towing about 3K with my F250 with 39's. i don't see any ill effects from it.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 3
From: SPARKS NEVADA
I'd have to say with the penny pinching mods I did on the intake, ie: cutting 2" holes in the grill area to allow more cold air in the "snooter", switching to the k&n air filter vs the regular filter. The best was the volant CAI (which was a rip off, but thats capitolism) all of those earlier mods were over a 2 year period and the first time I jumped on the gas with the CAI, I was impressed! I still have the k&n and regular filter, but will not go back to the stock set-up. If you turn the stereo up when your in 2nd gear you and your family will hardly hear the engine humming at 4,500 rpms!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
That "Snooter" is also referred to as a "Snorkel". It basically cuts down on the intake noise quite a bit. I saw on a dyno sheet on an 04' F-150 4.6l they picked up 4-5lb ft. of rwtq just by removing the snorkel. I pulled the one on the explorer and it increased the sound. The hole that the snorkel presses up against is very small on the SD and the Explorer.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
I thought the Zoodad was only for the 6.0s. If you do it Mudd, post it up, because my itchy modding finger is getting complacent, and wants desperately to click "Add to Cart" here.
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Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 858
Likes: 1
I got pics in my gallery of the Zoodad I did. I have put a cross hatch style screen on there since the pics were taken. Also pics of my Snout mod.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: central Louisiana
you can see in this pic where the zoodad mod will allow better air flow to the intake.
this is close to what i have........ i just didn't replace the factory snooter (sorry snorkel, haha) with a piece of hose. and from where his new pipe starts, i cut mine about 2-3" further back.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...140892.520.390
this is close to what i have........ i just didn't replace the factory snooter (sorry snorkel, haha) with a piece of hose. and from where his new pipe starts, i cut mine about 2-3" further back.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...140892.520.390
New User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
The following is what I installed on my 02' F250 4x4 w/V10 and am getting 15-16 mpg @ 70mph: headers (stock manifold cracked), K&N air filter and drilled a hole in the front panel for some cold air, Hypertech programmer, larger y-pipe and a Flowmaster muffler. I pull a loaded 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer pretty darn good.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 246
Likes: 1
From: Westerville, Ohio
The following is what I installed on my 02' F250 4x4 w/V10 and am getting 15-16 mpg @ 70mph: headers (stock manifold cracked), K&N air filter and drilled a hole in the front panel for some cold air, Hypertech programmer, larger y-pipe and a Flowmaster muffler. I pull a loaded 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer pretty darn good.
What was your MPG before the mods? With or without the trailer, or a mix? Which mod do you think helped the most?
Which Flowmaster did you use? How does it sound? I'm looking at the 70 since I don't want too much noise. Do you have the exhaust flutter I keep reading about?
Do you have 4.30 gears?
How big of a hole did you drill in the K&N?
Sorry for all the questions, but since you have the same drivetrain (except maybe the gears) I wanted to see what you thought.
Thanks,
Ex03AK
New User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Ex03AK, I have 3.73 gears, used a 2 1/8" holesaw in the "panel" right in front of the air intake tube...... it fit right inbetween the top crossmembers of the grille. I used a 40 series Flow for the sound (alot of guys like the 50 series) with no flutters, sounds tough without being ridiculous while driving @ hwy speeds.........we watch TV when on road trips w/no issues. Stock all around mpg was 12-13. The headers (Top Speed Pro 1 performance) and y-pipe mod, both of which were purchased new cheaply off ebay, made the biggest difference. They were the last mod I did and gave me a little over 1 mpg. I did everything in steps to get a actual gauge of how well they worked. The end result of a lifted CC F250 4x4 w/V10 getting 15.8 mpg surpassed my expectations.
