can i use the universal cold air intake from auto zone or do i need to buy one specifically made for my truck? i can get one from my cousin that came off his 2001 explorer for $20

 

You can use whatever you want but it wont pass a visual smog inspection if your state does that.

Also the stock air intake is already a cold air intake.

 

ohio doesnt have a smog law like cali does.. at least i dont think so.

 

so does cafter market intake make a difference?

 

It doesn't really if you have nothing else. But if you have exhaust, headers and tuner then it will help a bit more. I had a K&N FIPK on my truck. I also have a Magnaflow catback exhaust and I felt a slight increase when I put the intake on. I took it off because I don't like the fact that it sucks in engine bay heat. The heat shield is a little better on the 04+ trucks because it actually bolts to the truck. The one I had was just kind of put on the tube. Here is a pic:

 

my biggest problem with these aftermarket "cold" air intakes is that they are anything but. with that setup your just sucking the hot air into your engine from under the hood probably costing power not increasing it. stock intake, remove the silencer and put in a good quality air filter and your set. if i were to run a cold air kit again i would build a box around the filter and leave it open in the front to keep out the engine heat.

 

I took it off for that reason. My next intake, if I decide to get one will be a Volant or S&B.

 

Agreed... I modified the stock airbox for the K&N system for exactly the same reason...



... plugged the original hole and re-used the original top cover. Works great...

 

^^Nice work. I like that setup.

 

You can buy all of the intake piping pieces on ebay as well if you care to make your own. I built a custom on for my truck since they don't exactly make one. I ended up putting the filter under the battery and worked out great there. On my truck I could feel the difference from just moving the location.

 

just do a drop in filter. The factory set-up is already a cold air intake. Simple as that. Save your money.

 

i like that setup

 

The stock box only has a 2.5" round hole to get air in to the box. I cut that out to the size of the hole behind the headlight (about 4" x 6") and shrouded it with plastic so the only air coming in comes from the grille/headlight area - no engine compartment HOT air! Only took about hour and a half to do it all... I already had the K&N setup. I didn't like their heat shield... it was useless!

 

my k&n for the 2000 3.0 came with a really good heatshield.......unless theyve just made a better one recently...

 

Yeah I used the universal from AutoZone because I work there and mocked it up it works well and people say that oh your sucking in hot air so it doesn't help but I noticed performance difference and about a mile to the gallon better. I had to buy some couplers and what not to make it work on mine but it will be easier for your truck. I spent like $60