I have a 2001 F-150 4x4 with the 4.6L in it. I installed a custom intake that I made myself out of 2.5" aluminuim exhaust piping and a K&N filter. It comes down from the throttle body then 90* off towards the small hole in the drivers side fender. The filter sits right infront of the small fender hole. I have also put on 265/75/16 BFG's tires too. My problem is my truck seems to have lost power and is shifting really wierd now. The 1st to 2nd shift I think is were the problem is. Its just over 60 km/h when it shifts and thats were it almost bogs out and just seems to have no power at all. It doesnt pull or anything just kinda falls flat on its face. Once its up higher then 3000 rpm it seems to get going a bit better not not much. i was going up a hill the other day and I have it full out in first and when it shifted to second on the hill it just stayed at 65km/h and the same RPM and didnt move until I was over the hill. Is this normal or what? Is the intake or tires affecting performance on my truck. I'm wondering if the intake is getting all warm air and that might be hurting my truck. I know the 2.5" piping is warm when I touch it. Maybe the air going into the intake is just too warm and its hurting performance. Would a tranny flush help or no? Any help would be great thanks.

 

There are a plethra of things that could be causing your problem. I don't think its related to the intake, but did you make sure all your vacuum lines were reinstalled and not leaking? A tranny flush may help. You could just have some sediments in your tranny filter. How does the tranny fluid look? Is is nice and crisp red, or is it toasted and orange?

 

I havent looked at the trans fluid lately. It was ok a little while ago. So you dont think the intake is just suckin in warm air instead of cold air?

 

Put it like this. The air charge temperature on mine with a blower range from 100 to 150 depending on the ambient air temp. I don't think the 60-80 degree air you're pulling in is makin that much of a difference.

 

Ok then why would the truck run so sluggish then? I cant see the tranny fluid being the problem. It just has no power on that 1st to 2nd shift. It wasent like that when I first bought it. Do the 1 size bigger tires make that much differance or what? Ohh I forgot to mention the IAT sensor I havent been able to drill a hole and put it into the intake piping yet, so its just plugged in and hanging in the engine bay. Is that bad or not really. All the other connections should be all good. A vacuum leak would casue this problem maybe?

 

What was done with the Mass Air meter?

 

I took the MAF out of the stock intake housing and then bought a rubber connector that goes from the one side of the MAF into the aluminum piping and then the other side of the MAF goes into my filter. I havent put my AIT back in it just taped to the side of the piping. I think from what I'm reading I'm an idiot for making this home made intake. Maybe I hurt my truck more then I did any good for it. I might have a vacuum leak too not sure. I think my best bet would be to put the stock air box back in or what. I can get some pics of the intake set up tomorrow so show everyone what I did.

 

Well the airflow thru the meter is critical.
Your design could have upset this.
The output signal from the meter is in proportion to airflow.
If the meter signal maxes out or runs behind the airflow there will be a problem metering fuel.
Put is back to stock and if it clears the problem then you have learned something.
Good luck.

 

Yeah thats for sure> I need to find the rubber piece that fits right onto the TB. I guess if it fixs it, then I should start saving for a true intake. thanks for the help.

 

If your intake is indeed made of 2.5" tubing I would say thats part of the problem. You need to go bigger than that. Your engine isnt getting enough air and is starving itself

 

2.5" The K&N FIPK is like 3"+ wide at the narrowest part.

 

Not having the IAT sensor inline is causing you a serious problem most likely as well. That means you're reading the ambient temp of the air in the bay where the sensor hangs, but your pulling a different temp air through the system into the engine. And, as stated already, the 2.5 is to small.

Also, the tranny fluid thing, although I don't think it is the problem in your case, is that if you get alot of sediments in the filter, then the fluid flow is obstructed enough to cause harsch, poor shifting and hence the performance failures.

 

Yeah I'm taking the intake I made out today and putting the stock stuff back in. I didnt know 2.5" was too small for an intake, but I do now. I tryed to get the exhaust shop to bend me some 3" piping but they said they couldnt bend, 3" on such an angle. What if I used PCV piping that is 3 inches, would that work better? Should I just install the factory one and buy one from say ebay or Troyer? I think my tranny is shifting good its just the truck is acting up bec of this cheap intake I made. I''v never worked on a newer truck like this and so far I'm 0-1. Anyway thanks for the help and do you think there is anything else I should check to make for I havent messed up with this intake? It isnt throwing any codes so scanning it wont help I dont think.


Would this intake off ebay be better then the one I have now? Will it cause any problems or no?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-02...QQcmdZViewItem


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-02...QQcmdZViewItem


or this one maybe too?

 

Do yourself a favor and don't waste your money on that crap. Buy a quality kit (K&N, Airraid, etc.).

 

Yeah I would like to do that but money is kinda tight right now. Just moved into a new place and with all the horses we have I cant just drop $300 Canadian for the intake. So those cheap ones off ebay will work for now or what? I just took some pics of my custom intake I made thats hurting my truck and ill post them right away.