mohemipar
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2015
- Posts
- 1,494
- Reaction score
- 1,096
- Location
- Michigan
- Ram Year
- 2017 Laramie
- Engine
- 6.4 Hemi, 4.10's
Finally had a NICE SATURDAY in this damn town. Over 40 and no rain/snow. Whoohoo.
Took the opportunity to install the new S&B CAI kit that I have had sitting in the garage for months. This kit was released in October I believe. I took some pics and will give a little over view of what I think of the kit, install process and just my general seat of the pants feel after a little driving.
I did go with the "dry" cotton filter. Not one to use the oiled filters. Ordered at MSRP for $299. Only other drive train related mods I'm running are Pedal Commander on Sport +3 (always leave it there) and a Mufflex/Magnaflow bolt in muffler. I have 35" BFG KO2's on 17 inch AEV Saltas. 100% stock suspension.
The overall quality of the kit is very good, to excellent. There are some imperfections and scuffs in the mold seams here and there but nothing to really complain about. All the parts are made from very high quality materials. The kit seems pretty well thought out over all, particularly the new air tube. It couples up very solid to the TB with the rubber sleeve they provide and two clamps. Also a nice fit into the air box. The air box uses 2 main bolts (one up top and one down below into the fender/sub frame vs. the 4 main bolts of the stock box). Another bolt or two might have been nice for peace of mind, but it feels super solid. I can't imagine all four are needed. It also re-uses the two fasteners that join with the fender liner from underneath, though you need to use their hardware. All in all it is in very solid once tied down. S&B provides a new snorkel to go in place of the OEM one, another nice part. They have a rubber "box plug" that you can install or leave off. This provides a pretty massive open area parallel to the fender for air to flow in. I can't see this causing issues with heat soak unless idling in EXTREME heat. But then you will have loss anyways. I chose to leave this off, as S&B recommends.
Instructions are pretty good but maybe a little vague in certain areas. I am not surprised though. Nice they give you color pics but they are a little hard to see in the printed out copy they put in the box. Can't complain too much there though as everything is pretty straight forward. I do think there is a misprint on the page with the parts layout for some of the screws/washers. Would have to go back and double check though. Will also mention one or two other minor things down below.
The air tube is massive compared to stock. See my tissue box sitting in there, still 1.5 inches or so of play next to the box. All the inner walls of the tube and air box are super smooth. Much better than the stock tube and box. The filter is also massive. Pics don't do it justice.
Digging into the truck. I am over 6 ft with my boots on, needed a small step stool to comfortably reach stuff.
I swear the biggest pain in the ass was the plastic push clips/whatever they are called. I have always hated these damn things. There was one on my truck clipped to the front bottom corner of the air box which was attached to the main wire harness from the PCM with a zip tie. What a *****. I could not for the life of me fit my hands, or a tool in there to get leverage on it around the AC/coolant lines. Finally I managed to just break it off and took the clip and zip tie completely off the harness. Once you finagle everything out on top, you have to remove the wheel well liner to remove lower air box base...fun. Especially in winter with all the salt and dirt. (Do this job in summer).
Wheel well liner has 6 or so main screws/washers, 4 plastic clips and 2 screws that go up into the bottom of the factory air box. I broke one of the clips, lost another. Lol. S&B is kind enough to provide you with 3 new plastic clips for just such a situation (very nice). I did not end up having to completely pull the liner out of the truck. I just positioned it so that I could bend it down where I needed to and then got up in there with the socket wrench.
Once ALL of the factory parts are out of there, it is pretty much smooth sailing. The instructions say when installing the new box to put the snorkel in first, then the box, then bolt it all up. Don't understand how that is possible without a second person, so I half screwed the snorkel onto the box and the entire piece fit in with ease. So don't think you need to put the snorkel in first, not the case. When everything is bolted down the snorkel fits perfectly snug with the factory foam which is great. ("Mopar's" 5.7 intake fails with that).
Not gonna lie guys, for the lower AC/coolant line, I did not use the fastener S&B provided to attach it to the airbox. There is hardly any play at all on this line with the ONE plastic clip missing from the OEM box. The upper line(s) are much looser and should be attached. Easy to do though. Just relocate the OEM brackets and use their studs with washer and nut. I believe 2015 and older MY's have a slightly different set up here to the '16+.
