Ken Brubaker
Senior Editor, Four Wheeler
1. Unplug the breather hose and remove the original air-cleaner housing and snorkel. Remember to disconnect the negative battery cable before you begin.Installing a new air intake system under your hood is a simple, quick way to improve your vehicle's performance. The purpose of an air intake kit is to reduce intake restriction while at the same time straightening and smoothing airflow to the engine's cylinders. This allows your vehicle to inhale more air, which translates into more usable power across the engine's rpm range. Another result of such a kit is improved throttle response and improved fuel efficiency.
The bolt-on installation is relatively straightforward and can be done with common handtools. This type of power boost requires no cutting, drilling or fabricating, so it can be done by anyone with basic mechanical knowledge. We spent about 90 minutes at Stanley's Exhaust Tech in San Clemente, California, where Stanley's knowledgeable staff installed a CGS Motorsports air intake, provided by Performance Combos, onto a '97 Dodge pickup with a 5.2L V-8. CGS claims a 15-20 hp gain on a V-8 engine.
