K&N or KKM?

[ritzy]

I'm interested in giving my 93 4-dr EB some more power, but i don't want to spend a whole lot. Lots of people have K&N air filters, but after reading the product review on this site, the KKM True Rev sport induction kit was recommended. Any advice?

 

[HuiDaddy]

Man, have I got a answer for you. I have asked this message board this exact same question many times. They are probably sick of me by now... The past few weeks, I have been in the same predicament as you Ritzy, but i have finally come to a conclusion. The answer to your question is NEITHER!!! Both KKM and K&N FIPK are conical air filters that sit IN your engine compartment. Neither is good for performance. Most of the air that will be ingested by the filtercharger will be hot air coming from the engine. hot air is less dense than cool air, causing a poor air-fuel mixture, not leading to the performance you are looking for. Everyone who has either in their car, always comment about the nice sound the filters emit. Well, it may sound pretty, but the performance being seeked will not be found. I am planning to fabricate my own solution. When I have the time, i will cut holes in my airbox and have "flex hoses" leading out of my engine compartment, to the cool air outside. One perfect spot to place one of the tube entrances is next to the factory fog lamp. Hope this helped. i'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[Jornum1]

Well its funny you brougt the whole hot air in the engine compartment dilemma up. I have the K&N Induction kit. I love it now, considering I'm in NJ and its damn cold now. And during the winter I dont drive very far so my engive doesnt really get a chance to get too hot. But I was concerned about the summer. I had a idea. People obviously like the sound of the K&N or KKM systems, and I am assuming the suck in more air then a stock airbox even with a K&N filter. So I was looking at my friends ZX2, and he has a conical filter, that has a larger conical housing around it. He did a mod where he cut the front of the housing off. This left him with a 4 inch hole, that he put a PVC end cap on, and drilled 3, 2 inch holes, and put hoses from them to behind his grill. I was wondering if you guys thought that would be a good idea? I think it could be done relatively easy. Just a matter of finding somethign that would fit over the huge conical filter? what do you think? Will that muffle my sound then? Just wondering, and just thought I would throw my theory at you guys. Thanks
Jason

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'99 Sport SOHC Auto
K&N FIPK, Borla Exhaust
Bosch 4+'s, Lowered 2 inches, Eldebrock shocks

 

[Jambo]

I have been researching this intake modification for quite some time now as well. My Explorer is a '96, and the stock air filter is conical. Therefore, what I am presently thinking is the best performance value is to simply purchase the K&N filter (ie not the filter charger package, like KKM, and K&N FIPK) and somehow modify the air "box" upstream. Basically we are just trying to minimize intake restriction. So all we need to do is use a good filter (like K&N) and help the air get to that filter as easily as possible, while keeping it as cool as possible.

I think you guys are on the right track. If your trucks have a flat filter as stock, and you want to go to a conical one, maybe you could find something in a wrecking yard and modify it to suit? As far as the sound goes, I am sure that every little thing you do will change the sound somewhat, but probably not that much. Besides, I agree that sound is secondary to performance.

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JGB
Ontario Canada(!)

 

[Trane]

I've had the KKM set up for over a year now and have been very happy with it since day one, smoother and faster response and acceleration. I too, have a 93 and the 4.0L definitley breathes better with the KKM on it. I live about a mile from the beach and the summer heat caused no pinging at-all, I left the heat riser in so at least fresh air does circulate in the engine bay. It's well worth the price for the performance gained