Mike, are you happy with your Tom's, is it a drop in filter? Where did you get it? I'm a bit wary about the lubrication of the K&N affecting the MAF.
I'm pretty happy with it so far. I haven't dyno'd it or anything so I'm not sure on the horsepower gains or losses with it installed. It is a drop in, it is thinner then the stock filter and it is a dry filter so you don't have to worry about oils. TOMS claims no loss in horses with it and I haven't felt any gains or losses from the "seat of my pants" dyno. I got it from Clark at VIP Auto Salon (
[email protected]). I know he had a bunch in stock but I'm not sure how many he has left, shoot him and email to see.
K&N intakes don't require a piggy back ECU mod to run. It's a single stage intake. SRT puts that piggyback to fool the computer it's getting the correct amount of air through the MAF.
I prefer the stock airbox over any open element filter intake system for many reasons...
1) You retain the low end torque and back pressure the factory intake box was designed for.
2) The secondary chamber opens up after 3,600 RPM to produce that robust sound...not all the time like with a single stage open element.
3) Your factory air intake is designed and engineered to draw in cool air from the front, not suck in hot air from the engine bay.
My $0.02.
Thanks for the clarification and help regarding the piggy back system Flip. I agree 110% with what you said in terms of the stock vs. single stage intake. If the F would have run better with a single stage, the guys from Japan would have put one on the car. Heat is also a big issue, especially here in the south and I wouldn't want the engine to take in all the hot air both from the outside and inside of the engine. Good stuff
