Installing an Airaid Intake System

When it comes to engines, there is no question that better breathing means more horsepower and torque. It’s a power principle that performance automotive magazines have been preaching for years. More air in, more air out equals improved horsepower and torque. Oftentimes this improved efficiency means better mpg, too. 

To fully understand this power principle, you have to understand the inner workings of your typical four-stroke gasoline engine. An engine is essentially a giant air pump. The up and down motion of the pistons moves specific volumes of air through the engine. The quantity of air depends on a lot of factors, including the displacement of the engine, the size of the intake system, camshaft configuration and how efficient the exhaust side of the equation is.

So where is the additional power found in this equation? By improving the efficiency of an engine in any one of the critical areas—or better yet, all of them—you can make more power. For this article we will focus on the intake side of the engine. 

Most manufacturers face quite a challenge when it comes to designing intake systems for today’s trucks. First off, the intake system has to fit the platform (model). More important, the intake system also has to thoroughly filter the incoming air to the engine. In terms of noise, the intake system has to be somewhat quiet. The end result is what’s found on today’s trucks. Does it work? Yes. Is there room for improvement? Yes.

On the stock intake system, the main airflow restrictions are usually the design of the intake box itself; the actual air inlet where the box meets either the inner fender or the radiator bulkhead; and the factory, paper-style filter inside the box. The easiest upgrade to any intake system is to simply change the filter from the original paper element to a high-flow-style filter. But to extract the optimal performance from an engine, the next step to better breathing is to change out the complete air box for an aftermarket intake system.

Airaid has developed a simple, bolt-on air intake system for late-model GM trucks that not only improves breathing but also can generate an additional 18 rear wheel horsepower. The system utilizes a computer-designed cool air dam (CAD) that replaces the restrictive factory air box for maximum airflow. The heart of the CAD system is Airaid’s premium SynthaFlow air filter, which not only outflows the stock element but consistently filters dirt down to 2-3 microns. 

The install was performed on an ’04 Chevy Avalanche fitted with the 5.3-liter V-8. The Airaid intake system fits all GM V-8s, including the 4.8-, 5.3- and 6.0-liter engines. The end result of this install was better breathing for the engine, which dramatically improved throttle response and power. The late-model GM system is also offered with an Airaid modular intake tube for enthusiasts wanting a smooth tube to replace the factory “accordion” tube that leads to the throttle body.

Best yet, the installation of Airaid’s smog-legal, bolt-on system can be accomplished by the at-home mechanic in less than an hour. TB