The Trucks Can BREATHE: aFe Power Exhaust and Intake Upgrades for Our Raptor-Killer Builds

The trucks can BREATHE.

Chris and Cory are back at it with the two affordable pickups we're turning into our own "Raptor-Killers," and this time we're making some changes that are impossible to miss. Both trucks received aFe Power intake and exhaust upgrades, giving us a chance to see just how much difference some relatively simple bolt-on modifications can make before we get into the more serious parts of the builds.

Cory's Ram 1500 received a valved dual cat-back exhaust system along with an aFe intake, while Chris's Toyota Tundra got the single-exit aFe exhaust system and matching intake. The two setups are different, but the goal is the same: improve airflow, wake up the engines and give both trucks a sound that better matches where these builds are headed.

And after driving both trucks before and after the installs, the difference is hard to ignore.

Starting With the Basics

One of the things we've tried to keep in mind throughout this project is that neither of these trucks started life as some exotic performance platform. They're used pickups that we're building into capable off-road machines without spending Raptor money to get there.

That means we're approaching the builds the same way we would approach almost any other truck project. Start with the fundamentals, make improvements where they actually matter, and build on them as we go.

The intake and exhaust systems are a pretty natural place to start. Before we start adding suspension travel, bigger tires, bumpers, armor and everything else these trucks will eventually need, we wanted to get some basic airflow improvements taken care of.

It also doesn't hurt that the trucks sound a whole lot better now.

The Installs Were Not Exactly Effortless

Of course, anyone who has spent much time working on an older truck already knows that "bolt-on" doesn't necessarily mean "easy."

Both Chris and Cory ran into some of the usual problems that come with working on used vehicles. Rusty hardware, stubborn exhaust components and parts that have clearly spent years being exposed to road salt and everything else a truck encounters can turn a straightforward installation into a much longer job.

That's actually one of the reasons we're documenting these builds the way we are. These aren't brand-new vehicles in a perfectly clean shop where every fastener comes loose with a ratchet. They're affordable trucks that have been driven and worked on, and we're dealing with the same kinds of problems anyone else might encounter in their driveway or garage.

Eventually, though, everything came together.

And once the trucks were back on the ground, the difference was immediately obvious.

The Ram Gets a New Voice

Cory's Ram received the more elaborate of the two exhaust setups, with aFe's valved dual cat-back system paired with the new intake.

The difference in sound is substantial. The truck now has a deeper, more aggressive exhaust note that fits the direction of the build without completely sacrificing the ability to drive it normally. The valves also give the system some flexibility, which is especially useful for a truck that's going to see plenty of street miles in addition to off-road use.

The intake adds another layer to the experience. Get into the throttle and there's considerably more sound coming from under the hood, along with a more noticeable sense that the engine is actually moving some air.

It's one of those modifications that's difficult to appreciate until you've driven the truck before and after.

The Tundra Gets Its Own Transformation

Chris's Tundra received aFe's single-exit exhaust system and intake, and the result is just as noticeable.

The Tundra has a completely different character than the Ram, but the intake and exhaust combination gives it a much more aggressive personality. The exhaust has more presence without making the truck feel like it's been turned into a straight-piped trail rig, and the intake adds some additional induction noise when the engine is working.

Again, these aren't massive engine modifications. We're not talking about forced induction (yet?) or an extensive engine build. They're relatively straightforward airflow upgrades, which makes the difference even more interesting.

Both trucks feel and sound significantly different, and we're still a long way from tuning either one.

This Is Just the Beginning

That's probably the most exciting part of this stage of the project.

The intake and exhaust systems are only the beginning, and neither truck has received the modifications that will ultimately define how they perform off-road.

The next stages will start getting much more serious. We're working toward larger wheels and tires, upgraded suspension, additional lighting, armor and bumpers, along with all of the other equipment these trucks will need once we start pushing them harder.

We're also going to be paying close attention to how each modification changes the trucks along the way. Rather than throwing everything at them at once, we're building them in stages so we can see what works, what doesn't and where the money actually makes a difference.

That's especially important when you're working with a budget.

The goal of this project has always been to see how much capability we can get out of affordable trucks without simply spending our way into a high-end factory performance pickup. If we're going to call these trucks "Raptor-Killers," they're going to have to earn it.

On the Road to King of the Hammers 2027

There's a pretty big target sitting at the end of this build: King of the Hammers 2027.

We're still a long way from being ready for that, but that's what makes this project so much fun. These trucks are going to evolve considerably between now and then, and we're going to find out along the way whether our $15,000 parts-budget concept can actually produce the kind of performance we're looking for.

For now, Chris and Cory have two trucks that sound substantially better, breathe a little easier and are already becoming much more interesting to drive.

Next up are lighting, wheels and tires, suspension, armor, bumpers and the rest of the essential off-road gear. There's no particular order to all of it yet, because we're still figuring out exactly how these builds are going to come together.

What we do know is that the easy stuff is starting to disappear.

And the trucks are just getting started.

Keep checking back as we continue turning two affordable pickups into our version of Raptor-Killers on the road to King of the Hammers 2027.