AGE OLD DEBATE: COLD AIR INTAKE vs STOCK AIR BOX

[Trizae]

So I have debated an aftermarket cold air intake for this truck for the past 13 years. I've searched and read and searched again and read again, post after post about the good and the bad.

My lower air box is broken so now I have to buy something.... By the time a buy a factory lower Air Box, and do a DPP Cool Tube, I am almost to the what it would cost to go with the S&B kit. I would go with the replaceable dry filter.

Who is running the S&B and feels it was a great choice?
Should I just buy a New Box, Cut a whole in the bottom, order a cool tube just keep trucking?

Thanks In Advance.

 

[Wiredawg]

I may still have the stock air box from my former 2003 that if I still have it, you can have it if you pay shipping. If I have it, it should be in great shape.

On my 09 Ram 4500, i cut out the bottom of the stock air box and ran a cool tube i won at May Madness and really liked it. Hard to beat filtering on the Mopar drop in filters.

Let me know if interested, and if so, I'll look for it.

Cheers, Ron

 

[promisedland]

If you don't get his, buy the S&B.
You have wanted it so long, just do it. They make nice products .

 

[Timd32]

The stock box is great as is, so no worries there.

But looks like the SB folks have a good set up and do some testing and their systems are certified to some ISO standard, which would mean nothing if you dust your engine that is useless data and certification.

Personally looks like a nice kit.

If you need a push in the SB direction get the test results from them for your exact kit. And maybe they have the stock box results to compare too. Then atleast its apples to apples.

https://www.sbfilters.com/iso-testing

 

[Regcabguy]

An almost complete stock 3rd gen intake system just went for $100 on Craigslist here. Near new.
My buddy's got the S&B and it's a quality made unit.

 

[Wiredawg]

Thought I might add 3rd Gen trucks like aftermarket high flow intakes. We bought my wifes 03 Ram 2500 in March 2003 and in September purchased an AFE kit along with an Edge computer. Both are still on the truck with 230K miles. We used the oiled air filter with great results. I think some folks over oil them. All the you could get a pre filter, all I did was get an old pair of pantyhose and cover the filter. The kit pretty much amounted to a cold air kit as when the hood was closed, no engine compartment air could enter the intake, which is one of the purposes of a cold air intake system.

So BL, I dont think you can go wrong with an S&B, AFE, Banks, or any of the ones that have been in the business a long time.

Be interested in hearing what you do.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Trizae]

I decided to go with S&B. It should be here first of next week. I decided to go with the paper filter vs the oiled filter.

I am going to run this a for a about 90 days and then add the S&B intake horn. I am spacing the upgrades so I can hopefully hear and feel each step.

 

[promisedland]

Sweet, do let us know!

 

[Trizae]

Installed the S&B intake a couple weeks ago.

Absolutely love it. I swapped to a single piece Aluminum Driveshaft at the same time and I can actually feel a difference with the two upgrades, especially on a hard 5th gear pull empty on flat ground. It doesn't seem to flatten off at the higher RPM.

I'll add the S&B intake elbow next.

 

[promisedland]

They look so nice!
I have wondered how much a 1 pc driveshaft would help, no vibs

 

[Regcabguy]

Installed the S&B intake a couple weeks ago.

Absolutely love it. I swapped to a single piece Aluminum Driveshaft at the same time and I can actually feel a difference with the two upgrades, especially on a hard 5th gear pull empty on flat ground. It doesn't seem to flatten off at the higher RPM.

I'll add the S&B intake elbow next.

I have an AFE elbow on my 2007 5.9. The increase in performance was minuscule and I'm sure the two designs are pretty similar inside. I wouldn't do it again. The money would be better spent toward some future tires or maintenance

 

[Bob4x4]

All the premium cold air kits have been proven on the dyno.

 

[AH64ID]

Sub 450-500rwhp there isn’t going to be a real gain on a 3rd gen. The only reasons to go to an aftermarket intake are because you want to, but don’t expect much, or your turbo can’t use the stock intake. The stock intake with a 4” pleat filter and a “Home Depot” CAI will preform with the best of them.

I do like the sealed S&B the best of the aftermarket ones thou since it’s sealed and actually pulls cold air. Many of the CAI’s pull warmer air than stock.

 

[Trizae]

They look so nice!
I have wondered how much a 1 pc driveshaft would help, no vibs

No vibrations. I used the Mopar replacement (used on later 160in wheelbase trucks)

 

[AH64ID]

No vibrations. I used the Mopar replacement (used on later 160in wheelbase trucks)

My replacement for the 05 was a Mopar and took a good 1000-1500 miles to break in. Vibrated like crazy at low engine rpms until it broke in. Then smooth as glass.

 

[cerberusiam]

That is so odd with a manual it felt like it needed to break in. I have put 2 custom 5" shafts behind autos and they were smooth from the start. 2nd best thing was the rear diff seals quit leaking.

 

[Buffalo]

If you don't feel like you have enough turbo whistle with your modifications to your cold air intake, you can pull out what looks like a small velocity stack from the front of the turbo. That stops the whistle. If you really want more whistle, I bought what was called a torque tube and it was a metal pipe that went from the air filter housing to the front of the turbo. The stock plastic tubes have sound deflector's that quiet the turbo whistle substantially. I kind of like it but, I love the sound of a loud Harley, also. I've driven across the country towing my trailer with the windows down and the radio off just to listen to the exhaust note and the turbo whistle. I have a friend that is pretty sure that I'm not mentally sound. He hates my truck but then, he has a Duramax and loves how quiet it is. He gets a headache in mine. Don't throw the velocity stack away as if you are married or mentally sound, you may hate the whistle and you can return it back to normal by re-installing it.