Well as many of you know, I originally installed the older version of the AEM Brute Force intake on my ride in the winter. The intake yielded decent results power wise and worked great. However, it was NOT designed for my newer truck. This likely caused the drone I was experiancing with the kit.

When I found out that AEM had produced a new kit designed to work on trucks all the way up to 08, I had to get my hands on one. So I did. The new 21-8117D was a lot like the older kit I had, but when I took them both and compared from side to side, I noticed several small variances.

First Thing I noticed, was the heat sheild now had a MUCH better mounting. There is a bracket now that mounts to the factor fender bolt that makes this MUCH more sturdy.





The clamps that connect everything together seem to have been upgraded now as well. Before they were just regular old hose clamps. These guys are nice stainless pieces that are nice and shiney.



Although not visable to the naked eye, the runner on the tube in the filter bolts on, is actually a different length. Now for those of you who don't know, that actually how they tune intakes, is changing the length and diameter of the pipes to get the correct fuel trims. It also appeared that the MAF was relocated slightly in the secondary pipe as well. I didn't measure, just eyeballed this though.

Engine Shot:

 

The new powdercoat offering is VERY nice. It looks more like a really thick and quality paint job than a PC. However, it is indeed powder coat.








Results: (Tested WITH 35" tall Tires)

Now i just happened to have a buddy who owns a dyno, so I get a lot of free dyno time. Normally I wouldn't dyno before an after with every little mod, but since it was there and ready to use I took advantage.

Truck Mods: Edge Evolution with some tweaking, Shorty headers, 4:56 Gears, MBRP SI/SO 3.5 Exhaust, Magnaflow High Flow cats.

The old intake gave me an aditional 7rwhp over stock with my current mods at 273rwhp.

Same day Tests with Bigger Tires:

Old AEM: 262.3rwhp/311tq

AEM 21-2117D: 267.1/313tq

Same Dyno, Same Day, Same Temps. All pulls were made within 1.5 hours of eachother. Pulls were made with truck at full opertation temp.

I am very happy to report that the drone is gone at all speeds. Likely caused by the older heat shield design.


This kit is a great piece and I think many of you looking to get a CAI should consider adding this one to the top of your list.

 

Great post and thanks for backing it up with dynos. Either way looks great, I am thinking of going with this kit as well.

 

Awesome Write up!! I am looking into getting the exact same intake! You and i have almost the exact same setup less the cats, what tweaks did you do to your edge, i would like to try your setup.

thanks again!!!!

-Sal

 

nice man. so you upgraded only b/c of the drone?

also:

1. you said that the truck made 273rwhp with the old intake, but then posted:

Same day Tests with Bigger Tires:

Old AEM: 262.3rwhp/311tq

AEM 21-2117D: 267.1/313tq

is the difference between the 273 and 262 b/c of the lift and tires?

2. I didn't know you had hi flow cats. i have the same catback, and was wondering if they had any gain/loss in power? did the video you posted when you installed the MBRP have the cats installed as well?

i really prefer the looks of the AEM over the AF1. nice job.

 

Yeah, The tires do make that big of a difference. If I threw the stockers on there I am sure we could squeeze another 15rwhp out of it easy. Rotational mass is a big player.

High Flow- I had a rattle in my factory cats from day one. Had them replaced by dealer, made my truck too quiet. So I got some Magnaflow ones and had a local shop install them. Made the truck come alive on the low end.

 

im thinking this is going to be my next mod for sure. what are we looking at price wise for that set up?

 

Like 275ish if I remember correctly.

 

not bad but it would be great if it was a little cheaper, do you think it was worth the money you spent?

 

Yes, becaues it's made HERE in the USA! The filtration on their dryflow filters is far superior to anything I have ever seen. The peace of mind I get from that is worth more.

 

how do you feel this intake would work without a tune? i'll get one eventually, but i'll have to do it in steps.

 

If you have such awesome access to a dyno, check out your A/F ratios with your Edge/Intake combo. You might be a little surprised to find its running lean.

Custom tuning FTW.

 

A/F is in check. Hence the "tweaked" Edge. With the stock tune, the A/F is well within the factory parameters

This isn't my first walk around the block.

 

aem is a great intake. i had one on my old 7.3 and have one now as well. i got lucky and only paid 230 for mine though. well worth the money.

 

What kind of "tweaking" did you do to the Edge? I guess you've got a lucky truck. My truck was running extremely lean with the Edge and a S&B CAI unless the AEM doesn't flow as much as the S&B ... I'd think about switching to the Gryphon from Bill at PHP. It's a re-labeled Edge with custom tuning. It'd be worth the money.