Cold air intake

i have a lifted ex. cab 01 silvy and just want some of my power back. I've been thinking about getting a cold air intake but i am stuck between volant and k&n. can any of you tell me which you recommend and if they even give you more power.

Its all your preference, I personally have a volant and think its great. very easy install and i belive they stated a 22 hp gain and similar torque gains. I have had K&N in previous vehicals of mine but in my opinion the Volant was better for what i wanted. Check the websites to get accurate power gains.

I have a 2000 5.3L 1500 LT, in which I put the K&N FIPK (Fuel Injection Performance Kit). This kit has nothing to do with fuel injection or performance. It is a really big air filter and a replacement shapped plastic tube. Since the new plastic tube has no resonator, there is a lot more intake noise. So I have noticed absolutely no difference in fuel economy or acceleration, but I think I'm getting about 30 more decibles per gallon.

If you go 4wheelin, or put your truck through mud holes or bogs, like jers99z sig. I would recommend the volant, since it is an enclosed filter, otherwise go with the K&N. Either way you should see the same gains and benefits from both, so check out price.

Jake

does any one of these cold air intakes perform better than the other or are they all pretty much the same and price being the deciding factor?

from what I've read and heard, I think they're all pretty much the same

If you got some extra cash you can always get a magnacharger and get an about an EXTRA 130 horsepower and 130ftlb Torque put out according to their dyno charts.

If you got some extra cash you can always get a magnacharger and get an about an EXTRA 130 horsepower and 130ftlb Torque put out according to their dyno charts.


Or save $3000 and get a cold air intake like you wanted to start with, not a supercharger. I have a K&N and it works wonderful. I got it used off of ebay for about $170. I've also heard really nice things about Airraid and AEM intakes. its all personal prefrence, and what you can afford. My buddy made a homemeade cold air intake out of a K&N cone filter, some sort of plastic material for the heat shield and some rubber hose. Might be worth checking into.

Or save $3000 and get a cold air intake like you wanted to start with, not a supercharger. I have a K&N and it works wonderful. I got it used off of ebay for about $170. I've also heard really nice things about Airraid and AEM intakes. its all personal prefrence, and what you can afford. My buddy made a homemeade cold air intake out of a K&N cone filter, some sort of plastic material for the heat shield and some rubber hose. Might be worth checking into.

LOL!!!! :grinyes: Made mine from scratch and it cost me around $85. I had an airaid setup with the Modular intake tube. Went over to the online store that sells intake accessories and bought my tubing, bends, and clamps. Now its 4 inch all the way and the increase in air is noticeable over the Airaid. Those parts ran around $65. Bought a cheap intake/heat shield off of ebay for around $20. Easily outflows my old expensive airaid setup.

He actually used 4" or so tubing like you stated above, but you'll never guess what his heat shield is......I'll give you 1 attempt

I would look in to the aem brute force intake system, with the dry air filter. For more info. www.aempower.com

I purchased an AIRAID intake tube from AutoAnything.com along with a TrueFlow foam air filter for less than $130 with 10% off and free shipping. I have noticed a slight increase in power and deeper exhaust sound, but it is not something that is going to pin you to the back of your seat. I have yet to pull my camper with it, but will do so during spring break. If anything, it looks much cooler than the stock intake tube, especially when I painted the black lettering with fluorescent orange paint.

The AEM Brute Force I just through in my truck works and sounds great. I'm thinking of changing to the Dry Flow Air Filter in the Summer. The filter that came with it still has a bit of life to it yet...

LOL!!!! :grinyes: Made mine from scratch and it cost me around $85. I had an airaid setup with the Modular intake tube. Went over to the online store that sells intake accessories and bought my tubing, bends, and clamps. Now its 4 inch all the way and the increase in air is noticeable over the Airaid. Those parts ran around $65. Bought a cheap intake/heat shield off of ebay for around $20. Easily outflows my old expensive airaid setup.


Slow, you said you made yours from pieces you bought on line? what site was that you have a web address?

Slow, you said you made yours from pieces you bought on line? what site was that you have a web address?

http://store.airflo.com/

These are the pieces I ordered for my setup.....1-4" 45 degree elbow http://store.airflo.com/45hl4.html

1-4" 90 degree elbow http://store.airflo.com/90hl4sl.html

1 foot of 4" aluminum intake tubing http://store.airflo.com/al4.html

4-4" clamps http://store.airflo.com/af-400.html

Finally I picked up an ebay intake/shield just like this....(only I paid less than that for it) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SILVERADO-SUBURBAN-SIERRA-99-05-AIR-INTAKE-FILTER-KIT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38634QQitemZ8025714 433QQrdZ1


They offer a variety of intake parts/etc. to fit your needs. I could go with 4" due to the fact that I don't have a clutch fan and have removed the shroud. It really flows alot of air with 4" all the way from the maf to the throttlebody. I'm also going to polish up my throttlebody the first chance I get. That, too, will help the airflow.

Oh..to answer my own question...he used a bucket to make a heat shield.

Oh..to answer my own question...he used a bucket to make a heat shield.

:lol: I never would have guessed that!!! How did it come out?

:lol: I never would have guessed that!!! How did it come out?

