So, I did my creative work (not so creative) with the FC short ram and the Berk adapter and the K&N filter. Before this, I had the Berk POP charger intalled. All together it fit somewhat nicely with the K&N just barely pressing up against the fender wall (actually against a bundle of wires bound to the fender wall). No support bracket seems to be necessary as the intake is not moving anywhere. The only thing I ended up keeping from Berk is the SS MAF adapter...other than that, it is the FC short ram and couplers.

NOISE: No significant increase in noise, really. I think the growl may have gotten a little deeper and, in the end, I like it. At low rev's, stoplight-to-stoplight, no big deal. WOT sounds nice...the biggest problem is the slight bees-in-a-can I am still getting from the Y-Pipe (see other thread).

POWER: Okay, so no big deal here either. Maybe there is a bit more power over the Berk Intake, nothing very noticeable. The thing that I immediately felt (and wasn't looking for) was better throttle response. I may even buy into the thought that the FC ram allows for better airflow by eliminating the air resonator and, as a result, gives you quicker throttle response. I am almost positive that the engine is waking up faster off the line (no lag)...which may reflect a better low-end torque number than the Berk/POP had before.

LOOKS: So, I agree with some of the comments...the intake does look a little "homemade." I'd like to see couplers a little more cleanly cut and measurements taken a little more accurately so that the filter ends up centered in the empty space between the battery and fender wall instead of pressed up against one side. I am thinking of buying the couplers from Hose Techniques just to get the blue theme going and get nicer looking couplers...we'll see.

STUFF: My favorite thing about this setup is that the air temp sensor is IN the ram, after the filter, so your Ambient Air Temp actually reflects the temp of the air passing into the throttle body as opposed to before passing through the filter on the stock scoop. Yesterday, on a 60-degree day in Seattle...the AMB reflected 56 degrees while driving about 60 mph. I left the stock air scoop in place just to get some air directed at the filter. HOWEVER: Boy is it a PIA to get that air temp wire enough slack to reach the short ram!!!

Anyway...my $.02.

 

Is the berk a velocity stack?

 

I have one of these on (no cap):

http://www.knfilters.com/univrndstrt.htm