You know maybe just like you I am always trying new things as far as power on our trusty LiL 4 Bangers. Seeking better torque, power or mpg. I currently run homemade cold air with factory box and K&N, bigger insulated air tube, 4.0L TB with flat top, custom TBS, bored out intake manifold, accel 42,000 volt coil, accel 8mm wires, NGKs gapped at a mild .039, magnaflow catback. My little rig scoots pretty good on take off, plenty torque, holds highway speeds of 75mph. I recenty removed my factory air box and filter and installed a AEM cone filter. After some testing and driving around town found that off the line she was smooth and real quick but I noticed it had lost some torque. I found myself pushing the pedal further down in order to get up to higher speeds. While entering highway she would take off like a bat out of _ _ _ _ . But had to push pedal hard to hit 55 mph, and it would take forever to hit 70 mph. One of the worst things was if I hit a headwind or upgrade she would just slow way down as no pedal was left to push. No torque or umph at all. I was barely doing 55 mph and in the slow lane worried I would get run over. And let me tell you my gas gauge was going down fast. My gas tank was full when I started and when I looked it read 50 miles at half a tank. I only run 31s with a 2in BB. It felt as if all my mods under the hood did not exist. So end of the day I removed the AEM cold filter and reinstalled my factory air box with its flat panel K&N. All my mods came back alive, wow she felt good. Now remember my box is altered where the front face is cut out sucking in cold air from around removed headlight bezel, on bottom of air box the is a 1 1/2 hole cut, and cut metal fender just above upper shock mount sucking in air. Also on front right side of box has been cut in such a angle to create air presure. So its true all your mods add up. They all work together when all in tune to your specific mods. So does one cold air intake fit all? NO. In my experience thru testing it shows that yes you need more air for performance, but that air should stay under presure, even before intering the air filter. My conclusion is my factory air box is acting as some type of air ram/ wind tunnel. Along with our 2.5L air pump has limited suction power. So keep it under presure, thats my story and I am sticking to it. Happy Wheeling.
