Thanks for the "long drawn out" explanation IndyRam, it was educational. I think I've read similar things from you before in other parts of the forum. Thats one of the reasons I elected to go with the Volant over K&N, because it draws its air from the fender well rather than inside the engine compartment.

I used to have a 1995 Dakota with the K&N open element intake. I rode in a friend's CAIed Dakota (1997 or 1998 I believe) with the same engine and very similar exhaust setup, and it had more get up and go. Considering that the body change in 1997 made the newer Dakotas heavier, that convinced me right there, personally, that CAIs were the way to go.

As far as sucking air through a straw goes, have you seen these tubes? Granted, the stock tube is not very big, and the air box it uses even worse. But have you seen a Volant's? That is one big a** straw. If the straw is big enough, say big enough to fit over your entire mouth, you won't notice a difference between it and breathing normally (other than wearing this weird, huge straw over your mouth and trying to go through your day like normal while people look at you like a freak ).

Well since I just bought my short ram...I guess it's all:

I---I---I---I
~~~~~~~~

(that's water under a bridge)[8D]

There it is.

http://slomojo01.angelfire.com

I dont think its fair to compare a 95 to a 97 or 98, OBD vs OBD2 systems, not really fair at all




Ok here is the solution to everyones problems, take all the air filtering devices off and run a straight Tb, then we cant argue about it

Honestly, I foresee a S/C in my future...[&:]

Pure curiosity. I don't plan to change the manifold, but I hear you guys talk about how CAI don't work on our trucks because the air sits in the kegger and sometime I'd like to figure out just how much it increases the air temp. I honestly feal that the time air spends in the manifoldis almost negligable but I thought I'd hit it from another angle. I likedthe FIPK on my old suv and I like it now on my ram.

I'm not really trying to argue, just let my opinion be heard.

I really don't think it makes the air any colder, or barely at all, once it gets past the intake. Once past that, the temp of the air is going to go up, there's no way around it. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if I understand correctly, the entire point of a CAI is pulling cold air into and through the intake, colder air = denser air = more air into the intake and passed on to the engine. Once it gets past the intake, and enters the TB and etc., is it really any colder? Thats not really what they are designed to do. Its just that if the air is colder initially, where it pulls the air from, than it is denser and can pull more in. More air into the engine = good.

An open element filter accomplishes the same end (better or worse is up for debate, as we have all discovered), but instead of pulling colder/denser air, or attempting to do so, it just uses a bigger filter (with more exposed area) to pull more air in period. One thing that is not up for debate is cost. A CAI clearly costs more than an open element intake, no matter what brand you go with. I concede that point and never wanted to argue against it.

What does the type of on board diagnostic system have to do with stock performance? Was the computer better on the newer engines, possibly, I concede that. But OBD I and OBD II 5.2L engines from 1995 and 1997/1998 (respectively) had virtually the same HP and torque numbers, if I recall correctly. If you were comparing the 5.2 to a 4.7, of course they are different, but he had the same engine, just newer OBD system.

If you think that any particular air intake mod
has given you a 'Ram Air' effect
you can test this yourself
by doing wide open throttle accelerations
in 1st gear
and then in 3rd gear.

In both cases the engine is putting out full power
but the vehicle speed is higher in 3rd gear
so your MAP sensor should read higher
than it did in the lower gear at lower mph speed.

Like with all air intake mods
your MAP and IAT sensors will tell you the truth.

My personal opinion from reading the CAI advertising
is that the Volant is one of the most deceptive
and full of 'weasel words'
and I doubt any of their claims live up to SAE style testing
except that more noise is made.

Volunteers who have tested the various CAI's available
for 5.7 V8s found little to be impressed with on the Volant:

http://tinyurl.com/2j4gx3

BMW and Infiniti have put out factory versions of Ram Air effect air intakes
for Autobahn high speed driving:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do.../photoId=31246

Hank, what do you run on your truck? You always have the article links. Just curious what your opinion is. I know you don't like the CAI aftermarket devices. So do you run an open element or stock CAI.

Thanks.

1. True. But if you start at a lower temp wouldn't it heat up less?
2.Thats exactly what I'd like to figure out
3. Thats how I'm trackn' but I'm honestly just guessn' here.

I'd also be interested in what HankL is running and why.