Toyota Tundra Improved MPG, HP – G-Tek Fab SABM Kit Available
Tim Esterdahl | May 30, 2013 | Comments 33
If you are in the market to crank a little more HP while picking up some MPG gains, check out this custom stock air box modification from G-Tek Fab over at TundraGeeks.com. It just might be the solution you are looking for.
A new stock air box modification kit is now available from G-Tek Fab. This kit could improve your truck’s HP and MPG.
Dez, master fabricator, has developed a new stock air box mod (SABM) kit that improves HP and increases fuel economy. The kit especially works great for those truck owners who have lifted and/or added bigger tires to their truck yet feel they have lost power. In fact, that is the inspiration for the kit’s creation. Dez says, “For those that are not sure what the SABM is well its a Stock Air Box Mod that was developed back in 2007 when I first got my truck lifted. I loved the power when I first drove it but after lifting it and adding 37″ tires it lost its punch. I wanted to add a little power so the first thing I looked at was a possible modification to the stock intake.”
The kit works with your stock air box and with a few simple steps you can add the power back. It is designed for the 2007/2013 Tundra 5.7, 4.7, 4.6 stock and TRD intakes.
The kit includes:
- Two 3″ 6063 aluminum flange pieces one with a foam gasket attached.
- Two 4″x3″ aluminum flange rings one with a foam gasket attached.
- One 5″ length of foam seal for the outside of the air box base.
- One 7″ length of foam seal for the inside of the air box base.
- One 4 ply silicone intake tube in black, red, or blue.
- Two stainless steel 3-1/2″ hose clamps.
- Complete set of step by step instructions.
- One G-Tek Fab and one Tundra Geeks sticker.
The kit comes with a flange and flange ring for the motor compartment wall side with foam seal attached to them. The air box flange and ring has nothing on them but there are two strips of foam seal included to add to the steps on the inside and outside of the air box shown below. The air box flange has a flat spot to account for the small radius at the bottom of the air box.
The kit (on the right) is clean and really blends into your engine compartment.
The Install
There are plenty of install threads on TundraGeeks to check out. Here is the basic install process from Dez:
The install is very simple. All you need is a 3″od hole saw and a flat screwdriver to tighten the clamps. One flange inserts from inside the fender well and the other from the inside the stock air box. Slip the boot over the fender side flange and tighten the clamp. With the air box in place slip the other flange through the air box into the rubber boot and tighten the other clamp.
I would have to think with some double-sided tape on the flanges, installation would be easier too. Remove the bottom half of the air box (you’ll need to for drilling anyways), then run the flange through the factory hole, and just stick it into place in the new hole you just drilled Simple enough.
DYNO Testing
Of course with any product like this, there has to be proof that it does indeed do what it claims. TundraGeeks member, and pretty mechanically handy guy I might add, MPToy07 took his single cab, super-charged Tundra in for a dynamometer test. Here is what he found:
The first run in blue showed 510.41 HP / 512.36 TQ, and had the highest boost pressure of 6.69 PSI.
Second run in red was 508.29 HP / 522.46 TQ at 6.58 PSI boost, and a slightly higher ambient temperature (truck warming the surrounding area)
Last run was in green with the SABM kit opened up, and showed 516.36 HP / 522.85 TQ at 6.52 PSI boost, and a slightly higher yet ambient temperature.
So technically, total gain between the first run and last was only 6HP, BUT you can see the HP numbers going down as everything started warming up, then a decent size jump when the SABM kit was opened up and the truck allowed to breathe. It definitely helped in my case.
MPG and HP Gains
Scanning through the forums, it looks like the majority of truck owners are seeing single digit HP gains (8 or so) and 2-3 MPG increases. This is quite impressive for such a simple modification to the stock air box.
Why does it work?
Dez explains, “After the modification the first thing I noticed was tad bit of performance then I realized I was getting a little better gas mileage! This modification seems to allow the motor to run a little more efficient at the same time allowing it to gulp more air when you step on it.”
