Hey guys got a 98 Ram 1500 5.2L... just put on my Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust kit now im lookin for an enclosed CAI to go with it. I live in Canada and with the sometimes harsh weather and working conditions an enclosed CAI is a must. I narrowed it down to S&B and Volant. S&B is alot cheaper and pretty much the same design as Volant. S&B runs around $210 and Volant $245 but there is also the extra $100 for the Volant Air scoop. Which would be the better buy here? Is the Volants performance worth the $140 difference or is the S&B just as good? Thanks.

 

I would run the S&B same thing cheaper price, how do you like you American thunder system? Mine is starting to sound better now after its getting broke in

 

Yea im thinking of the S&B for the $145 less. Plus I know the Volant Air scoop is supposed to help alot but really i dont trust it...i feel it might catch some bad sh** in it while im driving or on the dirt roads. As for the flowmasters i love em. They should be still quiet enough to enjoy my 4 month hunting season but still loud enough to get people to notice in town! They havent broken in yet but still i like it alot!

 

I believe there is info or a disclaimer on the Volant website that states not to use their scoop in areas with lots of water or off-roading. However, it does add a bit of power and gas mileage on the highway (doesn't do anything in town when you don't get a ram air effect to it).

S&B is good, Volant has the option to be even better (but only at highway speeds). I went to Menards and picked up some gutter tubing for cheap, made my own air tube, rather than paying $100+ for that piece of plastic. I've owned both K&N intakes before for other vehicles, and the Volant for this one, and I can tell you the Volant is much more solidly built.

Either option with an enclosed filter is a better option than the cheap CAIs or even the K&N units.

 

I love the S&B for the money, infact, JasonW pointed me in the right direction for it.

 

could pay like 115 for a spectre, does have a heat shield enclosure, just a thought. pulls good air.

 

My Spectre does infact have a heat sheild enclosure. I love it, does what it is suppose to do.

 

The spectre is not enclosed...the OP is looking for a sealed CAI, the spectre just has a heat shield which is supposed to block heat and that its, a sealed box will keep water/mud and what not from flinging onto the filter element from the fan

 

My Volant works great, and it's constructed more solidly than any other intake for any other car or truck I've come across.

 

Volant or S&B would be a great choice, but you really can't beat the price of the s&b. I would say the S&B is constructed just as solidly as the Volant. And looks pretty cool when you have the hood popped.