97-03 F150 Intake Mod - not ricer

[shane96ranger]

Sorry if you read this on post on my F150 thread, I thought it might get more views here.

I was doing some reading on these things (in a quest for better mpg's) and came across a very interesting mod. The factory intake has a snorkel thing on it with a diameter of maybe 2 inches. The mod is to remove that restriction and add a 3 inch piece on there. So, I used a 3 inch rubber coupling, and a piece of 3 inch PVC pipe, about 3.5 inches long.

Note: I know this will work on the 4.6 and the 5.4, but I'm not sure on the 4.2 V6.

Here's the factory unit

Comparison with the new piece, you can see the extreme difference in size

I had to use about 1 inch of the factory snorkel to get a secure clamp, I failed to take a photo of it. But basically, I cut an inch off and it's under the clamp on the coupling.

I also had to taper the end of the PVC to fit it into the hole in the fender well

Showing the fit into the fender well

Project complete

I will report back with more info. I filled it up right before I did the mod. I got a measly 13.5 mpg last tank =(.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I will add that this works better with the the bigger air filter housing, I dont remember if it is the later ones or the 5.4 ones though.

I will post a pic later, on my '02 5.4 the inlet side of the air filter housing was really close to the same size as the 3" pipe.

I did it four years ago, didn't really notice much if any difference. To do it right you are supposed to disconnect the battery and flip the lights on to completely drain the computer settings. Resetting the adaptive strategy messes up your perceptions of before/after because they turn into a dog in between until you get it recalibrated for you... by which time you lost the feeling of what it was like before.

 

[shane96ranger]

I didnt know the later trucks' housings were different. Mine has a manufacture date if 6/96. Maybe thats why i had to cut a piece off the snorkel to fit it properly? I didnt know I had to unhook the battery - guess I better do that tomorrow.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Nope it must have been an early to late thing, I am going to guess it was the 98 to 99 facelift (also when they went to PI heads)

I was at U-Pull-It and I noticed there was a 97-98 Expedition with the 5.4 and it had the small snorkel... I grabbed the pretty throttlebody cover off it (It has the "Triton 5.4L" in color)

 

[shane96ranger]

Thanks for posting those pics, is that your truck or your Brothers? I guess I need to look for a later housing then. I don't feel much difference down low, but up top it feels like it's breathing a lot better. I might actually get worse gas mileage this go around because I keep dropping the hammer to feel it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That is mine, my brother just went with an aftermarket CAI. He left the fenderside of his stock air filter housing as a heat shield, intake temps run similar to mine (5-10 degres above ambiant)