This is for 2000 model year,5.4L don't know about earlier year...Went up to Home Depot and bought a 12" piece of 3 and 1 half inch PVC pipe and tore out the plastic/rubber housing that goes into the side of the fender. this hole is 3.5 inches in diameter, but Ford put a lip on the bottom of it, so it's not completely round, take a grinder or metal cutting saw and remove the bottom lip.
Then take our 3.5" pvc and cut 8 slots, 2 inches long on one end, heat it up good and hot and while putting it in the fender hole, hit the other end with a block of wood in front of it and hammer it in. You'll feel it stop when it gets to the outer fender. let it setup for 5 or so minutes and wiggle it out and you have a tight fitting velosity tube.
Next step, take the housing that holds your K&N filter and measure as close as possible for a 3.5 opening, cut with back saw and then put on the complete system,minus the filter and mark your pvc pipe(where it goes into the filter housing), add 1 and one half inches on to the previous mark and cut. Now you have the pipe cut at the right length, sand down the edges and paint it with what ever color you want. For 71 cents and some trim black paint I had, it looks like Henry Ford did it himself.....
My only reason for posting this quick and cheap mod is; THE DAM THING WORKS.
It takes alot to impress me, but you can hear it and it does help the air into the TB, and it's the first time I've ever broke loose my BFG T/As......

The reason I used heavy PVC pipe, it holds the complete air system in place, just like before.....GOOD LUCK

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fordyfour

2000 4X2 Oxford White/Harvest Gold Flareside Lariat S/C
5.4L,3.55 Ls
Tow Package
True duals(Dynomax Turbos) K&N Filter
Super White Headlamps
10'WO JL sub (enclosed)
ALL amps and speakers Kenwood



[This message has been edited by fordyfour (edited 02-07-2000).]

 

In terms of bang for your buck (actually, under $1) I'm sure this is the best mod you will ever make. Nice job, fordyfour!

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1999 XLT S/C, 4.2 V-6, auto, 3.55 rear, dark torreador red/harvest gold, bed liner, Sony 10 disc CD, Edelbrock IAS, K&N filter, Superchip

 

They don't have 3.5" pipe at my Home Depot or Lowe's.
(or I couldn't find it anyway)
The guy at Lowe's said he never heard of 3.5" PVC
Just 3" and 4"
I even have some 3" in the garage.
Post pics if you have them.
Sounds like a great cheap (free if 3" pipe will work) mod.
I even think I have some black spray paint in the garage
Did you remove the restrictor in the elbow near the throttle body?
I don't see why the ppl a Ford couldn't do this and advertise higher HP ratings.

 

FordyFour,
I like your thinking. Just a few questions, first off what do you do to seal the 3.5 inch tube to the air box and to the fender wall? Is there any special mounting bracket to mount the tube to the inner fender wall? I think that is it. Thanks

Bones

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2000 F-150, XLT, 4X2, Ext. Cab, S/B, 4.6L, 3.55 L/S, Tow Package, Premium Sound CD Player.

Future Mods: NONE, I'm broke.

 

54, your question first, 3" PVC IS 3,5" OD (outside diameter), I should have put that in the orginial post...

Bones, your question, you'll not need a gasket on the fender side, it fits in there like a glove.
Now the filter housing, I have outside calipers and scribe (use to me a tool maker), and I measured mine about .50 smaller than the PVC pipe and with alittle sanding it squeeked(sp) on.
I know there's going to be alot that cut their filter housing too big, I can't try this, but if possible Mark your PVC pipe where the filter housing sits on with Paint tape (blue painters tape), if you already painted the pvc, if not any tape using the straight side of the tape.
Push the housing back against the inter fender,if feasible and put on some 3M double sided tape and then pull your housing back up and this will seal your pvc to the filter housing,if way too big, use a big ruuber band.This just an idea, I didn't have any gaps, so anyone out there that's got a idea, send it in.
My reason for this whole idea is $, but the way dealers are getting,mainly on these 2000 model yr (clean burn), you come in to have a rough idle or so, and they see Airaid or one of those powdered coated velosity tubes, ther going to shut you down for warranty work.....I know there's law to protect you, but that won't help you at that present time>>>>> Good Luck

P. S. The 3M double tape isn't cheap, so there goes the 71¢ fresh air tube......

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fordyfour

2000 4X2 Oxford White/Harvest Gold Flareside Lariat S/C
5.4L,3.55 Ls
Tow Package
True duals(Dynomax Turbos) K&N Filter
Super White Headlamps
10'WO JL sub (enclosed)
ALL amps and speakers Kenwood




[This message has been edited by fordyfour (edited 02-08-2000).]

 

Oh, by the way, my 2000 doesn't have a air restrictor inside of the TB hose and housing, so I don't want anyone to get their hopes up on the earlier model year.

Anyone that is having problem or questions post or give your addy and I'll try to help you....Take Care

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fordyfour

2000 4X2 Oxford White/Harvest Gold Flareside Lariat S/C
5.4L,3.55 Ls
Tow Package
True duals(Dynomax Turbos), K&N Filter, with a 71¢,3" PVC fresh air tube
Super White Headlamps
10'WO JL sub (enclosed)
ALL amps and speakers Kenwood

 

This mod has been described here before and can be done without grinding out the fender or cutting the stock filter housing (so it can all be restored to stock if necessary). Buy some 3" black PVC (got mine at Orchard Supply in a 12" length) and use it. The fender hole is slightly oval so the pipe will have to be ground down to fit. The same for the filter housing; its a little smaller than the pipe diameter so the pipe again needs a little grinding. The completed pipe is about 7" long when done and works good for cheap. HTH [img]\WINDOWS\TEMP[/img]

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'99 F150 SC, 4x2, Oxford white, flareside, 5.4, 3.55 rearend,
bodyside mouldings, Snugtop hard tonneau, K&N dropin and airbox mod.
Duraliner drop-in (gave up on the Penda Nascar). Gibson Supertruck
No door cracks yet at 5K!!!

