Thought I'd share my rant that I posted on DP.

[serpa4]

After 3 emails/several weeks (never got a reply!!!) and finally a call from the vendor (thanks!), Banks says that their QUOTE: Banks "RAM AIR" intake system does not come with the plate to block off air from coming in from the fender JUST LIKE STOCK does. What BS is that especially since they are dogging the factory system by showing that it sucks in WARM AIR from the fender and AIR FLOW RESTRICTED by FENDER KILLS POWER! That is straight off their site. Look closely at the picture of their intake and see that rectangle that is facing the fender.... that is open to allow "warm" fender air in. Of course they don't show air being sucked in that opening like the "factory" intake does. ITS COMPLETELY OPEN!

After several weeks and finally and answer to the vendor "No longer included, make your own".
So how do you call this system a "RAM AIR" and how do you say that "unobstructed intake of fresh out side air, cold air=power and mileage" yet their intake does the same thing? Lots of money for false advertisement!
1) Change the name to something not "RAM AIR"
2) Don't knock stock fender air if that is also one of your MAIN sources of air
3) Change their website's picture!
AND
4) DON'T PUT A LINK TO "CONTACT US" ON YOUR WEBSITE IMPLYING THAT YOU HAVE SOME TYPE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE! To be honest, it was actually 4 emails they never answered, not 3.

So as to be somewhat fair, their box has two air inlets, one is the factory fender and the other is below the box. However...the entrance below the air cleaner is smaller than the side and the air filter itself has the flat non-air flowing top covering over the bottom entrance restricting the flow unlike the completely wide open side of the air box sucking in "warm air"!
The system with scoop is nice and well built, but don't believe all the hype/lie.
Ya, I can/will make my own, but that is not the point, see items 1-4 again.

 

[racinmike77]

Banks customer service sucks but there isnt anything wrong with their intakes.

 

[Kat]

I have the super scoop and it pulls it from the bottom of the bumper. The ram-air and down pipe was worth .2 and 2 mph in my truck. That is all I know.

 

[serpa4]

I really wouldn't grip if the kit came with the simple $5 blocker plate. Over reacting, probably. Once I add the plate, I think that intake is sweet. With a plate, then items 1-3 would be solved.
1) Change the name to something not "RAM AIR"
2) Don't knock stock fender air if that is also one of your MAIN sources of air
3) Change their website's picture!
Funny how the small things can erk you. Ya, its a cheap fix, but don't do items 1-3 if you are not going to include it.
I'm happy with it and would purchase it again even knowing I'd have to cut and put in my own plate, but just ranting about a simple $5 plate they could throw in.
The scoop contour didn't come close to fitting the contour of my vallance, but a drimel fixed that. I did install the other blocking plate in the scoop that you did for Wendy already (thanks for that "how to" on how to convert Banks to a true ram air. That was my reason for purchase, wanting a ram air like Wendy. Just a bad day since electric fan controller also went out and only 3 days before my 5,700 mile trip.

 

[othrgrl]

I wouldn't block the side air duct. Instead I would seal the fender from hot under hood air getting into it. My S&B intake is sealed to the fender and can only get air (through the side inlet) from between the bumper and fender - not under the hood.

 

[Utahski]

Before twin turbos I'd put a gas engine airbox on which opens into that fender hole. The factory cover is just some kind of thick foil with sticky on the back. The dealer should be able to get you one. But why? I don't see how air coming through the fender is any warmer.

 

[JoshH]

First of all, the air in the fender shouldn't be much warmer, if any, than the air coming from the scoop. That's just Banks marketing hype. Secondly, if you block off that opening, you're only going to be restricting air and cause a loss of power. Just my opinion though.

 

[Turbo Buick 6]

First of all, the air in the fender shouldn't be much warmer, if any, than the air coming from the scoop. That's just Banks marketing hype. Secondly, if you block off that opening, you're only going to be restricting air and cause a loss of power. Just my opinion though.

X2:baby:

 

[lotsofmiles]

I dont know, I've never had a problem getting a call back from someone at Banks. operator usually asks my info, and forwards to the right person. if they dont answer it was a business day or two and I'd get a call back.

iirc Jeff at Banks said in a thread at DP, leave the plate out. the scoop sends more air than the engine uses and the extra helps cool the engine. plate is just for the dyno.
please dont shoot the messanger!

but didnt Kat seal up the whole intake? and I did ask about the plate in winter, if its cold enough i need to run the winter cover do i really want extra cooling?

