I have a 2001 and from searching the L boards have read that the 2001 airbox has a bigger opening than 99-00...thus adding to the higher HP figure for 2001. My question is, should I go with a K&N panel filter or an open filter(JL,PSP,etc). With the bigger opening in the airbox, a K&N panel filter would obviously flow more air over the stock paper version...but would the amount of flow from an open bigmouth filter be all that necessary? I'm not a weekend racer, just trying to get the most power for my money. A chip is around the corner for me, too! Thanks to all who reply!

 

D-Town,

I would DEFINITLY go with the 12' filter setup, the blower whine will convince you!!!

Also, you might want to consider getting a chip with that because there could be a chance of the engine running lean due to the increased air flow. The 12' filters flow a whole lot more the the stock airbox.

 

the arguement for the panel filter in the factory air box would be that it draws the intake air from the fenderwell thus isolating it from the hot enginecompartment which has the radiator, the engine, the exhaust manifolds all contributing to heat up the air in there.

Everybody knows that cooler air makes more power than hot air, but some folks here would argue that at speed enough air is flowing into and out of the engine compartment that there is a constant exchange and your engine shouldn't really be sucking in hot air through an open element filter.

Some people say that a flat panel filter offers no real performance gains, this is pure BS. I dyno'd my 2001 just last saturday and the K&N panel gained anywhere from 3 to 10 Hp at the rear wheels on my particular truck on that particular day.

Unfortunately I didn't have an open filter to try, and I have yet to see any actual dyno numbers that proved that the open filter is worth sucking in the heat for. That doesn't mean that it isn't, just that I haven't seen any proof of it yet.

So for now I'll stick to my factory box.

Side note, open filters do make the supercharger sound louder which is cool.

later,
chris

 

I tested this about 2 months ago. Here are my results, yours may vary. http://nloc.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/002413.html

BTW, I went back to the ram air setup because with the 2 pullies and modified box I don't think I was getting enough air, at least it felt that way.

 

So I'm assuming a drop in K&N panel filter will make difference, especially in this Texas heat. The bigmouth conical filter will give you the most flow/power but only through the colder months....Makes sense. Does anyone happen to know the flow rates for these particular filters? I appreciate the help everyone!

 

where did u get a drop in kn filter for a 2001. the sales person at steeda said they didn't release one yet. He told me the 99-00 didn't fit the 2001.

 

Open air filter. The sound these trucks make is worth the price of admission. I love the looks on people's faces people that I pass under full throttle. The banshee sound gets them every time!

 

'01 uses the same filter. Service department at local ford svt dealership quoted the same part# for all three years. I had one in mine before I switched to the open filter.

 

The 2001 is a little different. K&N has a differnt part number on there listing. I think I would rather go with that than what soemone else told ya. I am expecting mine on Monday according to the e-mail from Martel Brothers. I had odered one from Macromotive and told them and specified over the phone that this was a 2001 Lightning and need the one with the extra -1 on end the 99 & 00 number is 33-2140 . Marcomotive sent me a 33-2141 guess what it fit (GM V-6 ) thought the box looked small. Well on the call back about replacement they gave me a retrun authoration # and told me UPS would be by to pick it up on Tuesday 9-4-01. Monday was hoilday. Tuesday evening I get call that they where not sending the UPS return that I had to pay for the return because I made the mistake in ordering. Told him funny I specified what it was for and to make sure the 1 was on the end and yep they did. So after about a 5 min of being put on hold He came back and said I would still have to pay for return and would not charge for shipping on the CORRECT filter. I told him I'm not paying to return this filter wait for you to get then send me one in about 2 or 3 weeks If I have to pay I'll buy another somewhere else. So hopefully I have New filter Monday. Go to the www.knfilters.com and do the Model search and use pickup instead of Lightning and you will see differnt part # for 2001.

 

When it is not to hot or when I go to the track I run the 12" cone filter. When it gets really hot out I run the factory air box with the K&N drop in filter.

 

Go with the K&N drop-in if you want to go faster. Check out my thread on g-tech and track results. If you like the sound of the blower, go with the open kit. All personal preference!

 

I went through the "We don't have the filter for the 2001" for about 2 months before I read an article in MM&FF that said that the area of the air box that actually holds the filter was unchanged for '01. I called my dealer for confirmation. I then called in my order for a '00 replacement filter and used it for about a month and a half before I passed it off to a buddy for his '01. If K&N has different part#s it's probably because they spent more than 6 months telling prospective customers they didn't have what they were looking for. Maybe they just never caught on.
First hand knowledge, take it or leave it.

 

FYI K&N Part# 33-2140

 

ok i see the k&n drop in filter.. but didnt see the 12" kit. is this offered by k&n or is this offered by jl or jdm?

 

Suppose you have to take the truck to the dealer for service- which is the quickest to remove so the dealer doesn't find out about mods-panel or cone filter!
The less those people find out about the better.---Jim