Hamfisted
Full Access Members
Nice choice .... 
E-fans and CAI 5.4 2v
- Thread starter kep5niner
- Start date
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whtbronco
Full Access Members
That's what I was thinking. Maybe he meant Lightning, that did exist and had a 5.4 so it might fit.
I certainly agree the engine bay looks much cleaner and not having the huge intake would be nice, thankfully it's really quick and easy to remove. I like that aftermarket intake as it appears to have the air cleaner in a housing. I went and found the Volant intake is still for sale and I like it even better after seeing the pics on their website. I found a minor issue, well an issue for me, at $324 I'm not sure the ROI is where it needs to be for me.
One reason I am often opposed to replacing the intake is I don't think the far more common exposed air cleaners are a good idea. Go splashing through deep water puddles and it gets proven real quick. Pulling warm air from the engine bay in the summer is also not such a good idea, in the winter it might actually help a bit around town.
Good luck on the fan search.
Hamfisted
Full Access Members
Yeah, the CAI probably doesn't really do crap for performance. But it's nice to hear that V-8 throttle body when it opens up. I've had it on there for close to twenty years. It never gets old... 
I'm thinking of supercharging it with my cordless leaf blower !
.
I'm thinking of supercharging it with my cordless leaf blower !.
whtbronco
Full Access Members
Ahh what a laugh I got from that. Thanks Hamfisted.
I've done some research for FF Dynamics, and while there are some less than flattering reviews, they seem to be a legit operation. A sticking point I read time and again was their lack of communication, particularly no phone number to call. Reaching out to them via the "contact us" form on their website, I did hear back from FF Dynamics. In the interest of after the sale support, I did request a phone number. This was their response:
"We do everything via the web, this way we can get to questions on our own time, to the appropriate department and handle customers as quickly as possible. The reason we are able to offer hand built systems of this quality, with a warranty that is first class, and have been in business for 20 years and counting, is because we run a small crew and we don't over extend on anything. We are not some large corporation that sells generic low dollar Chinese built systems that has 400 employees, with people answering phones. What we lack in employee numbers, we make up for in top quality product. Almost all questions asked will be replied to within 24 hours, if not the same day (weekends the exception)."
There are forum conversations all over the web dating back almost 20 years involving FF Dynamics. With that, I'll give them my business. They do make a custom kit for the 2003 Expedition with the downflow radiator, and it's actually significantly less expensive than the Flex-a-Lite kit, that turns out is for the crossflow radiator.
Component ID: The crux of the issue between the crossflow and downflow radiators is that the Expedition in model year 2003 was offered with two different radiators for the 5.4, based upon build date. From 12/04/2003 is the crossflow radiator:
Preceding 12/04/2003 is the downflow radiator:
My EB was hatched 02/19/2003, so the downflow radiator applies; thus, the Flex-a-Lite model 270 kit will not work. FF Dynamics is the only game in town for a kit applicable to the 2003 Expedition 5.4 with the downflow radiator. I'll get it ordered up and installed, and see how it goes. I'll be out of town for a couple weeks, so it will be some time next month.
"We do everything via the web, this way we can get to questions on our own time, to the appropriate department and handle customers as quickly as possible. The reason we are able to offer hand built systems of this quality, with a warranty that is first class, and have been in business for 20 years and counting, is because we run a small crew and we don't over extend on anything. We are not some large corporation that sells generic low dollar Chinese built systems that has 400 employees, with people answering phones. What we lack in employee numbers, we make up for in top quality product. Almost all questions asked will be replied to within 24 hours, if not the same day (weekends the exception)."
There are forum conversations all over the web dating back almost 20 years involving FF Dynamics. With that, I'll give them my business. They do make a custom kit for the 2003 Expedition with the downflow radiator, and it's actually significantly less expensive than the Flex-a-Lite kit, that turns out is for the crossflow radiator.
Component ID: The crux of the issue between the crossflow and downflow radiators is that the Expedition in model year 2003 was offered with two different radiators for the 5.4, based upon build date. From 12/04/2003 is the crossflow radiator:
Preceding 12/04/2003 is the downflow radiator:
My EB was hatched 02/19/2003, so the downflow radiator applies; thus, the Flex-a-Lite model 270 kit will not work. FF Dynamics is the only game in town for a kit applicable to the 2003 Expedition 5.4 with the downflow radiator. I'll get it ordered up and installed, and see how it goes. I'll be out of town for a couple weeks, so it will be some time next month.
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BigRed2004
Active Member
I’m glad mentioning FF Dynamics has provided an option you feel is worth your time and money. I’m definitely curious to see how it turns out when you are done. Would you mind calculating the MPG gains to compare before and after?
I can do this thing you ask of me. Fuel burn has been anywhere between 14.2 MPG and 15.5 MPG. After installing the CAI, I logged 17.0 MPG. That’s all highway miles, but the prevailing winds have a vote when you’re driving a broad side of a barn down the road. Opening up the intake, headers, high-flow cats, and Magnaflow exhaust is about all I can do for airflow (still haven’t found a blower 
).
I did order the FF Dynamics fans, and we’ll see how it does when I get them next week. Maybe a tune after this but really, it’s a full size SUV, not a hot rod, but I am having fun.
). I did order the FF Dynamics fans, and we’ll see how it does when I get them next week. Maybe a tune after this but really, it’s a full size SUV, not a hot rod, but I am having fun.
