Cold Air intake

[custodian]

Those that have done the LS swap, what would be a good cold air intake for the stock 5.3? I've tried one of those $60 sysytems from eBay and it was a sloppy fit. I'm currently using the stock air box and tubing system. My info is a stock 2002 Silverado 5.3 installed in the 73 C10.

 

[Grit dog]

Any of them that aren’t a cheapo Fleabay setup?
While I don’t really believe in the intrinsic benefits of most cai setups especially if the engine ain’t making more ponies than an oe filter can handle, I have had a couple in the past. Either purchased or inherited with a vehicle. Enough to form the above opinion.
But have had KN and AFE and both have been good quality imo.

 

[CalSgt]

Here you go… These guys only want about $900 for these, and I don’t think that includes the plumbing.

I was going to fab something similar for my 5.7 Vortec since it should be pushing a massive 280hp. I managed to get the factory airbox fitted nicely so no fab work needed!

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[Doppleganger]

Whats the TB diameter on the LS setup? 80mm? 90mm?

I am having the same fun looking for one for the PF4 and Edelbrock is zero help.

 

[custodian]

Here you go… These guys only want about $900 for these, and I don’t think that includes the plumbing.

I was going to fab something similar for my 5.7 Vortec since it should be pushing a massive 280hp. I managed to get the factory airbox fitted nicely so no fab work needed!

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That cost more that my entire LS motor and trans.

 

[custodian]

Whats the TB diameter on the LS setup? 80mm? 90mm?

I am having the same fun looking for one for the PF4 and Edelbrock is zero help.

I think the stock 5.3 throttle body is 78mm. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[SquareRoot]

Cold air inlet makes a big difference on my Edelbrock EFI. The guys on the Edelbrock forum harp on this all the time. The EFI will start pulling timing out at a certain air inlet temp to prevent detonation. I don't know if factory tunes do that as well but free power is free power.

 

[CalSgt]

That cost more that my entire LS motor and trans.

Yeah me too… except the LS part

 

[Finkaire]

more air, more fuel. Just saying

 

[Camar068]

just get a bucket, drill some holes, attach hoses and now you have a custom cold air intake. Painting the bucket is up to you lol.

Seriously, I've thought about building my own box....pretty much all it is.

 

[Vetal4]

just get a bucket, drill some holes, attach hoses and now you have a custom cold air intake. Painting the bucket is up to you lol.

Seriously, I've thought about building my own box....pretty much all it is.

I wonder if you could make one out of an ammo can….has latching
Lid built right in, It’d look cool and would be a great theme thing for CUCV guys…..

 

[custodian]

I've decided to keep the stock 5.3 Silverado air box. I'm going to modify the two air intake holes, one rectangle, one round, and run some flexible tubing down and make a scoop that would fit at the radiator support or under the radiator support.

 

[Bextreme04]

I'm planning on using the factory 7.4 intake box on mine, mounted on the fender well and plumbed into a hole in the fender. I'll close up the rest of the holes on the inside of the fender and put a sheet metal duct on the back side of the hole so that it pulls cold air from the front grill behind the headlights. All of the "Cold air intakes" I've seen for most cars are just metal tubing and open air filter elements in the engine bay, which are the complete opposite of a cold air intake. The factory EFI intake boxes almost always pull air in from outside the engine bay and are therefore cold air intakes. Additionally, the OEM plastic tubing is worse at transferring heat, and therefore keeps the intake charge colder than the metal piping.

 

[CalSgt]

I'm planning on using the factory 7.4 intake box on mine, mounted on the fender well and plumbed into a hole in the fender. I'll close up the rest of the holes on the inside of the fender and put a sheet metal duct on the back side of the hole so that it pulls cold air from the front grill behind the headlights. All of the "Cold air intakes" I've seen for most cars are just metal tubing and open air filter elements in the engine bay, which are the complete opposite of a cold air intake. The factory EFI intake boxes almost always pull air in from outside the engine bay and are therefore cold air intakes. Additionally, the OEM plastic tubing is worse at transferring heat, and therefore keeps the intake charge colder than the metal piping.

I like the way you think Sir...

I didn't think to take pictures after smoothing everything with body filler. The big holes at the back ar covered by the cowl, a few holes are covered by the hinge, and all the small holes around the wheel tub are needed for mounting clips. I didn't bother with running a duct, I figured it would be more efficient using the fender itself as ducting.

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[custodian]

I like the way you think Sir...

I didn't think to take pictures after smoothing everything with body filler. The big holes at the back ar covered by the cowl, a few holes are covered by the hinge, and all the small holes around the wheel tub are needed for mounting clips. I didn't bother with running a duct, I figured it would be more efficient using the fender itself as ducting.

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I'm taking you plugged most of the openings and it's drawing the air from the back side of the fender?