I just got done installing some upgrades to my 96 5.2. I just finished installing a Hughes FI intake, new water pump, oil pump, fuel pump, timing chain, T-stat, wires, cap and rotor, Accel injectors, MSD coil pack, MSD ignition wires, new plugs, all new hoses and a K&N air filter.

What I need now is the following:

• Throttle body
• Exhaust system inc new cat
• Round air filter vs OEM with K&N air filter

The throttle bodies I was looking at were Fastman and Flowmetric. I would like some recommendations please. I drive street, no off-roading and no towing. Oh, what about the OEM AI vs a round filter type? Any suggestions on the AI? Going to need that as well. Thanks, Chris McKenna

 

Throttle Body: Go with the Fastman. Just as good as Holley or Hughes or Flometrics, and cheaper. Rather than starting from scratch he reworks the factory TB. Ends up the same performance as the others with less work/materials, so it costs half as much as the others.

Exhaust System: Look up various mufflers on Dodge trucks on Youtube and pick the one that sounds the best to you. For the converter, go with Magnaflow.

Air Filter: The round air intake is the best bang for your buck, but if you want to get real serious, a Volant intake (you can find them for $250 or less, don't pay any more than that, as some places sell them for the way overpriced $400+) which draws air from stock location AND can be force fed by a second tube from the front, or the Ram Air Box.

 

Hey, thanks for the info. I was wondering about that- the Fastman performance vs. the Flowmetric stuff and had read numerous reviews that were positive about the Fastman. Going to order one this week.

 

I can't comment on the Flowmentric or other tb's out there, but I really like my Fastman 50mm TB. I noticed better throttle response and some kick in the low end. Hope this helps.

 

Now, correct me if I am wrong here, but, the whole idea of the CAI seems to me, a waste of time. Since the box sits in the engine compartment, eventually, it and everything else in the engine bay reaches an equilibrium temp. I would bet that if I were to place a thermocouple inside the filter box and measure the temp vs. the air temp of the engine bay, it would be about the same. I do not see how it would be possible to keep the inside of the box cooler than the engine bay unless there was a large enough offset with the outside air temp and the engine bay temp such as in the winter.

Even if it were cooler though, the air still passes through the TB and Intake thus warming up at both of those zones as it passes through before it reaches the combustion chamber.

So, I feel it safe to assume that CAIs may not provide any benefit over stock intakes. It surely doesn't provide more air input. Engine displacement is what governs how much air is sucked in so, there's no benefit there, and, since it has to reach an equilibrium temp because the CAI is not thermally isolated from the surrounding environment, it's going to heat up inside.

But, the proof / stats may be different than what I stated. Does this Volant really work? More HP as their website claims? Anyone dyno tested these things out to verify those claims.

Just curious. Not knocking the product but, just want to hear some real world users as to what their experiences were with CAIs in general.

Thanks, CM

 

I just spoke to Bruce at F&B and he informed me that the Volant CAI does work better than the OEM stock model so, I am going to order one and try it out. I just ordered his throttle body as well. Now to find some long tube headers and a custom 3" exhaust all the way back. Change the CAT and Muffler as well and we should be good to go.

 

you may want too look into 1.7 harland sharps , as they help for the down low RPMS for get up and go , easy install for the power

 

Thanks for the tip. Easy install on those I note. Noticeable difference- yes? On the Pacesetter LT headers, how do those compare against Mopar Performance LTs?

 

In regards to your question about CAI, it's been discussed in many forums and in many ways and many people including myself have come to the same conclusion you have. It really makes no benefit at all, but it will put a big dent in your wallet. I read the Mustang forums all the time and they are way more into moding than this truck forum. They also say it's a big waste of money. If you really wanted to test out the Volant system you could have moded one up yourself using your stock box. Easy enough to cut a hole and add a hose from the front of the truck, and way cheaper.

 

All I really wanted to do was to go with a round air filter- 14 by 3 or something like that and no intake at all. That was the original plan. But, I will test it out as soon as I get it and note how it feels. That's the best I can do as I don't have a method to quantify anything. Can you post a link for where I get the round air filters? I was looking all over the place but, I can't seem to find the good ones that people on here talk about all the time.

Thank you,

Chris