Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: SeanO on September 11, 2010, 07:43:15 PM

Title: Which air intake?
Post by: SeanO on September 11, 2010, 07:43:15 PM
Can somebody point me to the proper BBK Cold Air Intake Kit for a 1988 Thunderbird w/5.0.  (Fenderwell Mount)

I want to swap one on while I do my valve cover job and tune up.
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: hypostang on September 11, 2010, 07:48:06 PM
bbk 1557 , with 1558 Mass air delete adapter :D
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: SeanO on September 11, 2010, 07:50:56 PM
Thanks!  Can you inform me of if the MASS Air Delete is necessary, or just something that improves performance?
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: hypostang on September 11, 2010, 07:56:02 PM
Our cars do not have Mass Air from the factory ,the 1558 is required for the 1557 to work on our cars :D
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: SeanO on September 11, 2010, 07:57:27 PM
Perfect!  Is this the best kit to use, by the way?  I've heard good things about it being the cheapest way to improve horsepower.
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: hypostang on September 11, 2010, 08:07:50 PM
That I cannot answer , I just run a K&N filter in the stock air box with no slilencer in my car ...sorry
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: thunderjet302 on September 11, 2010, 10:57:29 PM
Th BBK kit and the stock air box suck air from the same place. The BBK kit adds maybe 1/2hp, about as much as removing the air silencer.
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: Masejoer on September 12, 2010, 12:02:06 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;335298
Th BBK kit and the stock air box suck air from the same place. The BBK kit adds maybe 1/2hp, about as much as removing the air silencer.


This is the truth and even then, there is talk about how the ribs in the stock intake  tubing actually helping the air flow - it's not just there to make the tube flexible. The plastic stock intake tube will also not heat up like a metal one, although this is also negligible. Unless going for bling, there is no reason to swap intake tubes.
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: SeanO on September 12, 2010, 02:06:55 AM
I can just remove the airbox and put a K&N cylinder filter on the stock tubing? 

I am not looking for bling, looking for a good airflow improvement.  Thanks for saving me $$$.
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: Beau on September 12, 2010, 04:32:10 AM
Quote from: SeanO;335322
looking for a good airflow improvement.

Pull your pants down....it's proven that denim and cotton slow the speed of farts by 3-5 mph.

Seriously, leave the stock intake pipe in place, but just gut the air silencer.

You already have a "cold air" intake...why waste time and money to replace it.

If you want shiny, take the plastic tube off, wash it good paint it gloss black (or some other nasty color) clear it after paint dries, reinstall, and tell your rice driving buddies it adds 25 horses lol

Meanwhile, with the money you just saved, you can buy some HO stuff and make real power ;)


Do the basic mods first; headers, Stang H pipe, 2.5 exhaust, gears, and for a real kick in the ass throw said HO under the hood, along with a 190 or 255 pound/hour fuel pump...trust me, makes 150 horses seem like a pair of Shetland ponies :rollin:
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: Haystack on September 12, 2010, 06:33:26 AM
The air silencer is under the fender. Just break the plastic tips off and put the fender back on, or if you want to do it the hard way, the fender apr0n. I broke mine in my wreck and didn't get another one to put on. I seriously doubt it really added any power, but it is louder.
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: hypostang on September 12, 2010, 11:24:22 AM
This is for a Mark VII , but your car is very similar

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00046.html
Title: Which air intake?
Post by: SeanO on September 12, 2010, 03:44:20 PM
Hypostang.  I followed that guide, it took about ten minutes.  I replaced the stock with a K&N.  It now sounds a lot better, but it's not a noticeable power difference.  Nice to know the car is breathing a bit easier now.