After thinking about which FIPK to get for my SuperCrew, it dawned on me that the K&N or the Volant makes more sense. The theory is simple. Rubber blocks more heat than metal. Therefore, why buy a FIPK that has a chrome tube, it will just intensify the engine heat. I haven't bought my FIPK yet, but I am leaning towards the K&N. All you Air Force 1, MAC, and Airaid users, please feel free to bash my theory or convence me not to buy a K&N. I'm sure the difference is too small to tell and chrome does look better, but doesn't it sound good?

 

i don't really know if there is a difference. all i do know is that after any drive i take...if i lift my hood and feel the pipe/tube it is really cool. it has never been hot unless it was baking in the sun and i only took it aroud the block. besides that she is always really cool after a drive. just my .02

 

Thanks LBC150. I am glad to hear that, because I have heard some good things about the AirForce1. And it looks so much better than the regular black tube. If more people tell me this is true, I may be convenced with the AirForce1.

 

Actually, when we data log the actual IAT (inlet air temperature) temperature as reported by that sensor, you quickly see that it makes very little difference what material the air handling tubes are made of between the cheaper plastic some manufacturers use compared to the mild steel of the Airaid or the T-304 stainless of the Air Force One's tubes.

Once your vehicle is moving 25 mph or faster, you get enough circulation under the hood that there is not more than a 10 degree difference between outside ambient versus underhood where the air filter element is on most of these intake kits.

When you're sitting still idling in Summer traffic, the IAT heats up in *all* of them by roughly the same amount, nobody has any advantage under heat-soak conditions, and once the vehicle gets moving again, the underhood temps drop back down. It's possible you might find some small advantage in terms of how long it takes for the IAT to come back down after a heat soak, but it's not going to be a significant difference, it's just not enough of a difference to worry about from what we've seen overall, so we look at the actual power gains.

Ultimately, it's about how many molecules of oxygen can we get into the combustion chamber, as that is what determines how much fuel we can burn, and that determines power output. Yes, colder air is denser, but the air has to be significantly colder to really make much difference once you've relieved the basic restriction in the air intake tract with a good airbox elimination kit.

We see the largest power gains from the Air Force One kits, the K&N FIPK kits and the Airaids are generally a rough tie for second place. AF1 shows 17.9 hp on the 5.4, about 15 hp on the 4.6, compared to 14 hp on the 5.4 and 12 hp on the 4.6 for K&N's FIPK kit or the Airaid units.

Virtually any intake kit will add a decent horsepower gain, and certainly more than a drop-in filter will, most intake kits give you at least 2 if not 3 times the power gain of a drop-in K&N or S&B air filter element, just to give you a rough idea.

Just FYI....................

 

I have a ICE-MAN FIPK I will sell ya...for 150.00

 

Or you can get a MAC for $139 new. It's chrome, 16 gauge steel, but not stainless. I intend to powder-coat the inside to smooth out the bore and to prevent rust (gettin' it done for free helps). Nobody seems to have any numbers on the gains, but since it strongly resembles the AF1 ....?

 

Hey!

I think I have some links that will help you with your decision. I went with the K&N and I am very glad I did it. These Links showed a comparison between a Metal intake, the K&N plastic but with OPEN Filter, and the Volant, with an Airbox.

PLEASE READ through these, the K&N produced the MOST HP, and was Consisten with a 4 HP Gain. Now if you are expecting to FEEL a difference with intake,,, YOU WON"T REALLY. Maybe a little throttle response, but 4 HP with a Hot engine and closed hood. Those HUGE HP gains the box and company claim are ONLY on Dyno tests with the HOOD OPEN. Here are the links, hopefully they are very HELPFULL! Good luck choosing your INTAKE!!!

http://www.f150world.com/tenarticle.asp?sid=2&aid=38

AND

http://www.f150world.com/tenarticle.asp?sid=2&aid=27

Also, if you llink to Http://www.f150world.com/tenarticle.asp?

You can just look through the 3 tests that they did. PLEASE let us know how this turns OUT and what you decide on!!

-Jon

 

I had a K&N on my 99 SC....piece of junk...

The mounting bracket to the engine is so flimsy that the filter rubbed thru the wires to the antilock system....2 days in the dealership at my expense.

the worst part is that K&N insisted that I am stupid and did not install it correctly...I really think a certified mechanic can install an FIPK system!!!

I now have a MAC on my Screw and love it...good quality, mounts to the same place as the original filter assembly, chrome tube looks great and it seemed to add a slight bit of low end torque....maybe.

All for only $139,,,deal fo the year IMO

 

Well it's all preference. K&N makes a Great product, and because they have probably NEVER heard of anything going wrong like that with the install, they may have just ASSUMED you didn't install it right, even though you DID. I am sure your Mac system is great and if you prefer it and like it more then Great! I just like the K&N because it seemed like it had good instructions and fit well, i didn't have to do any modification to get it to fit properly.

However, the #'s don't lie and on those dyno sheets K&N was producing more Average and PEAK HP then Volant and Airaid. Mac wasn't tested. One thing I do not like about K&N is that they claim up to 26 HP, and dyno tests with the Hood closed only showed an average of 4HP with a PEAK at 7.5 HP. Now, I don't know about anyone else, but I CANNOT FEEL a 7.5 HP gain. I can feel a little better throttle response and it sounds much better though.

My friend recently installed Turbocity's DUEL AIR INTAKE on his truck, but the filters weren't of the Best quality and it didn't seem to make a big difference, probably because it just sucks in ALL the hot air int he engine compartment.

Jon

 

I have a K&N on my 01 SC, and it works fine for me.
I put a K&N Gen I on my RAM, and my friend that has the truck it is still going good.

I just went to the parking lot, and took a look at mine to see if I am in danger of getting the antilock wires, but I cannot see how this can happen ( unless I don't really know where the wire for the anitlock run ).

I pushed down on the filter, and cannot make it hit the 2 wire conecting blocks that are below it.

On a 01, I cannot see how the wire chaffing happened and the mount / wire locations might be different on the 01, so I cannot comment on that.

With the K&N over the stock I notice more throttle resp. versus the stock intake.

The other addition done post K&N install ( and gibson super truck exhst ) is the GMS MAS replacement.

All in all, it is an additive thing on how it reacts now ( along with resetting the computer after the mods )

I have had real good luck with the K&N and got a replacement filter for it, so when I clean one out, I can just put the extra one on, while I wash and let dry / reoil the previous one.

The only ref to the AF1 is on the boards here, I personally have yet to run into someone with an AF1 installed.

I will say the AF1 looks better if you want the chrome / billet look under the hood. I am an anti chrome / billet person, so that does not trip my trigger.

sms