The air tube was straight forward and easy to install, as was the filter. As said, everything fits very snug. Reinstalled the crank case vent onto S&B's new metal fitting and then the OEM air sensor/harness without issue. Just had to slightly adjust everything for perfect alignment.
I refastened everything to the wheel well liner, except for the plastic clips (will do those later). Then I installed S&B's clear cover over the air box. Guys, before installing leave your clear cover in a warm room for a while. The sticky paper they have on both sides was a PITA to peel off for me. I think because I left it in the cold garage.
Initial start up sounded pretty similar to with the factory box (no air flow codes, disconnect battery). I'll start right off by saying I immediately noticed positive improvements after this intake. The truck now seems to rev more freely and it does seem louder under acceleration, especially the deeper you dig into the pedal. Just sounds like a more gruff and meaty Hemi, dare I say more in line with my 6.4 SRT. My butt dyno says there is most certainly faster throttle response, over a broad range. The truck actually feels like it lost about 500 pounds. Kind of like when you have a few people in your car and then they get out and you feel the difference. Doesn't feel like there was a loss of torque at all down low, as is common on CAI on the Hemis. From a stop, she just GOES with minimal pedal. If I just blip the throttle while cruising, it will rev up faster than before and just start to take off. Seemed to have pushed me back harder in my seat than normal. Between just the Pedal Commander and this intake, it feels like a completely different truck from stock. Just these simple mods make it feel more like it is the SRT 6.4. I have no doubt that a couple more mods, maybe a ported TB and a tune, and this truck would be faster than my 1500 was. Even weighing in at 7000+ pounds dry. It also laughs at the 35's.
The biggest PITA of the entire installation was dealing with the wheel well liner, and those MF-king plastic clips. Overall I would seriously recommend this kit for 6.4 owners (thus far). Pickins are real slim for the 6.4 HD. Aside from this kit there is only AFE and K&N from what I know. AFE seems like a quality kit, but it is priced insane, double the S&B. IMO K&N kits aren't all they are chalked up to be. They do not do nearly enough to take isolated colder air. I think S&B did a good job with this kit and it was definitely needed on the market.
Post up any questions and I'll try to answer. Will also update this thread after some longer time with the intake, MPG on trips, etc.
Took the opportunity to install the new S&B CAI kit that I have had sitting in the garage for months. This kit was released in October I believe. I took some pics and will give a little over view of what I think of the kit, install process and just my general seat of the pants feel after a little driving.
I did go with the "dry" cotton filter. Not one to use the oiled filters. Ordered at MSRP for $299. Only other drive train related mods I'm running are Pedal Commander on Sport +3 (always leave it there) and a Mufflex/Magnaflow bolt in muffler. I have 35" BFG KO2's on 17 inch AEV Saltas. 100% stock suspension.
The overall quality of the kit is very good, to excellent. There are some imperfections and scuffs in the mold seams here and there but nothing to really complain about. All the parts are made from very high quality materials. The kit seems pretty well thought out over all, particularly the new air tube. It couples up very solid to the TB with the rubber sleeve they provide and two clamps. Also a nice fit into the air box. The air box uses 2 main bolts (one up top and one down below into the fender/sub frame vs. the 4 main bolts of the stock box). Another bolt or two might have been nice for peace of mind, but it feels super solid. I can't imagine all four are needed. It also re-uses the two fasteners that join with the fender liner from underneath, though you need to use their hardware. All in all it is in very solid once tied down. S&B provides a new snorkel to go in place of the OEM one, another nice part. They have a rubber "box plug" that you can install or leave off. This provides a pretty massive open area parallel to the fender for air to flow in. I can't see this causing issues with heat soak unless idling in EXTREME heat. But then you will have loss anyways. I chose to leave this off, as S&B recommends.
Instructions are pretty good but maybe a little vague in certain areas. I am not surprised though. Nice they give you color pics but they are a little hard to see in the printed out copy they put in the box. Can't complain too much there though as everything is pretty straight forward. I do think there is a misprint on the page with the parts layout for some of the screws/washers. Would have to go back and double check though. Will also mention one or two other minor things down below.
