V35 Air Intake

[Darckness]

Hi everyone,

I take delivery of my new baby next week (2003 manual coupe) + am of course looking at future mods :-)

I was thinking about the OEM air intake. With the current setup on the car, the airbox is already quite open (not fully enclosed like most airboxes) + cold air is being force fed directly into it.

So I was thinking that replacing the stock filter with something like a freer flowing K&N panel filter would be enough, instead of the need for a full cold-air-intake replacement. Obviously there's a greater induction surface area (+ better sound!) with a pod filter, but then there's heat soak to worry about as well. And with the need to enclose the pod so cops don't defect it, we're back to an airbox style setup.

So what are everyone's thoughts, + does anyone have any measured stats on the air intake setup?

:-)

[rs73]

You can get a Nismo panel filter as most JDM imports factory airbox is already a good CAI setup.

I had my old RB25DET on my R33 modded with Z32 AFM, FMIC, 16psi and HKS2535GT, and it made 230rwkw (310rwhp), or estimated 270kw/360HP @ engine without requiring any pod filter. That's how good the factory airbox is...

I know on N/A cars the gain may not be that drastic however with a good flow panel filter and a good tune it will be sufficient. There's not really need to switch to pod filter as no high suction power is required as compared to forced induction engines...

I read in an old HPI magazine article that on N/A cars you gotta becareful changing the intake length or size, as doing it wrongly may result in less power. They did some experiment playing with the size of the intake resonator after the airfilter, a very old article, I've thrown away all my HPI magazine when moved house, so can't find it for you anymore.

[Darckness]

Sweet. That's what I was thinking :-)

Good to have the comparison you had as well.

I had a pod on my last ride ('95 FTO) + I believe it added response to that, but the stock airbox was fully enclosed + nothing like the V35.

I'll have a look at the Nismo panel you mentioned :-)

Thanks.

[WazR32GTSt]

first, this is a NA car, so intake mods are not going to do anything for performance. you could route a pipe directly to the atmosphere outside the car with no air filter and you might only gain a maximum of 2 or 3 rwkw. its not like on a turbocharged car where massive gains can be seen.

now, the airbox is a great piece of device in general, and the V35 is a good example of these. as you mentioned, there is a good feed of cold air onto the panel from 2 sources, so there's not going to be much to improve on. your idea of a higher-flowing panel filter is a good one, if you feel the need to do something. you definately won't gain any performance from a pod, as heat soak becomes an issue when you remove the airbox.

i would suggest you wait and drive the car as it is first. i had planned on getting a panel filter when igot my V35 but after driving the car with one in (i put hte panel from my R32 into the V35) i notivced no difference in performance or sound compared to the stock paper one. so i just left the stock one in.

as far as sound goes, again, its a NA car and a free-flowing intake isn't going to make huge sucking sounds like it does on a turbocharged car

i would hate for you to have huge expectations of what a "good intake" is going to do and then put one on and notice that for the $200+ you've spent that there is no difference at all.

[Darckness]

Even though it's not a turbo + massive gains aren't to be expected, I was remembering all that I've read about about a freer flowing engine (intake, extractors, exhaust) makes for a happy engine. Starting off with the filter, then working up to the other mods.

But with the comparisons that you + Rianto mentioned, + from the stock setup I saw on the V35, then it looks like I don't have too much of a decision to make :-)

Thanks.

[WazR32GTSt]

so.. tell us about the car you got.. manual i see. what colour/specs? pics!

[Darckness]

2003 silver coupe with the 18"s + brembos.

Double DIN surround done in Japan - I'm replacing the Jap spec head unit with one that works in Aus but.

Suede seats - didn't want the leather as I'm putting seat covers on

Obviously no in-dash TV as I 've got the double DIN - didn't want the in-dash after reading the forums here + seeing the changes required to make it work correctly (didn't want the extra weight of the additional GPS + DVD units ;-) )

Just hangin on delivery next week!!!!!!

Some pics :-)

[WazR32GTSt]

looks good mate, love the colour (called Brilliant Silver)! it might be the most common colour, but i think that's because it is by far the best..!

[Darckness]

Thanks :-)

Silver is definitely the easiest to keep clean too!

[WazR32GTSt]

what seat covers are you planning on putting on?

btw.. the seats are cloth, not suede

[NISMO]

Agree with what has been said about the intake,

however have you guys seen how restrictive the intake pipe on the V35 is (after the filter) compared to the Z?

I'm doing a bit of guessing but could this be one of the contributors to the power diff between the V and Z?

Here's a pic of a stillen copy of the Z tube compared to a stock V35 intake tube.

On my auto V35 coupe I changed the intake to the full HKS system and the bum dyno reckons I gained a bit but more so it sounded awesome. On my manual I'm planning on changing the intake tube for the Z one (found one for $20) and just the filter.

