BBK CAI for 1997-2003 (4.6 & 5.4L)

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  #1  
Old 03-19-2010 | 05:09 AM
DDan1967's Avatar
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Exclamation BBK CAI for 1997-2003 (4.6 & 5.4L)

After driving with it a few weeks I thought I'd share my opinion on the BBK Cold Air Induction Kit with anyone that cared to read about it.

First off I ordered it from Summit Racing, which as always delivered it quickly. The kit came missing the hardware, so I contacted Summit and they had BBK contact me directly and they sent out the missing hardware supper fast.

So I have nothing but good things to say for Summit and BBK as far as their customer service goes.

Now to the CAI, I installed the BBK kit to replace a Volant CAI. I didn't have anything wrong with the Volant CAI, but I wanted to get away from the oiled filter.

The BBK also comes with a cotton oiled filter, but Amsoil has a filter that is a direct replacement.

Since I was replacing a CAI with a CAI the one thing that is a pain in the behind (The breathers) were already taken care of. Though if I was replacing the stock system, I would have needed more hose than was included with the kit as well as a 90 degree elbow that I picked up at NAPA when I installed the Volant system.

The install was straight forward and fit and finish is awesome.

Starting the truck the first time I could defiantly tell it was getting more air. My idle RPM was at 1000 until after I took it for a spin and it figured out that it was getting extra air. Now my idle is normal again.

The seat of the pants power was defiantly higher and acceleration was more than improved.

Since installation I've taken several trips of over 200 miles and gone through a few tanks in town.

In town is really tempting to get on it as it's so much more fun now.

Some additional info on my truck; I have over sized tires and a low stall torque converter.

Some observations:

1. Defiantly more power off the line
2. She pulls hills much easier. On some hills that used to cause a downshift it doesn't any more. On others she gets farther up the hill before the downshift.
3. With my low stall torque converter in town acceleration can be a problem, in the past I would have to downshift to accelerate on the go, now she just pulls right up there.
4. Over all the truck feels like it has more power than it did before I installed the heavy oversized tires.
5. Milage on the highway is definatly better, it's now as good as if not better than it was before I installed the oversized tires.
6. This intake is much quieter than the Volant, I LOVE my new BBK CAI

They claim it will add 10 to 15 HP, I don't know if that is accurate, but after driving it I don't doubt their claims.

As far as the Volant goes; it was better than the stock system, but it doesn't even compare to the BBK.

Now for the photos


The spots that look like pitting are just some water spots I should have cleaned off before taking the photo.




The Amsoil Filter with a PreFilter

 

Last edited by DDan1967; 03-19-2010 at 05:21 AM. Reason: Added some notes
  #2  
Old 03-19-2010 | 07:34 AM
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Good morning!

Nice upgrade. You did well replacing that POS Volant, which is commonly known to be among the worst intake systems ever made for F15o's. ( Search forum for details)

Which is, no doubt, why you are seeing some improvements. This system is actually very similar to the 3" AF1.

BTW - if you disconnected the battery ( as you should prior to install, since you are disconnecting the MAF), that is why yer idle was a bit higher initially - you cleared KAM, hence adaptive is gone. Nothing at all to do with 'all that extra air' - think of the throttle plate position at idle - a drinking straw would be able to provide sufficient flow at that point . Intakes are passive devices.

You need to clean that engine bay

Have a good weekend!

Cheers

MGD v4.2
 

Last edited by MGDfan; 03-19-2010 at 10:18 PM. Reason: spell... ing
  #3  
Old 03-19-2010 | 11:29 PM
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Yep one of the reasons I went with it was because of the simiarity between the 3" AirForce 1 CAI.

One thing I didn't mention was that the Amsoil filter has that Reverse V in the top too which increases the surface area of the filter even more.

The PreFilter is water resistant which I figure is a good thing with the filter being more open.

And yes it could use a good clean. Perhaps one things warm up I'll get to that.
 
  #4  
Old 04-08-2012 | 06:32 AM
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Hey how do you like your msd set up? I had those coil packs on my old tbird w/ the 4.6, they were ok someone told me to gap the plugs out to .60 and then i really noticed a difference
 
  #5  
Old 04-08-2012 | 08:26 AM
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For the 97-03 two valves, -

I run the Volant, never will run another. It's the best AFAIC. Has the shortest tube and a gradual radius. Observing others, they're over piped. Piping is straight out with a quick 90. I wanted the Volant for that reason alone at first. Then noticed the larger box opening at the inner fender. Yea, you can cut the inner fender to match the larger inlet very easily.
I'll NEVER run an oiled filter, -never have with this Volant set up. Only Amsoil HF nano media (filter). To date, I haven't seen a CAI design that could possibly flow more air on demand. Not that you need all it is capable of, but it's there if you need it. And it's a shorter trip to the TB.

So, -A few mods are needed yes.. But it really wasn't a big deal. Best system I've ever run and VERY easy to maintain.

Not saying the others are bad, - just that you can get allot more from the Volant than you may think.
 
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Old 04-20-2012 | 07:09 PM
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CwRanger05: I loved the MSD coils, they definitely kick up the seat of the pants power and my mileage improved when I installed them. I've since replaced them, after adding close to another 100,000 miles on, with Accel. There basically identical, except for the color.


jbrew: I have to disagree with you on the Volant, at least on the 4.6L. Other than being louder, I couldn't tell any difference between it and the stock. At the time, I searched and searched for an Amsoil filter that would fit it. Either I just missed it or they started making one recently. Perhaps that is what makes the difference for you.

