WHAT:
A CUSTOM INTAKE SYSTEM FOR THE FORD 7.3L POWER STROKE SUPER DUTY AND EXCURSION
HOW MUCH:
$489-WWW.JOBEPERFORMANCE.COM, (817) 773-5150
WHAT IT DOES:
AFTERMARKET INTAKE SYSTEMS TYPICALLY IMPROVE EVERYTHING ABOUT A TRUCK WITH LITTLE DRAWBACK. THEY INCREASE AIRFLOW (WHICH LOWERS EGTS) AND INCREASE POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY, ALBEIT BY A SMALL AMOUNT USUALLY.
WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF AFTERMARKET INTAKE SYSTEMS, DROP-IN METAL OR PLASTIC BOXES WITH INJECTION-MOLDED OR MANDREL-BENT TUBING AND HIGH-FLOW FILTERS COME TO MIND. NOT SO WITH THE JOBE PERFORMANCE INTAKE SYSTEM. JOBE USES DIAMOND PLATE ALUMINUM SHEET TO CONSTRUCT THE BOX. THE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY HAND-BUILT BY JOBE PERFORMANCE FOR A TRUE CUSTOM SYSTEM. JOBE ALSO USES TOP-OF-THE-LINE SILICONE BOOTS, K&N DRUM FILTER, BRAIDED STAINLESS STEEL HOSE WRAPS AND ANODIZED BILLET CONNECTORS (ON CRANKCASE VENTILATOR HOSE). THERE IS ALSO A FEW GALVANIZED HVAC PIECES THAT HELP PIECE THE WHOLE SYSTEM TOGETHER.
WHAT STANDS OUT:
LIKE WE MENTIONED, IF YOU LOVE DIAMOND PLATE, THIS SHOULD REALLY GRAB YOU. THE BOX IS HUGE, REACHING FROM THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR TO THE HEADLIGHT. WHAT ABOUT THE BATTERY? TO JOBE PERFORMANCE, THE FACTORY BATTERY IS JUST IN THE WAY. WHICH MAKES INSTALLING THE JOBE INTAKE MUCH MORE TIME-CONSUMING THAN A TYPICAL INTAKE.
TO INSTALL THE JOBE INTAKE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE FACTORY DRIVERS SIDE BATTERY, INCLUDING CUTTING THE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLES AND SPLICING IN EXTENSIONS. JOBE INCLUDES A PREMIUM OPTIMA 1,000CA BATTERY-WHICH IS SMALLER THAN THE FACTORY BATTERY-THAT YOU PLACE INSIDE THE DIAMOND PLATE BOX NEXT TO THE INTAKE FILTER.
YOU ALSO REMOVE THE STOCK INTAKE TUBE, STOCK CRANKCASE VENTILATOR, STOCK AIRBOX AND BATTERY CARRIER. YOU BOLT IN A NEW SUPPORT FOR THE DIAMOND PLATE BOX. YOU INSTALL A NEW INTAKE TUBE WITH REDUCER COUPLINGS. YOU INSTALL THE NEW CRANKCASE VENTILATOR, FILTER AND BATTERY.
THE JOBE PERFORMANCE INTAKE IS DESIGNED TO BE A TRUE CAI (COLD AIR INTAKE). THE BOX HAS HIGH WALLS THAT PRESS VERY TIGHTLY AGAINST THE HOOD LINER TO SEAL THE BOX FROM THE ENGINE HEAT. AIR IS DRAWN THROUGH THE FENDER, AFTER YOU REMOVE THE FACTORY FOAM INSERT.
PERFORMANCE-WISE, THE JOBE INTAKE IS ON PAR WITH OTHER INTAKES WE'VE TESTED. THE THROTTLE RESPONSE AND HORSEPOWER ARE IMPROVED OVER STOCK AS WITH MOST AFTERMARKET INTAKE SYSTEMS. IT DOESN'T HURT THAT THE JOBE INTAKE IS SO TIGHTLY SEALED FROM A PERFORMANCE POINT OF VIEW, BUT GETTING THE NERVE TO SLAM THE HOOD SHUT OVER THE HIGH-WALL BOX FOR THE FIRST TIME MAKES YOU RECONSIDER THINGS FOR A MOMENT.
THE DOWNSIDE:
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A 15-MINUTE INSTALL, THIS ISN'T IT. PLAN ON CLOSER TO AN HOUR IF YOU HAVEN'T INSTALLED A JOBE INTAKE BEFORE. THE FILTER ON OUR KIT RESTS AGAINST THE OPTIMA BATTERY. WE DOUBLE CHECKED THE INSTALLATION AND HAD EVERYTHING CORRECT. IT'S A CRAMMED FIT, WHICH CAN HAPPEN WHEN EACH KIT IS CUSTOM BUILT. FINISHING THE INSTALL AND SEEING THAT THE HOOD WON'T CLOSE IS DISHEARTENING. WE'D BET THAT EVERY CUSTOMER THAT BUYS ONE OF THESE CALLS JOBE'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE ABOUT IT. WE DID. WE WERE TOLD TO SLAM THE HOOD SHUT AND THAT THE HOOD LINER WOULD FORM AROUND THE BOX. IT DID, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO SLAM THE HOOD OF A $40,000 TRUCK DOWN THAT HARD WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO CLOSE OR NOT.