Cold air intake

[Bailey mays]

I've been looking into getting a cold air intake and a throttle body spacer for my 2011 5.3 Silverado. Although I have heard the throttle body is pointless with a vortec but not quite sure how this works. And also is it worth it to buy a k and n cold air intake or is there a way to make my own cold air intake Becuase I have heard of people doing that thanks in advance for any answers or help

[MikeNH]

The spacer is a ripoff on just about any modern engine, it won't do anything.

 

As for intakes, the one that has been proven to get the biggest gain is the Airaid MIT. This is just a tube that replaces the stock unit and retains the factory airbox. Blackbear did this test a few years ago.

[RyanbabZ71]

Buy a ported throttle body at least you get some added responsiveness

 

 

Ryan

[RyanbabZ71]

I second the airraid MIT, for about $125 well worth it IMO

[dbbspider]

On my old s10, I tried different cai setups. I couldn't tell any difference in performance or mpg. With that, my Silverado air intake is stock w paper filter. I wish the MIT was cheaper than $125.

[Doug_Scott]

If you are looking for simply a cold air intake, your truck came stock with one. Take a look at the stock air box, I don't think it pulls air from the engine compartment. I know it does pull air from behind the headlight though. If you are after the noise, then you need to dump the stock air tube. Stock comes with some fancy bends and baffles to keep the noise down by using resonance.

[5RWill]

The spacer is a ripoff on just about any modern engine, it won't do anything.

 

As for intakes, the one that has been proven to get the biggest gain is the Airaid MIT. This is just a tube that replaces the stock unit and retains the factory airbox. Blackbear did this test a few years ago.

 

This, though i'm still back and forth on whether or not i want to commit to a full fledge CAI. Though the MIT is certainly more economical and is better price/performance wise by a mile. I'm wondering how it sounds with the Airaid MIT? I also like the thought of keeping an enclosed airbox so heat from the engine under the hood isn't affecting the Intake. I've found volant for about the same price as Airaid but 400$ is still a lot when 600$ will get you headers.

[MikeNH]

I'm not an engineer but I'd think the bulk of the sound gain is from the new tube not having the silencers, not so much the open element filter. It gave my truck a decent growl but I already had exhaust done too.

[bigsapper]

I did not notice any increased sound with the MIT on my 2014, which is in stark contrast to when I had one on my 2013.

[5RWill]

The MIT is the one with the filter and a less restrictive tube is it not? Or is that the Junior?

[MikeNH]

MIT is tube only. They offer it with s filter too though. Junior adds the filter.

[5RWill]

Think i'm about to order the Jr kit this week. Since i'm going to commit to headers, catted Y-pipe, and exhaust the CAI isn't really going to effect sound too much for that setup.

[BigBlueLB756]

http://www.aftermarketnews.com/kn-engineering-buys-airaid/

[Doug_Scott]

I'm not an engineer but I'd think the bulk of the sound gain is from the new tube not having the silencers, not so much the open element filter. It gave my truck a decent growl but I already had exhaust done too.

 

Adding a k&n replacement filter on most bikes I have owned did increase intake noise, and on my buddys fj1200 it introduced a thumping noise under the fuel tank(where the air box is). Put stock filter back in, noise is gone. On my truck I went with the volant, but after a month of loud intake noise, I sold it off, put stock box back on, and about a month later I replaced stock filter with replacement panel k&n filter. There is slightly more noise.

On the 2000 GTP I had, I changed the pulley and installed a SLP cold air intake on it. Intake noise was louder than any small block chevy 4bbl engine with the air cleaner lid flipped over was. It also un muffled the supercharger air flow as well, adding a loud whine to the intake noise.

 

All those bends, and additions of alternate air flow paths to the intake tube screw with the resonance enough to stop it. Does the job so well that GM and Ford both have had intake tubes running into the cabin to give the driver the intake noise that pedestrians don't have to listen to.

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

As stated already , throttle body spacers were only helpful when the MAF was in the throttle body or when the throttle body houses the injectors. It has since become the equivalent of just about anything Billy Mayse sold at 4am. (God rest his soul)

 

I am a HUGE fan of the MiT kits, same HP gains as ANY other CAI on the market with out the growl of the Drowning Wookie coming from under the hood. modern GM truck air boxes flow very well, it's the huge intake runner tube muffler system that is restricting