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend,
Doug
 
  #7  
Old 04-20-2012 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by DDan1967
CwRanger05: I loved the MSD coils, they definitely kick up the seat of the pants power and my mileage improved when I installed them. I've since replaced them, after adding close to another 100,000 miles on, with Accel. There basically identical, except for the color.


jbrew: I have to disagree with you on the Volant, at least on the 4.6L. Other than being louder, I couldn't tell any difference between it and the stock. At the time, I searched and searched for an Amsoil filter that would fit it. Either I just missed it or they started making one recently. Perhaps that is what makes the difference for you.

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend,
Doug
Yea, I don't know about the noise, I've never heard any noise. That little induction noise? Your lower intake is most likely full of crap. Should clean it out. OR you've eliminated the IAC horn. That would be the black box on the 4six only.

And if you think you can feel a HP gain, - it's all in YOUR head. OR something was seriously wrong with the way you had the previous system hooked up. No fault of the system, -since they're basically all the same. That's basically.

It's possible to gain 10 hp, but you need to have a few other things in place. One thing for sure tho, you can't feel 10 hp. No matter what.

The only way to see improvement, if any (doubtful), is to do video runs before and after and use your computer clock. OR on a Dyno. Hype is for naught.
 
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Old 04-20-2012 | 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by DDan1967
CwRanger05: I loved the MSD coils, they definitely kick up the seat of the pants power and my mileage improved when I installed them. I've since replaced them, after adding close to another 100,000 miles on, with Accel. There basically identical, except for the color.
BS post. This is impossible. In bold. - Unless your previous set was bad. That's the ONLY way this could be true.

Also, Accel has the absolute worst record on the market as far as reliability when it comes to coils. Granitelli is next in line.

Best coils and @ half the price are Visteon/Motorcraft

Second best Global GAMMA's

3RD - Uneek coils.
 
  #9  
Old 04-20-2012 | 07:44 PM
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EDIT:

You don't even run coils DDan1967. That 4six uses Coil Packs. BIG difference when your talking coils.
 
  #10  
Old 04-20-2012 | 09:48 PM
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DDan - did you find that you had to modify the pipe length ? i had to cut a good couple of inches off to be able to fit the filter box in. I bought the TB and CAI kit together from trucktoys.com, i found there was enough rubber pipe, if you just swapped the elbow from one part to another, well it worked for me! also i have a weird temporary sucking sound when accelerating, BEFORE ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING - its not the cai suck noise, it is a higher pitch that rises then fades off, sounds like some vacuum part. anyway, apart from that i seem pretty happy with it.
 
  #11  
Old 04-23-2012 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by jbrew
EDIT:

You don't even run coils DDan1967. That 4six uses Coil Packs. BIG difference when your talking coils.
Coils / Coil Packs, Tomatoes / Tomotoes. So I used was a little "fast and loose" with the terms.

My apologies.
 
  #12  
Old 04-23-2012 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by jbrew
BS post. This is impossible. In bold. - Unless your previous set was bad. That's the ONLY way this could be true.

Also, Accel has the absolute worst record on the market as far as reliability when it comes to coils. Granitelli is next in line.

Best coils and @ half the price are Visteon/Motorcraft

Second best Global GAMMA's

3RD - Uneek coils.
At the time I installed the MSD Coil Packs, the original engine had close to 200,000 miles and to the best of my knowledge the coils (Oops, Coil Packs) were original. So they probably were a little worse for wear, which may have contributed to some of the improvement.

As for quality of Accel Coil Packs, Troyer Performance recommends them and states they are on par with MSD. If you want to say Troyer doesn't know what they are talking about, feel free. However, I'm sure many people will disagree with you.

Now, to the original point of the thread.

If you take a look at my signature, you will see that my '97 truck is presently running a '04 engine that was backwards modified to run off the '97 computer. That engine had been installed three years prior to me installing this CAI system. https://www.f150online.com/forums/v8...2004-4-6l.html
 
  #13  
Old 04-24-2012 | 07:52 AM
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Originally Posted by DDan1967
As for quality of Accel Coil Packs, Troyer Performance recommends them and states they are on par with MSD. If you want to say Troyer doesn't know what they are talking about, feel free. However, I'm sure many people will disagree with you.
Now why would I do that? I didn't know Mike backed those and really don't care either way. Frankly, so do I. This is why my post reads big difference between COP systems and PACK systems. Guess what, - that's the difference. Accell and MSD are choice.

Using Mike didn't help you one bit, neither did the rest of your wise *** cracks.
 
  #14  
Old 04-24-2012 | 09:38 AM
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Man what would people do if they posted about a Dodge Ram 1500 on here ! I cant belive how negative are on this site sometimes.


I got to say I just read about your engine swap that was cool as hell! I would love to drive your truck to see what it feels like. I love the 97 - 03 body style but yeah the engine can leave some to be desired so your swap is awesome.
 
  #15  
Old 04-24-2012 | 05:36 PM
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no doubt a paid blogger! There have just been too many SAE/ISO certfied test facilities that have tested all these claims and proved them to be false.
 


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