Well besides being ugly as sin, and in the shape of a big horse shoe, it turned out pretty good I guess.
I really want y'all to see it. Maybe I can get a quick shot of it with my phone.:evillol:

Well besides being ugly as sin, and in the shape of a big horse shoe, it turned out pretty good I guess.
I really want y'all to see it. Maybe I can get a quick shot of it with my phone.:evillol:


I'd really like to see that!! Now I have done some "rigging" in my life, but that one really tops it.

My question is, as with all other setups with the cone-type filter, does it really seal out the hot air from the engine bay?

I'd really like to see that!! Now I have done some "rigging" in my life, but that one really tops it.

My question is, as with all other setups with the cone-type filter, does it really seal out the hot air from the engine bay?

The heat shield does a pretty good job of keeping the hot out. I see several guys wrapping their intake tubes with some type of insulation. They say it reflects heat away from the intake. I haven't personally tried it yet, so I can't comment from a first hand experience.

The heat shield does a pretty good job of keeping the hot out. I see several guys wrapping their intake tubes with some type of insulation. They say it reflects heat away from the intake. I haven't personally tried it yet, so I can't comment from a first hand experience.

After looking at some of the designs that use the open box, it doesn't look air-tight enough to keep it from sucking hot air from the engine bay. In addition, radiant heat looks like it would penetrate more so on the metal separator than on the enclosed boxes, like the Volant or factory box. It seems like insulation would be a good thing to keep out the radiant heat. Maybe I'm out-thinking the whole setup. (Actually, I'm here at work trying to waste time before I leave for home, SHHHHHH!):evillol:

you would be surprised at how well metal keeps heat out. eg: look at your headers, if the are stock, they have a METAL heatshield. If you ever get a chance to see insultated duct work (in a house or building) it has a metallic outer layer. heat sinks, (though not based on the same priciples for cooling) are made mostly from metal.
As for how well these kits seal up to the hood.... well that might take someone setting up a camera to take a pic with the hood closed, to make a final determination....

you would be surprised at how well metal keeps heat out. eg: look at your headers, if the are stock, they have a METAL heatshield. If you ever get a chance to see insultated duct work (in a house or building) it has a metallic outer layer. heat sinks, (though not based on the same priciples for cooling) are made mostly from metal.
As for how well these kits seal up to the hood.... well that might take someone setting up a camera to take a pic with the hood closed, to make a final determination....


Thanks for the response. I have just often wondered about the cone type filters that are marketed as "cold-air" intakes. So, this is just me getting things straight in my head.

The heatshield on the manifold is there to help dissipate some of the heat from the manifold.
Metal air ducts are insulated, again is why I have wondered why the metal filter shield is not.
Metal heat sinks, again dissipate radiant heat from a source.

But again, I am wondering why the cone filter system is sold as a cold air system. The factory box is pulling outside air from the fender area, which to me seems cooler than the hot air in the engine bay. The Volant system has an extension that pulls air from the lower bumper, and I believe the Silverado SS has air intakes that are in the bumper. (correct me if I'm wrong on that) A sealed box, in my opinion, the best way to isolate cooler air.

That's what I love about forums like this. I try to discuss things like this with my wife, and she just looks at me and ignores me.:grinyes:

Thanks for the response. I have just often wondered about the cone type filters that are marketed as "cold-air" intakes. So, this is just me getting things straight in my head.

The heatshield on the manifold is there to help dissipate some of the heat from the manifold.
Metal air ducts are insulated, again is why I have wondered why the metal filter shield is not.
Metal heat sinks, again dissipate radiant heat from a source.

But again, I am wondering why the cone filter system is sold as a cold air system. The factory box is pulling outside air from the fender area, which to me seems cooler than the hot air in the engine bay. The Volant system has an extension that pulls air from the lower bumper, and I believe the Silverado SS has air intakes that are in the bumper. (correct me if I'm wrong on that) A sealed box, in my opinion, the best way to isolate cooler air.

That's what I love about forums like this. I try to discuss things like this with my wife, and she just looks at me and ignores me.:grinyes:


When the hood is closed, the only place for aftermarket intakes (such as my K&N) to pull air from are the same spot in the fender and from down below the truck. When the hood is closed, the hood becomes the top of the box.

Thanks BlenderWizard!! I kind of figured that was how it worked. I think some insulation around the metal shroud would keep radiant heat from the engine. Ok, so I am going to get to work on the patent for that and sell it to all of you guys with the cone.:rofl: Again, everyone, great input!

The other thing to realize is that some cold air will get rammed in from around your headlights and turn signals. Not much mind you but some and if you really wanted to get carried away you could run a 1.5 pipe from where your toe hooks are up to where your Cone filter is. I've already notice a big difference in fuel economy switching to the CAI... Just gotta remember to keep my foot out of it.

the dealers and auto companies say adding any after market filter that uses and oil thig on it can void your warrenty. the only after market filter that does not use it that i know is AEM haven't put one on mine yet but will
2000 extcab 4X4 6.0 engine

the dealers and auto companies say adding any after market filter that uses and oil thig on it can void your warrenty. the only after market filter that does not use it that i know is AEM haven't put one on mine yet but will
2000 extcab 4X4 6.0 engine

Aren't you out of your warranty period?

The dealership I bought my truck from sells aftermarket air filters. K&N included.