Future mods: 2/4 lowering, bra and some Roush stuff.

[This message has been edited by Marv1 (edited 02-08-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Marv1 (edited 02-08-2000).]

 

Marv1, I saw your post and thought you used a rubber 3", all in all they both work.
2000 model filter housing is not oval its round, but if you have to grind to fit into that housing, its just abit more work.
What ever, it's a hellva lot better than that goofy snorkel 2" thing of a gig, that's on there now.
Lets get together and make these up, we both could go "broke" together on this cheap device.....OK..???
I was going to post this later, but will say I didn't disconnect the neg side of the battery after doing this mod. Later in the afternoon, I disconnected for about 10 or so min and went out and tried it all over and I feel like I lost abit of power??
Does the computer have to relearn my driving habits all over again???

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fordyfour

2000 4X2 Oxford White/Harvest Gold Flareside Lariat S/C
5.4L,3.55 Ls
Tow Package
True duals(Dynomax Turbos), K&N Filter, with a 71¢,3" PVC fresh air tube
Super White Headlamps
10'WO JL sub (enclosed)
ALL amps and speakers Kenwood

 

Fordyfour: You're right about the factory snorkel; IMO it's way too small to allow sufficient air to the intake system. Anything that frees up the flow should be an improvement. I did same as you by disconnecting the battery, but not sure if it did anything other than making me reset my radio presets and clock. I would never had known about these mods if this site wasn't available and I thank all of you for the great ideas. My truck runs better than new!

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'99 F150 SC, 4x2, Oxford white, flareside, 5.4, 3.55 rearend,
bodyside mouldings, Snugtop hard tonneau, K&N dropin and airbox mod.
Duraliner drop-in (gave up on the Penda Nascar). Gibson Supertruck
No door cracks yet at 5K!!!

Future mods: 2/4 lowering, bra and some Roush stuff.

 

Marv1, hey just unhook the neg side of your battery, it will keep you from resetting your radio stations.......
By the way, I have a friend that has a small wind gauge (digital) and it will fit into the fender opening, hope to see how much wind speed gets up into the outer fender.....More new a 11:00

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fordyfour

2000 4X2 Oxford White/Harvest Gold Flareside Lariat S/C
5.4L,3.55 Ls
Tow Package
True duals(Dynomax Turbos), K&N Filter, with a 71¢,3" PVC fresh air tube
Super White Headlamps
10'WO JL sub (enclosed)
ALL amps and speakers Kenwood

 

I performed a similar mod today:

Bought at Home depot - a 3" rubber coupling about 1/2 inch thick of rubber that came with clamps on both ends. A 3" PVC coupling (male and female ends). And a 3" PVC nipple 90 degree(male & female).

1.I cut the stock housing that holds the filter and ground it down smooth.

2. I then ground the 3" PVC coupling on the male side to a bevel. To fit into the stock housing. This makes a HUGE 3" opening in the housing.

3. I then forced the PVC coupling into the housing. Its a tight fit (which is what you want). Only put it in 1/4 to 3/8"...

4. Drilled 3 holes throuhg the housing and through the PVC pipe. Place 3 metal screw in so it stays.

5. Used Marine "GOOP" which stand up to heat and water, etc... Place that all around the outer and inner endges where the two meet! This seals them together very well. Don't be stingy with the stuff, Goop it on... It dries smooth!

6. Cut the female end of the PVC nipple 90.... Make that end fit into the fender well...... Have not done this yet but its the same size as the hole 3". Might have to do some more trimming.....

7. The 3" rubber coupling holds the 2 PVC peices together!!!!


This makes a HUGE 3 inch pipe into the K&N AND allows the air to travel smoothly from the fender area through the 90 degree nipple...... The stock set-up is not angled and is VERY restrictive!!!!!

This should allow the engine to breath MUCH more freely.... Cost $14.40.....

Benefits: Cost, time, 3" allows ample airflow, durability, allows COLD AIR into the system, better air flow......

I have not put it all back together yet. I am expecting my Super Chip tomarrow.....Gonna wait and test all together so I can feel ALL THAT HORSEPOWER at once!


Be glad to answer any questions....

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Rand

 

I did this same mod. to my truck last July (after reading a post on this board from fellow member, "Ezonthegas"). I used a 9" section of 3" PVC ground down into an oval that matches the fender hole.

This airbox induction modification, my Superchip, and my Edelbrock IAS shocks are BY FAR the most worthwhile investments (either $$ or time) that I've made in my truck's performance.

The best way to describe the way my truck felt after this mod. was that it felt... lighter -- much better throttle response.

IMO, definitely worth the effort.

Jim

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'99 F-250 LD 5.4L SC XLT 2WD 3.73LS in White/Silver (w/ EVERYTHING 'cept leather and engine block heater) --
Drivetrain Mods: SuperChip FlipChip, K&N filter w/ 3" Induction Tube Airbox Mod., IAS shocks, Flowmaster-70 3" cat-back exhaust, Mobil 1, & Bosch +4 plugs
Other Mods: SnugTop Hi-Liner & carpet kit, Donnelly electrochromatic/compass mirror, & SuperWhite 9007 bulbs
More mods to come... (Westin side bars, electric fan, and silver fender/wheel flares are next)

http://hometown.aol.com/jimorama/myh...ollection.html