Banks Ram-Air® Intake System

[Bugracing]

Banks Air Box

Hidiho Everyone;



I have just recently installed a Banks Airbox on my '05.

A brief reasoning why I went with their system.

I want my engine to breath freely with out excessive intake suction noise. A friend of mine has an AFE intake on his and it is just too loud under power for my comfort. My truck is mainly used to haul a car trailer on the highway so I am very vehicle and road noise conscious. The goal is to help the engine breath and exhale better. The exhaust is now handled by a Corsa Performance system.

The product's quality is in my opinion superior to the stock airbox that came out. The installation of the Banks intake system was very simple. The directions are clear and the engineering is fantastic. The intake tube even has as small bump in it just below where it mounts to the turbo. My guess is that this is to cancel some sound waves similar to OE systems (on gas engines).

The only noise I am hearing from the intake is the turbo whistle, but it is pretty distant and not obnoxious at all.

One thing I have noticed so far is that the throttle response has greatly improved with this intake and the Corsa exhaust.



Now - the sales department at Banks is a different subject all together.

It is very apparent that Gale Banks has his focus on engineering and quality production of his products. I had contacted Banks via email in early October telling them that I wanted to purchase this box and their exhaust system and requested a quote. Well, that email was resent by me again at the middle of October. no responses ever came.

When I called them in early November, the receptionist was quite rude when I requested to be connected to a sales rep.

It is too bad that Gale's sales force is not high-quality as his products are.

 

[willardMoore]

Banks Ram Air in Progress

I will be installing the Banks Ram Air on my 2007 5. 9L Cummins next week (July 27 or so), will post my findings & opinions.

Added 07/27/08: Installed three days ago, so far so good. Easy installation with very detailed instructions, fit and finish was very good. Did not notice any difference in performance but did notice slight decrease in EGT's. Received Smarty Jr. day after installation of Ram Air System and loaded Catcher #1 (40hp Fuel Economy), Man !! ... . It's like a totally different truck, smoothed throttle response right out, nice & peppy now.

Next addition (and probably final addition) will be some type of Cat Back Exhaust (Banks Monster or some such). More Air In & More Air Out ... with a Smarty Jr. handling the tuning ... . I think I will be satisfied at that point.

Will M. / '07 5. 9L Cummins 2500 Mega Cab

 

[Regcabguy]

Hidiho Everyone;



I have just recently installed a Banks Airbox on my '05.

A brief reasoning why I went with their system.

I want my engine to breath freely with out excessive intake suction noise. A friend of mine has an AFE intake on his and it is just too loud under power for my comfort. My truck is mainly used to haul a car trailer on the highway so I am very vehicle and road noise conscious. The goal is to help the engine breath and exhale better. The exhaust is now handled by a Corsa Performance system.

The product's quality is in my opinion superior to the stock airbox that came out. The installation of the Banks intake system was very simple. The directions are clear and the engineering is fantastic. The intake tube even has as small bump in it just below where it mounts to the turbo. My guess is that this is to cancel some sound waves similar to OE systems (on gas engines).

The only noise I am hearing from the intake is the turbo whistle, but it is pretty distant and not obnoxious at all.

One thing I have noticed so far is that the throttle response has greatly improved with this intake and the Corsa exhaust.



Now - the sales department at Banks is a different subject all together.

It is very apparent that Gale Banks has his focus on engineering and quality production of his products. I had contacted Banks via email in early October telling them that I wanted to purchase this box and their exhaust system and requested a quote. Well, that email was resent by me again at the middle of October. no responses ever came.

When I called them in early November, the receptionist was quite rude when I requested to be connected to a sales rep.

It is too bad that Gale's sales force is not high-quality as his products are.

That's interesting in that I e-mailed Banks about a price on their least expensive module and got calls every week for a month. They force you to list your # or you cannot complete the request.

 

[Andersonville]

Banks uses K&N filters. The plastic tube melted slightly, not a hole thru it but it melted where it was close to my ATS exhaust manifold. The stock system is back on my truck.

 

[TimothyLong]

I put one in mine (came with the Six Gun bundle) and I haven't had any issues with it. It went it easy and allows my engine to breathe a lot easier. I do have increased turbo noise, but then I took the baffle ring out of the turbo while I was at it. All in all, I'm quite pleased with the package. As for sales and tech support at Banks, I had no problem there either. My experience with them was quite good.

 

[firemansdiesel]

I have no complaints w/ mine. I just wished there was another aftermarket filter size that fits the Ram Air (dry filter). Make it easier for cleaning the Banks filter and put a fresh one on while the Banks is drying when cleaning/flushing.

 

[MNielsen]

I just installed the "Big Hoss Bundle" and am rather impressed with the fit and quality, my only question has anyone else had a whistle under acceleration "sounds like a tea kettle"? Is it a leak or is it normal? Would very much appreciate some aid with this?

Mark

 

[TCDiesel]

Whats Max Boost? Fill in your Sig.

 

[PFlory]

Although I know the Banks products are not thought to highly of among those on these forums, I have had this system on mine for about a year. The ram air scoop under the bumper has helped lower my EGT's when towing the 5er up grade by around 200*.



Although I can't compare to all the other recommended systems being used by other members, the power gains are very noticeable to the point that I can't use the tuner above level 3 (of 6) due to the weak link of the dual mass clutch slipping pretty much at will on anything above that.



There is definitely more turbo whine with the silencer elbow removed, which is not that big of a deal. The only thin I don't like is when towing, there is a little more drone in the cab from the exhaust than I would like, but never having registered EGT's above 1,275 when towing I can live with that.