I've tried the intake both ways got the plate in right now. i dont really notice a whole lot of difference on the eway either way.

sorry about your troubles with customer service over there.

 

[Killerbee]

I have no politics with Banks, but the intake industry as a whole, is wholly corrupt. Per my own investigations.

Kat, I know you would never say anything that you thought was intentionally deceptive. I just have a hard time with this being any better for track times, than a stock LLY with headlight removed. Someday, I will have to see if that is repeatable.

Banks design is sound, and appears to be good quality. That figure above is pure deception. I guarantee that the stock element has double the surface area. I am just not of the opinion (at least for track) that the intake we have is that improveable (until you get the compressor).

 

[othrgrl]

First of all, the air in the fender shouldn't be much warmer, if any, than the air coming from the scoop. That's just Banks marketing hype. Secondly, if you block off that opening, you're only going to be restricting air and cause a loss of power. Just my opinion though.

Have you touched the fender after the truck has been sitting idling for a while? It is more than warm. The fan pushes the hot underhood air into it. I went to Lowes and bought some of the sticky foil insulation stuff and sealed off all of the holes in the fender except the one by the intake which I cut out larger, then I sealed off the inside of the fender behind the intake's hole, then I sealed the side of my intake box to the fender. My fender no longer gets hot after sitting at idle and the intake can only get outside air from the front corner of the fender into the side hole. I also built my own "ram air" scoop for it that hangs under the bumper and feeds into the bottom of the intake box. My IATs during my dyno pulls were the same as the outside air temps, 97*; my dyno sheets actually show that the dyno's thermometer read 102*.

 

[Killerbee]

The LBZ fan is not as bad as yours Dustin. But it is a good well-deserved point.

 

[McRat]

OK, I'm not big fan of aftermarket intakes, but I have no doubts the Banks intake with the Superscoop (tricked for true ram air) increases HP at both the track and the dyno.

One telling test, was running a pull with the dyno fan pointed at the intercooler.
Then I re-aimed the fan to point directly at the inlet. With just that low-velocity fan air, HP bumped up ~5 rwhp. The HP gains on the dyno with the Banks go up the higher you rev.

I really didn't expect to see any change from installing the Banks system, based on my past testing.

I can tell you the AirRaid system does nothing, either at the dyno or at the track, in my experience.

There is a write-up here how to seal the super-scoop for true ram-air.

 

[Killerbee]

If you duct high velocity fresh air at the headlight (removed) you can get the same type result. It's not ram, it is IAT containment. IAT makes a big difference to our turbo.

IMO...forgot that part.

 

[LarryJewell]

I've been running around with the fender block plate off mine right now, but since this has been brought back for discussion, and I know what my IAT's have been doing lately, I'll put the blocker plate back in for comparison now and see what happens

 

[McRat]

Killerbee,

Try it. Do it at the track, or the dyno. It has a very small effect. While every little bit helps, an airscoop does a better job.

I compared the Banks to "headlight-removed", since that's how we used to run.

 

[McRat]

Something I'd like to point out. I don't sell Banks stuff, nor do I sell any intake products. I race with them, that's it. If I were "smart", I'd keep the Banks thing private, so we would have an edge over other trucks. But I do this stuff for fun, so I like to share what I find.

 

[othrgrl]

If you duct high velocity fresh air at the headlight (removed) you can get the same type result. It's not ram, it is IAT containment. IAT makes a big difference to our turbo.

I agree that until you are over 500hp an aftermarket intake system is going to have little to no gain in power on the dyno or at the track. But at what power level do you think it is time to put on a better flowing filter? Should I go back to a stock box on my truck? Run 5.5" tubing from a 6.0L gasser box to turbo, cut the front out of the box and remove the headlight, duct tape a funnel in where the headlight goes, I should be good for 900hp then?

I like that S&B tries to utilize as much surface area as they can. It's a pain to get the filter in the box because they make it as big as possible, then they add and inverted cone in the end to add surface area. I also like the overall design of the Banks Intakes with the super scoop.

 

[jonathancasey19]

I'm running just a POS AEM bruteforce intake sucking in as much hot air as possible. I've been considering a whole new banks ram air w/ scoop. Think it's really worth it? And to sound even dumber....how would one measure their IAT's? Based off of what...?

 

[LBZ]

Use your EFI to monitor your IAT.

I for one am a fan of the S&B. I think a ram air set-up would be a good addition to it.

I have thought about going with a ram air hood for looks, but I wonder if it improves anything as far as cooler IAT's?