Intake - which one?

[v8motorcycleman]

Guys, I'm sure I am opening a can here but I'm wanting the opinions on which intake to go with. I want to get the most out of my 6.0 without going crazy with replacing head studs and throwing a tune in. I guess you could call me a bolt-on guy. With that in mind, I've read the stock air filter is great but I'm looking to snag more horse power and MPG. Which is better, the K&N 57-2530, the K&N E-0780, the Air Raid Cold Air Dam Intake system, or the drop in Air Raid filter? These are the only systems I'm aware of. Any help or input would be appreciated.

[Mike Hickman]

I have S&B and should have stayed stock wasted money and thinking of putting it back on . Just my 2cents.

[windrunner408]

DO NOT go with K&N and in all reality just stick with the stock filter. You would be way better off going with a turbo back exhaust for better breathability and slight bump in fuel mileage. JMO though.

FWIW, I have S&B btw and really like it. It is the only one I recommend.

[Tuscany]

Stock air intake is proven in applications up to 500rwhp so your better of spending that money elsewhere.

[v8motorcycleman]

Originally Posted by windrunner408

DO NOT go with K&N and in all reality just stick with the stock filter. You would be way better off going with a turbo back exhaust for better breathability and slight bump in fuel mileage. JMO though.

FWIW, I have S&B btw and really like it. It is the only one I recommend.

First...what is an S&B? You have a link I could look at one?

Second...I was going to do the intake first and then float to a turbo back system. If the original filter is good enough, what is everyone generally going towards in the exhaust systems? Brand? type? Mind you, I don't really want it a lot louder as my wife sometimes drives this to her job or around town and not looking to get her anymore attention.

[strokedoutlaw]

03-07 Ford Powerstroke 6.0L S&B Filters Cold Air Intake (Dry Disposable Filter)

and as far as exhaust you theres tons mbrp, magnaflow, silverline, flopro, afe, for sound wise to see what it sounds like you can youtube each one

[NYC F-350]

Do the exhaust first.
The stock air cleaner element is a HEPA filter which filters down to 0.03 microns. NO other filter out there will filter the air coming in to your engine better.

[colo_dually]

Here's an excerpt from my performance thread on CAI's, at least wait until you've maxed out the electronic tuning, and have an exhaust system

Cold Air Intakes
There is a lot of debate about the cost-benefit ratio of upgrading the stock air filter and intake assemblies on the 6.0L. The old mindset was that the stock air filter was good to 500RWHP, and for the most part that is still correct. However once you building beyond the limits of electronic programming, you are limiting your gains by the stock box.

507RWHP was put down with 175's and the Powermax turbocharger, it was truck builds similar to this that gave folks the impression that the stock air filter can and will support builds upto that level of power. Depending on your driving evironment, and personal perferances, the stock filter may not be best for your 500RWHP build. Dusty areas, and dirt roads, situations were filtration is more important is were the stock filter surpasses anything on the aftermarket for filtration and protecting your investment.

When you look at the gains of these advanced builds being put together now. 485RWHP on an S&B intake, exhaust, stock injectors, and a Stage 2 turbo, with ECM/FICM tuning. (Only 22HP shy of that 175, Powermax, stock air box, ECM tuning only.) With the investment of a turbo or injectors (between $850-$3600, plus instalation), its pretty clear you are holding your build back with the stock air filter (roughly a $400 upgrade). There are two leading filter systems out there, the first is the S&B intake and the other is from AFE.

When you look at weather your build requires the addition of a cold air intake, look at that filtration to performance balance.

I'm keeping the protection of the stock Donaldson filter with my build.