Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance Stock intake or KKM intake w/heat sheild help!

I currently have a 98 svt tour and i have the kkm installed.. A ford rep suggested that i use the stock intake cause the car will gain more hp cause of the enclosure.. Does anyone know how try this is, cause i know that engine does get hot as hell, and the heat will bog down the car especially if your running someone on the highway.. I know the heat shield is an option too.. Anyone have experience on this topic, what should i do..

My though is the SVT airbox with K&N filter is about equivalent to the KKM. And I have been studying this for a while. 2 persons with the non SVT engines have recently dyno compared the 2 side by side. SVT airbox?K&N was much better than SE airbox/K&N and a bit better than Monster flow. In one comparison the KKM was about 2.5HP better above 4K RPMs and in the other comparo about the same - both with HOOD OPEN runs. With hood closed, another person showed a 4HP loss with KKM, 2HP if Miks heat shield used. Also check the miselaneous under FAQ, a comparison of airflow and intake air temps with the 2 systems. Very informative. The KKM flowed much more air but it had an IAT of about 30-40 degrees hotter at 50MPH! Each 10 degree increase is minus 1% HP (30 degrees = 6 HP in an SVT).

So, I think the higher flow of the KKM is cancelled out by the increased heat soak to give roughly the same power (more airflow for KKM gives more noise so the PERSEPTION of increased power. I have both and have switched back & forth and feel no difference. To improve performance either shield the KKM from heat OR get more air into the stock airbox. I have installed an accessory cool air duct to the SVT airbox and someday will dyno compare this vs heat shielded KKM.

Thanks for the info, Dan!! I myself am new to the SVT, and was wondering what Intake I should purchase. The more I thought about it, the K&N with the factory airbox semmed like a good upgrade becaue a)It's relatively inexpensive b)it's a factory box, so the dealer probably won't harangue you for just putting a drop in filter and c)There's no chance of water, dirt, etc. being ingested like a CAI or other set-up might. Plus the fact that the stock system pretty much shield the filter from the hot air in the Engine compartment is a plus, too. Are there any ways of widening the factory ait inlet leading to the stock airbox?