The air tube is massive compared to stock. See my tissue box sitting in there, still 1.5 inches or so of play next to the box. All the inner walls of the tube and air box are super smooth. Much better than the stock tube and box. The filter is also massive. Pics don't do it justice.
Digging into the truck. I am over 6 ft with my boots on, needed a small step stool to comfortably reach stuff.
I swear the biggest pain in the ass was the plastic push clips/whatever they are called. I have always hated these damn things. There was one on my truck clipped to the front bottom corner of the air box which was attached to the main wire harness from the PCM with a zip tie. What a *****. I could not for the life of me fit my hands, or a tool in there to get leverage on it around the AC/coolant lines. Finally I managed to just break it off and took the clip and zip tie completely off the harness. Once you finagle everything out on top, you have to remove the wheel well liner to remove lower air box base...fun. Especially in winter with all the salt and dirt. (Do this job in summer).
Wheel well liner has 6 or so main screws/washers, 4 plastic clips and 2 screws that go up into the bottom of the factory air box. I broke one of the clips, lost another. Lol. S&B is kind enough to provide you with 3 new plastic clips for just such a situation (very nice). I did not end up having to completely pull the liner out of the truck. I just positioned it so that I could bend it down where I needed to and then got up in there with the socket wrench.
Once ALL of the factory parts are out of there, it is pretty much smooth sailing. The instructions say when installing the new box to put the snorkel in first, then the box, then bolt it all up. Don't understand how that is possible without a second person, so I half screwed the snorkel onto the box and the entire piece fit in with ease. So don't think you need to put the snorkel in first, not the case. When everything is bolted down the snorkel fits perfectly snug with the factory foam which is great. ("Mopar's" 5.7 intake fails with that).
Not gonna lie guys, for the lower AC/coolant line, I did not use the fastener S&B provided to attach it to the airbox. There is hardly any play at all on this line with the ONE plastic clip missing from the OEM box. The upper line(s) are much looser and should be attached. Easy to do though. Just relocate the OEM brackets and use their studs with washer and nut. I believe 2015 and older MY's have a slightly different set up here to the '16+.
The air tube was straight forward and easy to install, as was the filter. As said, everything fits very snug. Reinstalled the crank case vent onto S&B's new metal fitting and then the OEM air sensor/harness without issue. Just had to slightly adjust everything for perfect alignment.
I refastened everything to the wheel well liner, except for the plastic clips (will do those later). Then I installed S&B's clear cover over the air box. Guys, before installing leave your clear cover in a warm room for a while. The sticky paper they have on both sides was a PITA to peel off for me. I think because I left it in the cold garage.
Initial start up sounded pretty similar to with the factory box (no air flow codes, disconnect battery). I'll start right off by saying I immediately noticed positive improvements after this intake. The truck now seems to rev more freely and it does seem louder under acceleration, especially the deeper you dig into the pedal. Just sounds like a more gruff and meaty Hemi, dare I say more in line with my 6.4 SRT. My butt dyno says there is most certainly faster throttle response, over a broad range. The truck actually feels like it lost about 500 pounds. Kind of like when you have a few people in your car and then they get out and you feel the difference. Doesn't feel like there was a loss of torque at all down low, as is common on CAI on the Hemis. From a stop, she just GOES with minimal pedal. If I just blip the throttle while cruising, it will rev up faster than before and just start to take off. Seemed to have pushed me back harder in my seat than normal. Between just the Pedal Commander and this intake, it feels like a completely different truck from stock. Just these simple mods make it feel more like it is the SRT 6.4. I have no doubt that a couple more mods, maybe a ported TB and a tune, and this truck would be faster than my 1500 was. Even weighing in at 7000+ pounds dry. It also laughs at the 35's.
The biggest PITA of the entire installation was dealing with the wheel well liner, and those MF-king plastic clips. Overall I would seriously recommend this kit for 6.4 owners (thus far). Pickins are real slim for the 6.4 HD. Aside from this kit there is only AFE and K&N from what I know. AFE seems like a quality kit, but it is priced insane, double the S&B. IMO K&N kits aren't all they are chalked up to be. They do not do nearly enough to take isolated colder air. I think S&B did a good job with this kit and it was definitely needed on the market.
Post up any questions and I'll try to answer. Will also update this thread after some longer time with the intake, MPG on trips, etc.
