It only takes once to go "too deep". Even with a completely stock airbox, only a knucklehead would take the truck deeper than the hood. My point is that cone filters aren't really designed to handle any amount of water. Short of an actual snorkel, a closeable airbox is the next best thing. But really this whole topic has been addressed repeatedly. If you wanna take your truck into water, you gotta have a snorkel, but if you do occasionally take your truck through moderately wet conditions, a deckplated airbox will give you the flexibility to be able to seal the box or not, depending on what you want.

 

Opening it works fine. Just pop it open and leave it to try it out. You get the louder sound and everything...

I do not know if the opening is comparable to the Deckplate or not in area. I do notice that if i hit the throttle by hand, the top gets sucked down a little bit.

 

Well, the plus to having the dp in the front of the airbox is that you're taking in slightly cooler air, at least in theory. I did the same thing, and decided that the deckplate was just less of a hassle than trying to unsnap/snap the top of the airbox, plus everything I had read indicated that having the top open would bring in hotter "engine" air. But as with everything, you always have those that poo poo the idea. My feeling is, if it works for you, than cool. Not that big of a deal.

 

I'm not a big fan of this idea because then the air filter's retention is reliant on suction force from the engine, and a couple good bumps could knock it loose, allowing you to suck in some nasty stuff. Still, I suppose the risk is no worse than getting a K&N filter

 

Don't get me wrong, I understand the concepts as I used to have a heavily moded Jeep Wrnagler which had an open element filter but it had plates to protect it from water. But I have never had the hood under water on it but have been through water crossing that were hafl way up my head lights (Jeep had 35's and 6" lift)

I just like to pick peoples brains on stuff. That way I am better informed. I am not doubting the validity of this mod.

 

It's cool.

I'll just put it this way: I personally would be WAY more hesitatant to take my truck through a water crossing (let's say up to the headlights or so) if I had an open cone, versus a stock airbox with the deckplate in. But when you look at the performance advantages of having the filter element open, I also like being able to have the deckplate out, too. For me, it's kinda the best of both worlds...

 

That would be the best way I have heard it put.

 

Gadget's website has some dyno runs showing comparisons of stock box, deckplate, and K&N FIPK intakes... the deckplate actually BEATS the FIPK in horsepower gain. For $300 vs. $10, I think the choice is obvious.

 

Yeah, reading Gadget's findings pretty much sold me on it back when I was debating whether or not to do it. I'm glad I did...

 

for $0, you can also flip open the lid of your airbox. Instant Deckplate....with no cutting. PM bamachem for results...or was it midiwall?

 

Well, the downside of just opening the airbox is how do you effectively secure the filter, since the top of the box is what actually "locks" the filter into place. When I took the top off, I used a couple of zip ties to secure the filter in place, but it wasn't that secure. Eventually, I think it would have slipped off, and the filter could have shifted and not sealed properly against the rear of the airbox. Not trying to rain on your parade, Chris, it's just what I found when I did it that way...

 

Valid Point - Is that filter seated 100% (mine included) - because if it is not - well we all know that unfiltered air is probably a bad idea...