I didn't know that. I was wondering if a higher end, aftermarket air intake would enhance the sound and performance slightly?
It'll definitely enhance the sound. The stock air box is nothing more than an intake muffler designed to satisfy the EPA for noise emissions. Performance can be hit or miss. I'll tell you my end. I have a old MAC intake on my 98 3.0 Ranger, which has a three inch tube that goes from the MAF to the throttle body. The stock tube is pinched down to about 1.5 inches. After driving with the CAI for several years, I tried putting the stock intake back on. For one day only. It sucked ass! Tore it all off and threw the whole damn thing in the round-open-top-file, so I'd never make the mistake of putting it back on again. I have no muffler in my exhaust, and I swear the intake makes more noise than the exhaust does. LOVE IT! Foot to the floor it roars!
My Lightning has a custom made up intake, from the top of the blower all the way to the huge K & N Powerstack filter. My 07 Mustang has a WeaponR intake. Bought the Mustang on November 15th last year. Ordered the intake on the same day, had it changed the next weekend.
I don't have a stock intake for any of the five vehicles listed in my signature line. They all got thrown in the circular file for keeps.
BTW, my Mustang has the 4.0 V-6 like your Ranger. That WeaponR intake comes with a cold air tube and a velocity stack that mounts in the grill. I don't know if they make the same intake for the Ranger with the 4.0, but it's an especially nice intake. I got it from CARiD. Woke my Mustang up big time. Drove it for a week with the stupid EPA intake. Was glad to toss that crap in the trash the next weekend.