hey guys, im lookin at getting a CAI for my 2002 5.4 FX4. ive been seeing lots of info on the 2004 and newer trucks, but not much on them for the 97-03's. im lookin at one with the box cuz i do some gravel travel. how much am i lookin at for improvements with a cai compared to stock?

thanks
Adam

 

I just installed the Volant with the Ram Air tube and freakin LUV it. If you search the forum you will find out that supposidly they drop off the HP curve after 4K rpm. According to Dyno day with Troyer. They really favor the AF1, but you still must be some what pessimistic to fact such as did they have the lid on, was it installed right, did they have the ram air tube with air blowing in it? I like the volant due to the whole somewhat venturi design.

 

S&B and Volant are pretty much the same intake minus the ram air tube. I've had the S&B on my '05 for roughly a year or so and love it. I love the sound and slight vibration on hard acceleration compared to stock.

 

i did look at the AF1, and i like it, but im really lookin for one with the box on it. so its between the sb and volant for me, and the ram air, well, that just might make me decide on the volant. oh, and does the top of the filters on the sb or volant have the filter there, or is it just closed off like the k&n ones? any other reviews?

 

I installed a Volant CAI on my 5.4L the summer of 2001. The box works well and I am very pleased with it. I could feel a difference in performance and since these modular motors produce most of their torque at around 2000 RPM, the 4000 RPM dyno testing thing doesn't really weigh in. I don't drive my truck at that RPM for extended periods anyway. (Save gas when you can!) I chose the Volant CAI because it costs less and due to that fact it is made of plastic which doesn't lend itself to thermal soak like a metal system does. For that same reason that's why the OEM intake system is plastic. The Volant is well made and installs nicely, but I did have to go to the parts store for a offset hose to connect the one of the engine breather lines going to the plenum elbow of the system and I had to cut short the factory PCV breather rigid plastic line for a better connection fit and line routing. I also cut out the fender well opening to match the air intake size of the Volant and covered the two fender well openings ahead of it to insure no hot engine compartment air gets in and also to give that extra oomph. Sure makes a loud noise when you get on it. I got about 2 MPG more after installing the system and a lot more power. The filter is oiled cotton gauze cone shaped and clamps on inside the box to the neck with a circular clamp. It's an impressive sized filter and works just as good as a K&N. The Volant with my Gibson cat-back exhaust give 4 to 6 MPG increase. I highly recommend the Volant CAI.

 

I definitely like the Volant unit. With my Edge tune,the truck really "moans" when I punch it. On your year truck you might eant to check if your pch has been "flashed" to resolve the driveability problems,one of which was a "lean-out" condition.

 

That's appears unlikely, since this seems to be an inconsistent problem. In some cases, even though the PCM is 'commanding' a richer A/F ( open loop), the trucks still run too lean.

I'd be interested in a link to the TSB where you got this info ...

thanks

 

I went with the Volant on mine. I do like the improvments, it's not night and day difference but you can notice a difference in the low to midrange. The install was easy and was done in about an hour. good luck.

 

wow, volants are getting quite the reviews on this thread, everyone else seems to hate them... they love their AF1's...but i dont like open element intakes. i got my question answered to the filter on the sb, but idk about it on the volant still. does the volant have the "inverted ram top" filter that has the filter element on the top and can suck it right thru the hole in the fenderwell, or is the top closed off?

 

you have to look at the year of the truck that people are giving reviews about. Just like the Volant is completely different on your year and the 04+, the tube going to the intake is the part I think alot of people on the 04+ trucks don't like and it is the same on the S&B. My volant is a closed box and has a lid, it sits up to the fender and draws air from the hole from the stock airbox.

 

i have a feeling ill be going with the volant with all the good reviews it has gotten. and yes, i went over the thread i was reading and they were flaming the volant on the 04+ trucks. i could always go for better gas mileage..... how hard is getting the MAF out of the stock system, and putting it on the volant system? and the cheapest i can find it for is $250 shipped, is that the right price on it?

 

I got a email from autoanything.com which is where I got mine and they are having a sale but it ends today. Use the code EMA07006 at the checkout and you can get it for 235.76 with free shipping. As far as getting the MAF out it was not a problem, if you can turn a screwdriver then you could put this thing on. Remember the sale end today. autoanything.com

 

The Volant for my year truck has the inverted open ended air intake on the end of the cone, it's not closed off. And the box has a rubber sealing gasket that sets right up against the fender well intake hole. No hot air from the engine compartment. I suppose if you're into racing your truck the AF1 unit would be a better application, but I just don't like the metal pieces on them, unless they have changed them since 2001. I use my truck for pulling and that's basically what they are designed for unless of course you have a Harley model or a Lightning.

 

I have read alot of other threads here that don't like to Volant. But when I looked at how they are constructed, it was my first choice....

Can someone PLEASE post some detailed pics of one installed on a '97 - '03 (5.4?)....

phonedaddy... Thats also the first I have heard of cutting fender? Can you get us some pics of what you did?

Thanks...

 

undeaddemon,
I would be happy to post some pics. It's dark outside now, so I will post them tomorrow the 11th.