New plenum and intercooler. (contains pics)

[JimX]

The whole upgrade I did was all about removing restrictions and increasing throttle response and therefore power and economy. I was getting huge amounts of pressure drop before, at 1 bar I think it was in the order of around 5psi. My economy has also improved after the mods, I was getting around 15-16L/100km before, and now it's down to 13-14.

The other reason why the front-facing plenum also helps power and economy (aside from the less pressure drop) is the intake doesn't go all the way back over the top of the hot engine, thus heating it up less. I guess to achieve the same effect on a stock intake you could just thermal-wrap the piping which goes back over the engine.

Because I also upgraded my cooler at the same time it's hard to say how much power I gained from each mod, but I'm very happy with the overall package and would never go back to the over-the-top plenum. One day I might sell this one and get the sexay Hills Motorsports plenum, but not for a few years yet.

[Zman]

Does anyone have a picture of the Hills plenum and whats the cost in getting one fitted?

[T0nyGTSt]

Someone said $895 fitted.

I think it still has the same attachment points for your Nissan AFM and BOV.

T.

[JimX]

It's around $800. $900 "fitted" would only be if you want to do a straight swapover from the existing plenum (it's around 1 hour's labour just for this part). But if you don't already have a front-facing plenum, you will be up for a few more hours work than this, to cut the chassis rail and run new intercooler piping to suit. You will also need to buy the extra intercooler piping (probably at least 1 bend, if you can re-use your old stuff).

I would set aside around $1100-$1200 for this upgrade if you already have the front-mount. You will also need a new throttle cable ($80 or so) because the original one is too short. Also with the Hills plenum they like to run the piping through where the windscreen washer bottle is, so you'd have to replace that with a smaller one if you still want to wash your windshield (+$100 or so for an alloy one). So probably closer to $1300-1400.

Add another $1000-1500 or so for a decent intercooler if you don't already have one, and another $450 or so for the piping.