Honestly Joe, I have never found one that I liked better than a regular paper filter, mostly cause I stopped buying expensive filters like that when the tacoma had all its trouble. But bigger is better I always say. You're pretty good at coming up with a way around bottlenecks, jump in on the wifes ride and tymar it, or something,and let us know what you come up with! As far as air into the engine, with a turbo, swirled or not just get the air to the turbo any clean way you can, and let the turbo do the rest.
I cant figure out Why.. K&N takes such a Whip'n. I can kinda understand it on a dezel cuz of the (as compared to a Gasser) CFMs we use and need.. But I've used K&N filters on my Bikes, Boats, Dune-Buggies, Cars.... For Years & Years and Never seen any indication of Anything getting by their filtration.
I will say, they could do a bit better on their Seals, I've had to "build up" their Seal on a couple of "Drop-in" applications.. to feel better about it, but recently it seems they do better about that. The one I got for the Sport Trac actually fit tighter (when I snapped the cover back on), than the FOMOCO one did.
I had their FIPK open air one on my 7.3 before I went to the AIS and was completely satisfied with it.. I just got tired of the HOWLING when I'd spin up the turbo before, and when pulling a grade. (the turbo Whine sez more ?
)Not defending K&N or Flame'n anyone but I think folks maybe tend to Over Oil'm. Over Oiled, Not so good of a seal= Stuff gets by
