Thoughts on this CAI

[Bryan E 2]

Wondering if any of you have put this on your ST and how you thought it performed? I am currently running a stock air box with a K&N air filter. Would this be better? Worse? or about the same?

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

I bought the same kit years ago, the only thing it did was made a howling noise when you revved the engine. The stock air box and intake is more of a "CAI" than that kit. Now if you get the heat shield (pictured) included for that price it might be better because the kit I bought didn't come with it and it just sucked all the hot engine bay air in. I've ran the stock box with a K&N filter ever since and it does better, especially in winter.

 

[EddieS'04]

I went back to the stock box with a K&N. I cut a 3 1/2" hole in the fender and that side of the box. Then I installed the box with foam rubber sealing the box, to outside air @ the stock inlet and the new one. I then bought the 2 sided foil insulated windshield heat sheild. At a 99cent store. I wraped the box and the inlet tube, with it. According to my scan gauge my inlet temps are 20 to 30 degrees' less. Than when I had a K&N conical filter with insulated hot air blocks.

Also the trac performs as good or better with Torries Xcal3 tunes...

So IMO the CAI's out there for the trac are pretty, but useless.

 

[user 66791]

I tried a kit very similar. Gas milage went down but it sounded nice. I returned it back to the OEM intake and everything improved. So, I believe the Ford design is better after all. I do use the washable K&N filter though.

 

[Phil V]

I have tried several different CAI methods.



I had the KKM one first which made a bit of difference, but the exposed cone filter sucks up too much hot air in the summer months. Built several heat shields for it, never being satisfied. Story of my life.. Got a cheap ebay air intake so I could have the aluminum tube. Found the aluminum tube gets very hot and bogs down the engine. Attempted to build my own airbox out of ABS sheets and a clear acrylic lid. Worked alright, wasn't very pretty.



Current air intake is an S&B air intake kit (#75-2529-1 ). comes with a box / tube (both plastic for least heat soak)



http://www.sbfilters.com/index.php/gas-trucks/ford-29/2001-02-ranger-4-0l/ford-4-0l-ranger-explorer-01-02-intake-kit-75-2529-1.html



That is the product I bought. It doesn't look quite like the picture. The protrusion on the side is not there. Instead it is open on the front (behind headlight) with a small rectangular hole on the fender side. It works very well. Still makes the hissing sound that a cone filter makes, without sucking up all the heat! I would definitely say it leads to some extra horses / throttle response. I would not consider putting the OEM one back on.



There are some pictures in my library where I have also modded it with a 4 inch "velocity stack" into the fender.



Something to consider anyways. Fitment on my 05 ST was near perfect.