Smart move.

 

I 2nd that move.

 

Based on past experience with my Maxima and with info found here, I descided to keep the stock air box as well.....but I am looking around for a different option for the filter. Perhaps a urethane foam based one...not sure yet.

 

i agree 100%. if you are going to replace your upper plenum i recommend not staying with the stock intake. First i installed the z-tube; like everyone else i noticed the same thing (an addicting sound). months later i installed the kinetix plenum, with noticable gains and greater volume. Then weeks later i installed the stillen airbox. "match made in heaven" coudnt of been said any better. there is absobluly no loss in power. and sounds incredible. absobulty no complaints.

without a new pleneum things may be different with just the ztube and aftermarket intake. i too have read that you are better off with a ztube and the stock intake with k&n fliter. i cant argue with someting i do not have experience with, due to the order of my installs. but i can say again, if you are changing the upper pleneum do not stick with stock intake.

 

From what my friend says, cotton is the best material to use. He said that foam can be just as restrictive as paper.

 

For what it's worth, I noticed loss of low end with the z-tube + Stillen CAI without a plenum or spacer. Also, I didn't think the engine felt as smooth and I wasn't as fond of the noise. I think overall it performs better with the stock box, and total power under the curve is higher than that of an aftermarket intake. These are only my opinions from driving the vehicle. I didn't do any real conclusive tests. I just felt like it slightly robbed power down low and it wasn't a massive gain on top. That coupled with the higher pitched noise (I much preferred the deeper, muffled tone of the stock box), and the fact that I could sell it for decent money resulted in me returning to the stock box. Fact is, even for free I wouldn't put any other intake on.

I will likely go with the spacer, but I'm waiting for the rush to calm down; make sure people are happy with it, etc.

 

Thanks!

This weekend I'll be putting them on the G along with the plenum spacer - can't wait!

 

My car is so much happier with the stock air box.
I picked up a K&N drop in last night, life is good again.

 

Yea that whistling noise can get annoying at times, but hey at least you know physics is at work and the venturi effect is doing its job . With the addition of the Kinetix Plenum, it made the entire engine sound completely different. The material the V4 is made of (still don't know what the hell it is) really allows for sound resonance and gives the engine an awesome growling tone, especially in the lower RPM's. Higher up in the band, it just sounds plain mean! True, all in all everyone has there own opinions (CAI vs. stock with K&N) and I doubt there's much of a difference between the too, but I'm happy with my setup.

 

Bump
Bump
Bump

 

May I ask how hard it is to put the K&N drop in filter? Is there a tutorial on here that will lead you step by step? Thanks

 

Easier than installing any CAI.

Disconnect the MAF.
unscrew the front portion of the ztube or stock tube.
remove air box.
undo the hinges holding the filter in
put new filter in
put everything back together.
done.

 

can somebody please tell me the cheapest place to purchase the ztube? thanks a lot.. can't wait to order it and start these mods.

 

Funny question because I've never attempted it, but how do you remove the airbox. Everything seems to be be secured by plastic rivets.

 

Pop them off... I forgot that you have to pop off the air duct in the center of the car, then proceed.