i know where you guys are coming from, but you must not know how restrictive to 4.9l is.
your looking at the small picture of the idea of sucking more air into the engine, but in reality your not sucking much more air into it.

once the air passes the filter, it has to go into the TB which is small, then it hits the plenum where it is slowed down and disperced into the 6 really long intake runners( designed by the way for low end torque) then it goes into the very restrictive head design, and passes by the small valves into the combustion chamber.

i can bet you money that if you had a way to measure the airflow coming into the motor from a filterless intake, the factory airbox, and the cone filters, the air flow changes are going to be minute

 

I think you would like it if you tried it fordtrucknut!

 

I knew if I mentioned anything about the noise someone would be calling me out on it, what ever lol but unit505, still I am in awe from how well this $35 part affected the driving of the truck.

As you said it has a huge increase in throttle response for sure and still MPGs steadily rising... almost excited to go to the gas station to see my mileage..JK lol

 

Choke down the small tb with the intake tube and volitile square box and there's no question that the virtually free flow round filter combined with warm air from under the hood creates a better flowing leaner mixture and significant mpg gain! You can argue while I enjoy the extra 50 miles + to the tank. With a tune up and timing bump, I am seeing 20 - 21mpg at 70mph on the interstate where I saw 12 - 13mpg prior to the improvements.

 

Both sides have valid points, but essentially it all goes down to how it looks and sounds. Mine may have been a little more responsive, but my MPG never changed because like whats been said, I could run the truck without a fillter and it would still be the same. To get any real noticable gain would be getting the 5.0L under hood intake or a hood scoop to a closed air box with a cone filter or a heat shield, but even that is a minute change.

Too bad they dont make any good aftermarket throttle bodies for the 4.9L

 

[QUOTE=sylver91;1597531]Both sides have valid points, but essentially it all goes down to how it looks and sounds. Mine may have been a little more responsive, but my MPG never changed because like whats been said, I could run the truck without a fillter and it would still be the same. To get any real noticable gain would be getting the 5.0L under hood intake or a hood scoop to a closed air box with a cone filter or a heat shield, but even that is a minute change.

Too bad they dont make any good aftermarket throttle bodies for the 4.9L[/QUO, TE]

Your statement goes against the grain! How can you feel a little more responsiveness when the air box is by far the best? If you manage your foot, that responsiveness equals better mpg's, unless your obsessed with the sound of the open intake over rides your ability to drive conservatively. After doing the seafoam, timing bump, plugs, synthetic oil, tranny and diff fluid changes, I can feel an extreme power gain over old fluids and corroded plugs and stopped up paper filters. Maybe if you started with a well maintained engine and driveline, you may have not noticed any gain, but then again, you did notice better response, even at a minimum. Any gain in throttle response for $40 is great, even better given the k&n flat air box filter cost $10-$20 more. I won't argue any more. See you when I pass the pumps!

 

I think it was on fordsix, guys have swapped on 5.8 an 5.0 throttle bodies.

 

Wish we could swap! Let me just say, given your gearing, transmission, short or long bed, xcab or reg cab, tires, lots of other variables, some may see improvements with one thing while others lose. This setup works well for me with my 5 speed, 273 gear, short bed reg cab. I started with great highway gears. They suck with a load, but help on the long haul. Just gets me irritated when someone claims that my numbers are not possible. If it aint yours, it's kind of impossible to call me out. If I want to hear noise, I'd chop off my exhaust and post youtube vids. That aint my thing!

 

Good lord, I said I like the noise...its obviously not my justification for such a modification... But yes someone try to show me my improved numbers are false

 

Of course you will see improvement changing out an old used paper filter for a new high flow filter. I don't think anyone has compared a brand new high flow drop in against a new hot air intake in the same vehicle. Here are a few points that support the factory set up with a high flow drop in. The air intake is set up behind the grill in the highest pressure area on the truck taking in the coldest air to be had. The grill is designed to take in cool air for the radiator. The areodynamically designed ( brick shape ) front end forces its way through the air. The faster you travel the more air is forced in. The "hot air intake" is in a low pressure area and relies on engine vacuum to pull air in. Vacuum drops dramatically at wot. Second, Ford is not in habit of spending extra money for parts that do nothing. There is no smog law requiring a closed air box. If they could drop the tube and gain more power by making a box with a giant hole in it saving plastic and get the same performance they would in a heartbeat. Third, K&N is known for researching and dyno testing and while they do offer the bolt on filter because it sells, there is a reason their top of the line intake reuses the factory cold air inlet. Simply put because it works. They use the intake then rework the box to fit the larger air filter. On a side note, other than fitting to an aftermarket air cleaner I'm not sure why everyone wants to change to a single intake hose. The dual hoses are designed to increase intake air velocity such increases low end torque. Adding a y-pipe to that causes extra turbulance. So if you can the twin tubes into the twin intake is the best way to go for torque and airflow.