Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) stock air box

[Tractorat]

I know this is a silly question, but..
I was changing the air filter on my truck the other day and I noticed that, on the end of the input "pipe") going in to the air box, it is flanged. It looks like it could either just butt up to the outside of the air box, or be pushed inside of the air box with the actual flange inside. On mine, it is outside of the airbox and is just a little loose. Can someone tell me what the correct position of the input should be ?

Thanks

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

TRat,

The outside.
IIRC years ago on my 98.5 I put it inside, then the intake horn falls into the big black box or up against the filter element and bounces around. My 02 is on the outside...as was my 98.5 until I tried otherwise , with the other than expected results.

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks,
I thought that was right. But I never looked at it before and it didnt look quite right when I had the air filter out.