Price
The kit is being offered at an introductory level at $65 per kit plus shipping.
The reality is that if this kit gives more bang for the buck then cold air intakes. Check out the kits here at TundraGeeks and let us know below what you think.
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Filed Under: Toyota Tundra Accessories
Thanks Tim!
I first posted this modification on a couple of Tundra sites back in 2007/2008 after I discovered the modest yet worthy gains on my own truck. A hand full of currious followers all reported the same benefits after performing this mod.
I’ve received 100’s of PM’s in the past 5 or so years asking about the Stock Air Box Mod (SABM).
Most recently a Southern California member on TG contacted me asking about installation details after his local smog test shop told him he would not pass due to his Volant intake.
The member performed the SABM mod and soon after raved about his results. It was in that thread I declared I was going to produce a kit. http://tundrageeks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8779
Okay, this one needs to be explained to me.
So, we put in better air flow systems. The whole point is to get more air into the manifold. What does more air in the manifold mean? Higher manifold air pressure,,,, more air. What do we do with more air which has more oxygen, we burn more gas!
So how can better air flow, more O2 getting into the cylinder result in a 2 MPG improvement. Millage should go down not up. There should be more power which is directly related to how much more fuel we can burn.
I may just start making my own filter systems and sell them. I should be able to come up with an air flow system which make more power burning less fuel and become the first to prove a truck can go faster then the speed of light and get 100 MPG. Any takers?
Lets do it even better we put on twin turbo chargers and a supercharger and get rid of the air filter system all together and add a ram air intake straight to the front of the truck. The faster we go the more air we get and the less fuel we burn. Now we can get lots and lots of air into the motor and we might not need gas at all.
Has anyone here graduated from high school?
Perhaps the engine is producting more HP/TRQ at lower RPMs.
You dont know what you are talking about, at all.
If it has the ability to flow more air, there is less resistance, meaning the engine is working less hard to produce the same speed thus resulting in better efficiency.
This is why some 1000hp, twin turbo corvettes get 30mpg when cruising. Sure under load they suck 3 times as much gas a as a stock Vette, but at crusading speed it is getting much better mileage.
You have a point but, that corvette engine is one very complex system.
Variable valve timing, cam in cam setups which allow for different valve timing between 4 cylinders. I have my doubt that air flow has much to do with that 30 MPG.
At cruise it is likely only running on 4 cylinders having to move a 2 seat car which weighs in at 3000 pounds. It’s not a 6000 pound tundra truck.
Before people go looking for magic bullets like custom software to tune their engines remember that at cruise, EGR allows fuel to be cut back without going into a pure lean burn state. Some unburned gas is used to lubricate the cylinder walls and to help keep combustion temperatures down. It is certainly possible with software to eliminate this and put the engine into a lean burn condition at cruise where no gas is wasted. This will have long term effects on the life span of an engine. Millage isn’t everything.
Modern engines have become a lot more complex then when we had simple carburetors which always dump the same ration of gas into the manifold. Not sure I would tamper with what the R&D departments of the manufactures are doing.
If Toyota or any manufacture could up the fuel economy of a 15 MPG truck by 15 percent by just changing intake air flow it seems they would already have done it rather then pay fines because they can’t meet CAFE numbers.
That Smokey dude is definitely out there but this subject is worth a discussion in the context of these air filter devices really being able to improve MPG by 15 percent, that’s a huge number.
Well then dang…
I guess I’m going to have to call all those Tundra owners doing this mod and reporting MPG and HP gains liars! 🙂
Thanks Mic!
I certainly wouldn’t go through all the trouble of putting something out there If it didn’t work now would I….