I too have had the best tech support from Banks with a few questions I had when installing, and an erratic camshaft error code, caused by the battery cable passing to close over the tuner box. Moved the cable, problem solved. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/air/attach/jpg.gif



Sorry for the sorry pic, but this is the profile of the scoop under the bumper.

 

[R.Taylor]

Why spend $300 to $480 on a "Cold air intake" or a "Ram air intake"? Cold air requires a closed filter box..... Many aftermarket kits have an open frame around the filter and the hood never even get close enough to "seal" the top of the box. Ram air requires a scoop to catch and ram air down through the intake... . If that's the fact then why does Bank's make the ram scoop a separate purchase for their "Ram Air" system. Banks is 75% hype, It goes to show you that it's all in the advertising and how much $$$$$$$ you will spend to do so. Look at Starbuck's coffee... . That has got to be the worst coffee ever but due to advertising they rake in the $$$$$. I'm glad TDR no longer has 2 page adverts for Banks products in the magazine. Go buy a PSM kit, A cool blue hose (or red or black) and a good drop in filter like a Amsoil Ea or the revised OEM filter and save yourself some cash.

 

[pullya]

+1 on the PSM kit.

Jay

 

[PFlory]

Why spend $300 to $480 on a "Cold air intake" or a "Ram air intake"? Cold air requires a closed filter box.....

If you looked at bugracings photo you would've seen that it is a closed filter box. The ram air scoop connects to a knockout on the bottom of the box so at cruising speed you're not pulling any air from under the hood. Maybe overpriced, but with the personal experience I have with it I have found it to be quite effective at keeping egt's much lower than stock. I guess I just have more money than I know what to do with!

 

[R.Taylor]

If you looked at bugracings photo you would've seen that it is a closed filter box. The ram air scoop connects to a knockout on the bottom of the box so at cruising speed you're not pulling any air from under the hood. Maybe overpriced, but with the personal experience I have with it I have found it to be quite effective at keeping egt's much lower than stock. I guess I just have more money than I know what to do with!

I did see the box and the scoop. The Banks's box itself is as good as a unmodified stock airbox... But with a lousy K&N filter in it. The "Ram Air" will only happen to live up to it's name if the buyer also purchases the clearly stated "Optional" Super Scoop. No scoop = No ram air. So be it $400 for the "Ram Air" + $125 for the "Super Scoop = $525... . For a product which uses and can only use a special K&N filter from the looks of it. . (special stubby cone type). You'd get just as much cold air and better filtration with a $119 Cool Hose (Black/Red/Blue), A PSM Kit for another $99 and a TAGIII for another $129... Top it off with a new style OEM filter, Amsoil Ea or AEM Dryflow filter, Your looking at $347 plus another $28 to $75 depending on your filter choice. That's $375 to $422..... $102 less than a complete Bank's set up. You could save $99 and do the home-built PSM style mod if you wanted. I believe trucks without fog lights can route the intake tube from the PSM right to the opening where the light would be.

 

[macdaddy]

Well, anyone out there purchase, install one of these?

This particular intake system is an excellent one. I am not sure of its quality of air flow with respect to CFM, but one thing is for sure Banks hardware products are top shelf especially their exhaust systems.



I live here in So Cal where their headquarters is based. All their intake,exhaust and software products are all CARB approved for California. There have been many threads of faulty PCM upgrades throwing codes etc. But id put their stuff on my truck if there wasnt other less expensive options.



Mac

 

[MNielsen]

I am still a little unsure as to whether the noise (sounds like a tea kettle @ 2k RPM or under heavy foot) is normal or not? I checked for leaks with soapy water and also tried with carb cleaner and no change in idle speed

 

[TCDiesel]

Make sure the filter is connected to the cover,Also Never-seize the 4 bolts that hold the cover down. In Mn the DOT sprays chloride on the road,this chemical gets into wire harnesses,etc. Also do NOT run the scoop in the winter in any State that treats the roads with Chemical, Salt,Sand,rocks,etc.

 

[JMusso]

Just saw this thread. I have had one installed for over a year now and I really like it. Fit, finish, are excellent and the whole unit has held up fine in a Chicago winter. Filterminder never moves on Smarty Jr. level 3 where I mostly run.

 

[MChrist]

Same here... I actually loved mine, but then went to twins, so I couldn't use the Banks anymore. I had the scoop too, and I noticed a few degrees colder with it. On average, I would say 13-15 degrees warmer than ambient temp. Now I run a few degrees warmer, but those few degrees probably don't mean much. Come to think of it, I could sell my Banks with Ram-Air Scoop if anybody wants it. Make me an offer...

 

[wbrown02]

I installed one on my 05 over two years ago and am pleased with it... . Great fit and finish and I could not tell any noise difference.

 

[sconnors11]

I've got one (Banks with Superscoop) on my truck. Replaced an open airbox AFE intake that came on the truck when I purchased the truck with 100k miles on it. With the AFE the intake temperature used to range from 6-8 degrees above ambient (unloaded) on the highway to 10 to 15 degrees higher than ambient in stop and go city driving on a hot day.



Now, with the Banks, on the highway (loaded or not) I'm within 1-2 degrees of ambient. For the first time I've seen the intake temperature (this is probably the two sensors different calibration) lower than the overhead temperature from time to time (rarely). In stop and go city driving, hot day, the temp may wander 4-5 degrees above ambient, but as soon as I get going over 30-40 miles and hour the intake temperature drops fast.



Long story short, I like it. It was expensive, but I'm satisfied and would do it again. Also, it lets you run a filter-minder to keep track of how dirty your air filter is getting.



Sean

2005 4x4 with G56