I have read on here many times about how everyone should install an AF1 on their truck. I was just curious about what is so special about that one particular CAI? With all the different kinds out there, what sets that one apart from the rest? Since it has an S&B filter on it, why not just get the whole S&B CAI??? I'm shopping for future mods and curious. Thanks in advance!

 

Most CAI's flatten out near the throttle body end of the tube reducing the volume of air that it can flow, the Air Force 1 stays a true round thru the whole tube thereby allowing more air to flow. The S&B intake may have the same filter, but it has a flattened tube choking off airflow.

 

Personally, if I had it to do over again, I would save my money and get no intake. Unless you like the noise and looks, I notice no other difference with it. I have the K & N and would highly doubt that any other brand is going to be any different(give more HP, etc., especially on a 6,000lb truck)

 

installed the 3" AF1 on my '05 4.6L Screw last weekend and I can tell you for a fact that it makes a hp difference at about 3500 rpm.. also a very sweet growl from under the hood.. but when I need to make a pass this truck now JUMPS from 55 mph to 90 or more verrry quickly.. I have to watch it.. lol.. I'm not sure where jimmy k gets 6,000 lbs from, my Screw is a bit lighter than that unless I've got a couple of bikes in the bed.. lol..

oh, and no comments please about cleaning up the engine bay.. yeah, yeah..

 

I have the K&N and it works great...My truck sounds like a V8 now...that's the main reason that I got one. It definitely feels like it gets up in the RPM range much faster...K&N dyno's theres at about 16HP gain for the 5.4 3 valve...not sure what AF1 claims.

 

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ht=curb+weight

Glad to hear such increase in power! If you check the above link you'll see where I get my 6,000lbs from as the chart from Ford indicates a few hundered lbs. shy of 6,000 out of the box...lol...( I'm quite positive if I scale it with my few mods and a tank full of gas, it will be over 6,000)
And yes, your screw is a bit lighter with a smaller engine..lol..(and is that a 2 wd?)

 

correct, all power directed to the rear wheels + smaller engine.. I think my manual says 5,500 lbs.. occasionally I'll put 500 - 600 lbs in the bed, but ya know what's funny? and this was before I modded anything.. it's quicker with a load in the bed than with a couple of fat-assed people in the back seats..

 

Tex, since you also have a 4.6, did you notice any dropoff in low end torque after installing the AF1? I haven't tinkered with the idea of a cai, yet. It's mostly due to the slight loss on lower end in my car with an AEM intake, however that's a 4 cyl and it really needs to wind up to get anywhere. The car just seemed to lose a little bit of pull when not smashing the pedal so I've been hesitant to look into one for the truck.

 

Just wanted to thank everybody for there input. Still a little unsure about sum things, like the flattening out befor the TB?, guess i've never noticed, or seen this. I have a 04' 5.4, and from what i'v gathered so far is that after I do the CAI upgrade, i'm gonna also have to get a tuner, an everthing is just hit an miss from there. Please feel free to correct me if i'm wrong. I've read on here sum people have had major malfunctions, and sum haven't. Not to worried about the noise that it makes, I currently have dual exhaust, straight pipes after cats, no mufflers or crossover pipes, w/ 3 1/2" x 14" tips, and love that sound. Which actually isn't as loud as you might think, sumtimes wish it was just a little louder. Also considering installing headers, trying to get info on those also. So far, Pacesetter seem to be the best buy overall, again feel free to correct me. Thanks again for everyones opinion. Does anyone have the AEM Brute Force????

 

I don't notice any "flattening out" of the CAI tube with mine.
I would recommend a tuner.I have troyer 87 octane "tow tune" in mine and am happy with it as it eliminated the throttle lag.

 

Scorpio, I haven't noticed any low end loss at all, the main difference I've noticed with the AF1 is at about 3500 rpm and up.. the sound from under the hood is sweet from start-up, but at the higher rpm there's a very noticeable difference.. no more throttle lag when passing, going from 55 to 90 or more happens FAST now ... the one thing I would recommend if you're NOT going to get a tuner first, is to install a cat-back exhaust.. that extra air you take in needs somewhere to go and you need a straight through exhaust to achieve that.. could be the cause of the lag you get on your car? Hope that helps some!

 

dumchris, there's no reason you'd HAVE to get a tuner, I can tell you that with exhaust you have you'll notice a difference in hp with just a CAI.. I did that first too (cat-back before intake) and I really can tell a difference.. I'm looking at tunes as frosting on the cake so to speak.. lol.. I'm hoping in a couple of weeks or so to order an Xcal2 and really wake my engine up, but even if I don't I'm pretty happy with where it is now..

 

Tex, about the whole tuner thing, i've read the main reason you would have to get a tuner w/ after a CAI, is because of it running lean an sometimes of the codes. Which i'm sure you know, is a big problem w/ the 04's. As far as horsepower goes, I know from experience w/ other vehicals, that a CAI isn't gonna give you that much. Although this is a whole different animal. I'm pretty much happy for the horses I have now, for now anyways, but the only reason I WANT a tuner is to get rid of that friggen accel lag! When I push the gas, I want tha dam thing to go, not sit for a sec b4 it makes it mind up if it wants to get run over. I'm not saying that I wouldn't want to add as much power as possible, because I do, but I have to use my truck for work, an I do have to travel ALOT! The things I want to upgrade are just things that I want to do. Again thanks, and keep me updated on how that frosting turns out!