Pretty hard there Smokey. You state you need it explained to you but you already proven to yourself it isn’t going to work. I sent Dez back in 07 my stock air box when I got an AFE stage II. Afe, Volant, etc all claim more hp and more mpg’s with their product. I should have waited for DEZ to complete his research first before buying a CAI. Using the stock box missing the charcoal filter with this mod makes better sense than buying these after market high price items. If you don’t understand how they work how can you critize it for not knowing it? I’m intrested but will have to go to junkyard to get an OEM stock box and tube to put back in to replace the AFE.
[…] of buying Volant, K&N, AFE etc his new CAI has hp and mpg increase. Also savings on the wallet: Toyota Tundra Improved MPG, HP – G-Tek Fab SABM Kit Available | Tundra Headquarters Blog __________________ MIDNIGHT RIDER THIS TRUCK CAN TAKE A HIT AND KEEP ON TICKIN' VOTE NOW! […]
Dez put it out on Tundratalk.net for you. Hopefully you get some responses. As soon as I get mine back to stock I will order one.
Smokey does seems to be harsh in that position.
I have to wonder, on a Tundra V8 with 2 MPG being 13 percent and 3 MPG being a 20 percentage improvement, why would Toyota not do this?
It would be a big advantage for Toyota since they have to deal with CAFE just like all the other manufactures. Why would they leave a potential 20 percent advantage on the table for a 3rd party?
Could smoke and mirrors be in play here?
I have a ’12 CrewMax. Every mod I have done to my truck resulted in the computer shutting down the fun. The TRD SC resulted in 02 sensor (check engine light). The Unichip, the headers, etc. all resulted in the computer dumping fuel into the motor. My Mpg is dismal.
I have three questions. One is will the computer again go nuts and set off a CEL? Is there any type of a rubber gasket in case of motor rock or going over bumps that would or may cause this mod to crumple. Does it have flex built in? Does it cause any CEL issues?
Thanks!
There has never been a CEL with mine or any other Tundra with this modification to date. As mentioned before this modification has been around for 5 plus years.
The 3″ tube itself is 4 ply silicone so it will naturally flex if it needs to flex at all. The flanges and flange rings are suspended by the foam seal which comes with the kit.
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Some of you know me and would probably agree that I would not have posted this modification or product out in public if it wasn’t proven to show actual gains by Tundra owners on a consistent basis. The fact that there hasn’t been one negative comment over the years by someone with this modification is another reason I decided to produce a kit.
Thanks Dez!
Btw, despite my computer consistently outfoxing my modifications, my truck makes a lot of power. This morning I had an opportunity to open the throttle on the interstate and it pulls like a freight train!
I will look into your kit. If it can allow my motor to breathe and make power, I will be satisfied.As you know, the SC is always looking for air.
Have you thought about an add-on, tube-like structure that I have seen on Bank’s systems for diesel trucks (I had a Duramax) that exits from the air box down to the front grill near the lower bumper? The pressurized air there supposedly creates a decent shot of air, like a hood scoop.
I am a power junkie! If you have the wherewithal, why not make one?
Again thanks!
Rick
Ya Rick the dyno runs with the kit blocked off, then with the kit unblocked on the supercharger 5.7 were performed on a Michigan Toyota tech’s Tundra. He was shocked and very excited with the results.
Although the gains claimed from this modification over the years have all been from 5.7 non supercharged Tundras I am at the moment putting together the dyno results from the non sc and will be posting them here soon.
Thanks
Oops…
Back when I first performed this mod I search and searched for a route through the compartment to the grille, under the bumper, and even through the passenger side fog light opening. No go..
Besides, forced air would only be effective at higher rates of speed although that’s most likely when its needed the most. 🙂 Average intake volocities exceed average highway speeds.
A few things:
1) Is there a dyno chart showing the improvement for a stock truck?
2) Is there a video showing the installation?
This mod reminds me of the BHAF mod for the Cummins diesel in Dodge trucks. A BHAF is “Big Honking Air Filter”. This mod worked and I believe there are dyno charts available showing the improvement. Both this and Dez’s mod are basically the same. So, I believe it does work. I’d really like to see an installation video.
I’m with LJC also.
