Opinions on Air Intake kits?

[Lazzman]

Looking to put an intake kit on my V6 Sohc, been leaning toward K&N but the price is a bit high compared to the MAC unit which looks just as nice and is said to do basicly the same thing HP wise.

If anyone has done this modification and has opinions on the best bang for the buck please let me know. This is the first performance mod I am doing on my explorer sport.

 

[jimbo74]

best bang for the buck is kkm.... however the mac is a good unit and many peopel with it are pleased, its got good bang for the buck compared to the k&n but doenst carry a 50 state smog exempt like the k&n

 

[aldive]

The KKM is not an intake, its just a filter and adapter.

For th bucjs you can't beat a MAC,

 

[celly]

All the intakes out there seem to work pretty much the same way, no matter what claims the manufacturers come up with. A lot of the choice boils down to cosmetics. I had the MAC for a while, and it was fine, but I wasn't a fan of the chrome, but a lot of people love it. I scored a Volant which is the priciest one out there. It looks quote at home in an Explorer engine bay, and I like the way they isolate the filter in the "box".

Money sounds like an object. Go with MAC. It's probably the best value for a complete intake setup and works as good as K&N or Volant.

 

[Brian_B]

To me, the volant is the best looking air intake out there. However, its a bit to pricey for my budget. I will soon have the Mac in mine (right celly? )

 

[celly]

To me, the volant is the best looking air intake out there. However, its a bit to pricey for my budget. I will soon have the Mac in mine (right celly? )

You're at the mercy of our respective postal systems now. Last I checked, it was in Ontario which is about 2000 miles southeast of where it originated and getting closer to Clinton country all the time.

 

[Brian_B]

I know. BTW: We got rid of Clinton. He is new yorks problem now.

 

[Katmandu]

All the intakes out there seem to work pretty much the same way, no matter what claims the manufacturers come up with. A lot of the choice boils down to cosmetics.

Any "noticeable/worthwhile" MPG/Performance gains with any of them ??

 

[jimcom]

I have the Volant also, (except mine is for my OHV engine), as far as MPG gains, there are none, because with the performance you get, you will have a lead foot. I'm not kidding you. I've developed a serious propensity to dragrace minivans at every stoplight I come too.
Lower idle, faster throttle response, and god damn, the sound of your engine as it goes through the gears is downright awesome. I purposely drive next to jersey walls just so I can hear the rumble echo off them. It's a sweet thing indeed, and thats with my stock exhaust, so it's just the increased air intake. Why ford hid the fact that their engines like to breathe is beyond me, lol.
Of course, your experience may vary, but I'm happy.
Volant is the priciest, but it comes with it's own enclosed box as celly mentioned, which the others do not. If you are patient, Volant kits go on sale every few months and you can usually get one for 179 and change. A savings of about a hundred bucks.
Check out performancecenter.com periodically and one should become available.
Thats where I got mine on sale.
Good luck with whichever you choose.

 

[aldive]

Any "noticeable/worthwhile" MPG/Performance gains with any of them ??

The gain you get with an intake alone will be little unless you combine it with a good cat back exhaust and further enhance with a computer tune.

 

[rama1200]

if kkm is not an intake, then what is the difference between kkm and others ???

Do others come with extra/enhanced parts that kkm doesn't?

does the stright pipe that others come with make that much of a difference over the stock???

I got a kkm... please let me know... i think i'm still on time to return it and buy me the real thing... if i need to..

 

[aldive]

if kkm is not an intake, then what is the difference between kkm and others ???

The KKM is just a cone filter and an adapter to mount it to the MAF.

By no means is the KKM bad in any way, its just not a complete intake.

Most define a true intake as the filter and intake tube all the way to the TB.

 

[rama1200]

right...

but then how much more performance do you really get with the pipe over the stock duct???

will kkm add hp or not?

 

[Lazzman]

AEM is the most expensive I have seen for $650... Seems like a waste of money, for the performance advantage. Aldive what kind of spacer are you using and do you have a larger throttle body?

I guess it will be the MAC as I like the price and do not believe unless someone suggests otherwise that it won't be as effective as the K & N unit.

 

[Brian_B]

Aldive has a C&L 73mm throttle body that he got from doug at bamma chips. There is also a vortech one that looks almost the same. If you want either one, shop around a little. There are some good prices out there.

 

[aldive]

Aldive what kind of spacer are you using and do you have a larger throttle body?

I guess it will be the MAC as I like the price and do not believe unless someone suggests otherwise that it won't be as effective as the K & N unit.

I do not use any spacer at all. And no, I run a stock TB ( they do not make an aftermarket TB for the SOHC ).

I am very happy with my Mac intake.

 

[aldive]

Aldive has a C&L 73mm throttle body that he got from doug at bamma chips.

Actually it is a 73mm C & L MAF ( housing ), not a TB.

 

[Lazzman]

I have a 1998 Sport with the SOHC will the Volant fit that engine?? The catalog does not seem to have one but I see them here on your SOHC's

 

[rama1200]

what about this???

for the price, what about this???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7985629713&category=38634&rd=1

 

[aldive]

for the price, what about this???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7985629713&category=38634&rd=1

I have never seen this before.

But, for that price it might be worth getting. Without actually seeing it, ine would not know the quality.