I know it ain't much but I just did the airbox mod (drilled about 20 9/16" holes in the bottom) and added the K&N panel filter. I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised by the gain...which is quite noticable I should add. My boost gauge always stays around 8psi and after this I am pegged at 10 easy. From a second gear roll, it wants to rip my 31" snow tires off (f150 17" wheels and tires from a 4x4, hehe) and it never did that before...even in this cold weather. Honest to god, this mod made a noticeable difference for anyone who wants to try it.

Tom

 

Post a picture of your truck with those custom wheels.

 

I did the same mod but I'm not at 10 yet....hmmm. Mine climes to about 9 during WOT but then crawls up to about 9 1/2, maybe its time for some new holes

 

Well, don't get caught up in the numbers...the gauges suck, hehe. Bottom line is I feel quite a seat of the pants increase!

Tom

 

Do what I did. Check the classifieds and find a used (cheap) 2-3lb. pulley on AND a real BOOST gauge. Now I see 12psi! Truck runs great and NO chip either!

 

Hmm, I was considering doing this or just purchasing a kit from a tooner , what do you guys think?

-z

 

The main reason I didnt do it was because i didnt want to destroy my stock airbox.........

 

To tell you the truth, I have a JDM air filter kit and I took it off during the summer(I live in S.Florida) and I modified my stock box and stuck in a K/N panel filter and I too was pleasantly surprised at the results. My boost did not go down and I was maintaining a cool intake charge as well. So now that the cooler temps are here I slapped the conical back on and ...you guessed it, no differance. So now I think I'm going to stick to the modded box. Looks steathy too!! Just one mans opinion.

 

Well, this all goes along with what Paul at Razors Edge told me. without at least a 4lb pulley, just installing a conical filter kit will actually cause the truck to feel sluggish (loss of a little torque but probably a gain in HP at the top). Paul said the stock box with K&N is just fine even for a 4lb pulley and I believe it. Yes, it does not look as good (but you're right, its stealthy), however, it does seem to work. Crap, its only a 40 dollar, 30 minute mod and it made a difference that you can feel. For what I want to do its works ......for now

 

I figure the stock has to suck. I'm still stock with 20k miles on original filter (dirty SOB too) looking to do this mod if i don't get it for christmas . Thing is at WOT currently I get deep black. As in peg the needle as far as it will go (or so it looks like) I got to get that autometer guage to see what it is really getting. i'd like to be for switching filters, just to check the differences. Is there a respectable guage out there that can replace the stock? As in pull out the guage cluster and swap it? Or maybe is there a way to 'adjust' the stock? Could borrow an AutoTap or something to get the real numbers and adjust the stock. Don't really like the Piller pods. Looks ricey to me.