Hey, for 65 bucks if it really does improve mpg by 2-3, it is worth every penny. However, I am skeptical of the mpg gain being over 1 mpg. If it truly is a 2 mpg increase which is a lot, you’d think Yota would’ve figured this simple mod to the air box years ago.
I see the benefits though does it affect basic warranty of tundra if install and mod your airbox? Is this mod patented and approved by corp. toyota?
As for affecting the warranty…
Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, an automotive dealership/carmaker cannot void your warranty because your vehicle has been modified with aftermarket parts. They (the manufacturers) have to prove that the failure was the direct result of the installed aftermarket part.
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The kit comes complete with two pages of step by step instructions along with plenty of images.
How would this kit work with my custom front bumper http://www.bodykits.com/Extrem.....79/872340/? Where do we order this kit?
I can see toyota knowing this and not adding it them selves. CAI have been around for a long time, but you dont see cars coming with them stock. These gigantic car companies spend a ton of time doing cost analysis.
They have so many cars that perform better the CAFE standards that it easily offset the tundras poor mileage, so is it cost effective for them to spend a few bucks per truck they make to up the tundras mileage, when they dont really need to be in accordance with CAFE?
In the short term that makes a lot of sense but, the CAFE numbers keep moving up. We should see an evolution in the next major rework of the Tundra and it’s kind of overdue.
Many complain about the Tundra fuel consumption. I have never though those comments were justified. It’s a heavy truck with a basic V8 engine. I only think a fair comparison would be when it’s compared to the 3/4 ton V8s. The Tundra while it’s a 1/2 ton, it’s a bit more robust then the basic 1/2 tons.
yah, but right now the tundra has the worst mpg both city and hwy. of all 1/2 ton trucks and will continue to do so unless Toyota wakes up and gets smart and does mods to improve to at least 20 hwy mpg in 4wd trucks. 2-3 mpg doesn’t seem like much improvement but when you are ONLY talking 17 hwy. mpg, a 3 mpg increase is near 20% increase which is a lot.
Question on air box mod: Is there a screen of some sort for the opening since don’t want rodents inside the air box housing?
I seriously considered adding a screen to the kit but since the existing intake tube to the fender well does not have a screen I didn’t see it necessary.
One thing to remember about reported mpgs, most of the manufacturers are lying about their mpg, example, Ford eco boost, buddy of mine is done with them, he had 2 and never got better than 19 mpg, he now is back to a Chvy diesel, most of the guys I know are not getting better mpg with Dodge trucks, don’t know about Chevy none of my friends are driving new ones. My truck was getting 22 – 24 mpg whem I had the stock tires on it, now that I have truck tires, 10 ply it gets 19 -22 mpg, my bigggest problem is my foot!! 5.7 Wants to go!! 😀
Jim,
LOL! Slow down. 🙂
-Tim
just saying, if up to the mfg if a rodent did get in there and caused havoc, the mfg. might attempt to say it was due to aftermarket install. Like all mfgs., they will do anything to blame it on owner’s error or aftermarket install.
Before the modification to my intake I had a rodent get up in there during a visit to my desert house but he couldn’t sink his teeth into the KnN drop in filter. I knew he was hanging out in the base portion for a while by the amount of droppings he left. 🙂
Just recently I changed the filter in my wife’s Highlander and found a rodent had a chew-fest on her filter but he never made it through.
I’m sure Toyota gets this all the time so if anything this would most likely fall into the Magnusun-Moss Warranty act. They would have to prove which intake tube the rodent chose to crawl through. The existing stock one or the SABM tube.
agree mk.
Great comments from everyone by the way!
Thank you!
Is the intake sound louder under acceleration like a CAI?
The Stock Tundra intake is in fact a Cold Air Intake already and a darn good one. 🙂
…and yes you can start to hear a drone when you put your foot in it.
I would love to hear it. Any chance you have or could make a video of the cabin noise while driving? Windows up and windows down? Would be greatly appreciated