I am considering a K&N intake to replace my facory air filter setup ... any thoughts? Worth the $$$?

I have a 1996 F-150 5.0L with mass air sensor ... I am looking at the K&N 57-2543 Performance Intake Kit.

Any experience that this will make a reasonable difference?

Also, any thoughts on the less expensive alternatives that just mount AFTER the mass air sensor, but have the exposed lifetime filter cone?

Like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...154872348&rd=1

I do mixed driving ... maybe 60-70% highway and the rest City ... nothing rough.

Thanks for any input.

jim...

 

You have a sealed air box, right? I'd keep it that way because once you lose that box you'll just be sucking in all that hot air that's under the hood. Yeah, the intake will sound cool at open throttle, but that's about it, IMO. This is just my opinion, but i do consider these intake kits to be a waste of money. All i did was wrap my intake tubes and swapped the paper filter for an airhog. I'm happy with it.

 

From what I've heard, they help a lot with the 4.9L's but not so much with the 5.0L's. Just get a K&N replacement filter if you want more flow.

 

i like mine i can tell the diff just by seat of the pants HP sounds awesome but

find something else for the money the reason i got mine was cus it was 89.00

 

best way to do is is to do the conversion. you can buy a filter for it and just pop it onto the end. once you do that tighten them down with pipes and clamps. you can get sheet metal and fabricate your own cool air sealed box. Heck, you can use your snorkel still to provide air into the "cool air box" But wait... the snorkel sits right behind a shut hood... I was able to manage to reposition the snorkel to right behind the grille. I myself dont have the cold air box... (yet) but i do have the snorkel repositioned and yes, it gets ALOT of air. I noticed a dramatic gain in MPG and a cooler running engine. Imagine the possibilities on a freeway? Wait till I make the cold air box. Ill write a tutorial if you guys like.

 

Petal to the metal... I was thinking about doing the same thing to save me the money...

I would love to see what you have so far and read what you did.

-Vycan

 

I just use a drop-in K&N and got a inlet off of a F-350 with the 460. instant ram air after a few mods....