Airflow restrictions are something you don't want anywhere on your engine. Incoming air? Exhaust gases? It doesn't matter. One of the first things you want to do to your diesel is free up any spot that blocks the air's path. One great way to achieve this is by installing a cold-air-intake kit. Also, most stock airboxes have a restrictive intake silencer used to cut down on any turbo noise that could annoy passengers. We didn't want silence-we wanted turbo noise! We also didn't want any restriction, so we decided to get a cold-air-intake kit from S&B Filters to install on our '97 Ram 3500 truck.
S&B's cold-air-intake kits are available for Chevy, Dodge, and Ford applications and are said to flow 27-54 percent more air than your stock airbox and air filter (depending on application). The kit will also stop 99 percent of dirt in the process. While your stock air filter uses a paper element to stop dirt, S&B kits have a pre-oiled, eight-layer filter that dramatically increases flow. To round out the cold-air kit, a custom high-volume airbox and an intake tube are also included, as well as all the necessary hardware.
The S&B cold-air-intake kit comes with all the parts you'll need to complete the job: a filter, custom airbox, clamps, hoses, hardware, and instructions. | 
The stock airbox has an industrial look to it-not exactly what we're shooting for in our soon-to-be-hot-rodded diesel. | 
The first step of the installation process is to remove the retaining clips on the stock airbox. This can be done with your fingers. |
Next, use a screwdriver to loosen the clamp on the intake hose that leads to the stock airbox and lift off the top. | 
Once you take off the top of the airbox and take out the air filter, all that's left is the base. This can be removed by pulling up on it. | 
Three rubber isolators come in the kit to put under the airbox. Don't forget to put these on during the installation, or you'll end up with some spare parts when you're finished. |