I have been reading everything I can find on air systems (including the filter elements) since I purchased my truck a year ago. I still have not found a great solution. So far I do not like the idea of using any element that needs to be oiled. I believe they are too inconsistant both in filtering quality and quantity of air. I really want to use a paper filter. Hence the BHAF seems to be the best for quality and quantiy of air.

So, why have none of the various air system manufactures (that I am aware of anyway) designed/built an enclosed air system, similar to the stock system (box), which draws outside air and utilizes a BHAF?

Is the space where the stock box sits just too small for a BHAF? It seems like there is enough extra room above the stock box which could be used to make it work. However, I have not examined one of these filters up close - maybe they are larger than I imagine. Or, am I just one of a small minority of people who would prefer using a disposable filter?

It seems to me that if there are any welders among us who want to make some money, they would put together a lightweight aluminum (or?) box as described above. There are people who make aftermarket metal air boxes for qauds and they seem to sell pretty well - even though the quad boxes don't really increase performance.

Comments?

 

BHAF is pretty freakin big, I had to trim my battery tray a bit to get the hood to close all the way ..... I am looking into the cool blue hose also, just hoping I can make it fit where the stock tubing and bends are. as for a box around it enclosing it good luck, better off finding something to relocate from under the hood to make more room.

 

Or, am I just one of a small minority of people who would prefer using a disposable filter?


I guess I am one of those minority's. I to prefer a paper filter.

I wonder why Scotty doesn't make a paper filter for his system?
We all know oil filters suck more air. But a bigger paper filter in some kind of box, metal or plastic would be better than oem.

 

Maybe more than a stock filter, but I am not sure they draw more air than BHAF. In fact, after the first cleaning and re-oiling, I think a filter like the PG7 "may" be similar or even draw less air than a stock filter (depending on how much oil was applied). A K&N would draw more air but then we lose filtering qualilty.

 

I ran a Tymar air system on my last rig(97 Ford PSD). Tymar setup is the = for our Dodge BHAF's. That system worked great but no worries of moisture or etc. The filter is not as large in dia but is slightly longer. Airflo.com has both filters. The Tymar worked great on my PSD I let it go alot longer than I should have (2 yrs) total time between changes @ 25-30k miles turbo inlet and turbo were very clean. So I'm not sure if that filter will work for our 3rd gen but some of the BHAF guys might be able to chime in.

 

You can make your own BHAF sysytem for about $150.00 and that includes a Outerwears water repellant pre-filter. I had to remove the whole air box in order for it to fit but it comes out pretty easily.
Filter $ 48.00
Rubber elbows & stainless tubing $ 65.00
Outerwears cover $ 40.00
Total $ 153.00

Looks cool too. It does get pretty dirty on these third gens in the winter weather since the filter is at the front side behind the grill. I'll be making some kind of a shield for that soon.. Luckily the Outerwears cover takes all the dirt and all you have to do is wash it.....

 

Dodgezilla, you wouldn't happen to have any part numbers for the parts you used would you? I'm wanting to throw together one of these set ups this spring when it's time to change my air filter. As with Jake315 I had a tymar style filter on my ol' 97 PSD also, really liked it. Hey Jake, you build yours or did you but it from Dale?

 

If you have a larger filter surface area, you will have the ability to get more air into the engine.
If you are running stock to a max of 70 added HP the BHAF is a great option.
On the 3rd gens adding anything over 120 HP will negate the efficiency of ANY air intake due to the efficiency limits of the little turbos on these trucks. Even Dodge recognized this and changed things in the 04.5 trucks.
I looked into having paper element filters for my 'round' housings. The lowest quote I got was from Honeywell, the parent company for Fram...All I needed was $250,000.00 to start up and an order of 5,000 filters. That was for one design. Start over for a different size.

I also tried fitting something thats already made...no luck.

Thats about as far as I can go on my input on this.

Scotty

 

Dodgezilla,
your system is the best I have seen so far, and it will be what I will go to if I can't find anyone to make an enclosed system. There are problems, as you described, which would be eliminated if the filter could be enclosed. Considering the way your BHAF sits in your rig, is there any way to enclose the filter - drawing air from the wheel well (stock location), and from the front - similar to Scotty's system?

Scotty,
Did I read into your comments correctly, were saying that there is not enough room anywhere in the engine compartment to enclsoe a BHAF? Thats what I was affraid of

 

Even if you could fit a bhaf in the oem location if its not enclosed it defeats the purpose in my opionion.

If you what better filtration and cool air a enclosed system like Scotty's with a afe type filter with a foam wrap seems like it would work good. Has anybody tried this?

 

Rod,
AFE filters are oil filters, as is the Unifilter used in Scotty's system. So you are not using a disposable paper filter. And the benifit of Dogdezillas BHAF system is that the engine can virtually draw as much clean air as is needed. Because of the front location, as the vehicle is being driven, you do get some cool air. The problem is that the front location also gets some dirty/wet, air. He is using an outerwear prefilter which helps but this would take some frequent cleaning.

 

Greenz, I understand afe are oil filters. Thats why I said apply a foam wrap around the afe.

Just trying to get the best from both worlds

 

But in my inexperienced thinking, any filter that is cleaned and re-oiled is potentially less effective in it's abilty to draw air. That is why, as stated in my original post, I want to stay w/ a paper element. There is a thread on this site from some time ago which has some great input from AKRam, doug, and others, regarding this subject. The short of it is, it kind of confirmed to me, that my belief about these re-usable filters may be correct. Also, I know there is a place for these type of filters. I use both K&N and Uni's on my quads and motorcycles - K&N in the sand, Unis in dusty enviornments. I used a K&N on my PSD for years (as you know) but I just didn't know any better.

Another thing I don't lilke about re-usabel cotton filters; the instructions say to "let dry" before re-oiling. These filters take soooo long to dry, it is very annoying to me . I have never been able to wait as long as it takes to dry before I need my rig again.

 

Thanks guys but if you want to see the "Best" BHAF system I've seen go look at AK RAM's setup. I think his is even enclosed.....
I just run the standard filter and the other parts all came from airflowonline.com. 2 each 4" rubber elbows, 1 piece of stainless 4" intake pipe, and 4 each 4" clamps. The Outerwears cover comes from Outerwears.com, just tell them you have a BHAF.
There's a guy at dodgetalk.com named 03 Huffer. If you go to the diesel engine section you will see that he runs a BHAF that is quite a bit smaller than what most of us run. It might even fit inside the airbox and he got it at the run-of-the-mill auto parts store for a lot less than most of us paid. The drawback is that there is no inlet to attach your elbow to it. You have to rig some kind of pipe into the filter.