Now, you also have guys who have recorded some big gains with a revised tuned intake. There's a member on 350z-tech.com in the Australian section who claims to have achieved (i think) 10-15kw gain with a tuned intake and revised airbox. There's a lot of skepticism but there are also a few who have signed up for one. If i see the same results duplicated on other cars, then i'll be buying one for sure.

[rs73]

no effect on removing the resonator on the intake pipe?

that's a good looking silver one, mine's still in process of import approval, won't land till a while...

it's an auto though, but premium with bose, so can't really swap the head unit unless i find a double din dash trim and loose the bose sound...

[Darckness]

Warren: Not sure on the seat covers yet - have to look around + see what complements the car + my tastes the best :-)

Bobby: 10-15Kw...!? I can understand the skepticism. You'd definitely want proven dyno recs on that, + a dyno not in shoot-out mode either...

Rianto: I found a surround from Japan if you're interested. AU$122. Found floor mats at the same site ranging from AU$236 - AU$665!!

http://www.japanparts.com/db/partslist.php...=2&small=13

[Pulp]

I just got my intake changed, better pipe and pod, also got a Borla Exhaust put in and now awaiting headers to come in.

Definately a better and more powerful response (and sound) compared to previously, only thing I wish I did was dyno it before! and still need to dyno it now, will post up when I do

Was thinking of making or purchasing a CAI box for it though, due to the heat soak.

Edited January 10, 2008 by Pulp

[NISMO]

Warren: Not sure on the seat covers yet - have to look around + see what complements the car + my tastes the best :-)

Bobby: 10-15Kw...!? I can understand the skepticism. You'd definitely want proven dyno recs on that, + a dyno not in shoot-out mode either...

Rianto: I found a surround from Japan if you're interested. AU$122. Found floor mats at the same site ranging from AU$236 - AU$665!!

http://www.japanparts.com/db/partslist.php...=2&small=13

Well thats the thing, he has dyno graphs on the same day at the same temp apparently all on the same set up.

But still, until i see it on at least 1 other car if not more then I'm a non believer.

[spikey]

I just got my intake changed, better pipe and pod, also got a Borla Exhaust put in and now awaiting headers to come in.

Definately a better and more powerful response (and sound) compared to previously, only thing I wish I did was dyno it before! and still need to dyno it now, will post up when I do

Was thinking of making or purchasing a CAI box for it though, due to the heat soak.

what intake do u have?

can u keep me an update on header? coz heard nothing gain on header and the labor time is a killer (at least 5 hours).

[scathing]

Now, you also have guys who have recorded some big gains with a revised tuned intake. There's a member on 350z-tech.com in the Australian section who claims to have achieved (i think) 10-15kw gain with a tuned intake and revised airbox. There's a lot of skepticism but there are also a few who have signed up for one. If i see the same results duplicated on other cars, then i'll be buying one for sure.

Yeah, I've tried to be really diplomatic about the whole thing but pulling over 10rwkW by changing the intake tube and moving the location of the AFM set off my bs meter.

Considering they said they "tuned the length", but they only had the car for 6 hours. How many different metal intake pipes can you fabricate, install, drive to the dyno shop down the road, strap down onto the dyno, and power run in 6 hours? Even if they did it all via CAD by flow-testing the intake of the VQ35DE just north of the throttle body so a computer could calculate the best tube length and diameter and only require the fabrication of one tube, it would still take a fair amount of time.

The guy also reckons he ran a 1:13 flat on his first time out at Wakefield Park in a dead stock car that he'd only owned for a week or two. Sure, Rick Bates managed a mid 1:12 in it during Motor Magazine's PCOTY....but Bates is a pretty damned good driver with plenty of track experience.

I'm not saying he's intentionally having people on, but its quite possible he's been given the bum steer by others and he's fallen for it. The claims don't resolve well with my experiences with the car.

[scathing]

The extractors on our cars take ages to install. I've got a set of TopSpeed headers from UAS, and I think they're good.

I did the extractors and cats at the same time (as well as the Motordyne MREV2), so its impossible for me to say what the headers by themselves did....but I can tell you the engine is generating a lot more torque in the top end with its willingness to go to my new 7200RPM cutout.

[rs73]

Warren: Not sure on the seat covers yet - have to look around + see what complements the car + my tastes the best :-)

Bobby: 10-15Kw...!? I can understand the skepticism. You'd definitely want proven dyno recs on that, + a dyno not in shoot-out mode either...

Rianto: I found a surround from Japan if you're interested. AU$122. Found floor mats at the same site ranging from AU$236 - AU$665!!

http://www.japanparts.com/db/partslist.php...=2&small=13

Yes I've known the website for quite some time but swapping to that means i'm loosing the bose sound, I'll see how it goes after it landed and complied whether the bose sound is good enough, as I'm not really an audiophile.

[WazR32GTSt]

i remember chris rogers saying something about being able to use the bose amp with an aftermarket headunit.. he was showing me the amp when he was pulling my car apart..

maybe try sending him a PM or better yet calling him