Okay so on my 6MT, I decided to install the Stillen Hi-Flow, the Z-tube, and for kicks the hyper-grounding kit. I've even done the ECU reset, a few times (I've even thought about doing a reset while stuck in Hell-aye traffic)

Now that the placebo stage has come and passed, I really have to say the car does not seem significantly different from before the install. Yes it sounds different, but that's about all.Is it possible that all of us that have done these installs are not getting as much as we think? Dyno's are nice to look at, but if you factor in all the variables, I'm sure we'd see different Dyno's on different days with the same car. I guess my point is, these mods are not all that I expected.

 

Yea. the sound will definitely have an impact on your perception of the added part. Its louder so naturally you will think it is faster or more powerful. Its not. Some people have noticed losses with the stillen. I have the z tube and k & n filter. I feel that this is the only proven way to gain a few hp. Intakes, especially cai's, are very inconsistent in their performance. Ill pass.

 

My personal opinion is that most intakes on this car are just noise-makers. The stock setup is near optimal, other than the plenum. The one thing some of these intakes do right is replace the stock tube with the sound-deadening chambers, which you can accomplish easily enough with just the Z-tube. I don't think the filters and CAI extensions do anything performance-wise. I still may get a K&N short ram for looks and noise, but it ain't gonna be what pushes me into 13s.

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe
Titanium '03 MX-5 Shinsen #532

 

So now I'm told I need to get an ECU mod from Technosquare to retard the learning curve and allow the engine to take advantage of the Mods done. Is this just another sink hole, or is this going to bring it all together?

 

My thoughts exactly. When I first got the stillen high flow, I noticed a pretty fair increase in butt dyno. Weeks later, the car doesn't seem to be as impressive. Maybe it's because the ecu detuned the mod, or maybe it's because I got used to driving it, or maybe both. The point is that I did actually feel the power increase in the beginning, so the product itself does provide gains.
I guess the TS ecu upgrade is supposed to keep the ecu from "detuning". From the numerous posts that I've read, there are a lot of people on this forum that speak highly of it. But then again, they could all be TS employees. J/K. I also had the same experience w/ the Crawford plenum. When I first drove w/ it, GREAT! A month later, my car seems slow. I think it's about time for a 12 hour disconnect. I tried the easy reset btw and don't notice any difference. The 12 hour disconnect seems to be much more effective.

 

It's hype. Intake doesn't really help unless you have exhaust to help all the extra air out right? your engine is still only going to pull in so much air. It might help the air flow in a little easier, but it still has to get out the same size hole. Like a person can only eat so much food before he fills up and it has to come out the back side [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img].



BS G35C 6spd navi/aero/prem

 

I think people expect too much from intakes. it's not going to give an incredible gain in power unless the stock intake system was very restrictive in the first place. I believe the G35 sedan, coupe, and 350z allready have a pretty optimal intake setup. So by going aftermarket your not really gaining that much. Maybe 5-10 whp max. Basically your not going to feel that small of a hp gain, especially when its not throughout the entire power curve. I plan to get just the Z tube and leave it with the stock airbox and perhaps a K&N filter. Good enough for me.

04' G35S 6MT Ivory Pearl, Willow, Premium

 

Intakes are not restricted by exhaust, at least not as stated above. If this were so, forced induction systems would have to be coupled with extensive exhaust modifications to be effective, and this is not the case.

Removing airflow intake restrictions while keeping other vairables constant (cylinder vacuum) allows more air in. This makes the computer increase the amount of fuel intake to keep the fuel:air mixture constant. Burning more fuel creates more power (all other variables held constant).

Now the argument is about intake efficiency. To really measure the effect, a stock intake system should be set up on a bench side-by-side with the test intake. Variable negative pressure would be applied on the throttle-body end and airflow would be measured. If there is less restriction with the test intake, increased fuel consumption and hence added power would follow.


Black/Willow 03.5 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, SAT
350Z Nismo CAI

 

lol do you have a mathematical formula for that?

BS G35C 6spd navi/aero/prem

 

It's funny that this subject comes up so f-ing much. The dyno question, the people who don't have CAIs and proclaim that they are vodoo, the brand bashing, the "placebo effect", etc.
If there are five people there are six different opinions. It's tough to weed out the fact from the bullsh^t!!
BTW: What did you expect to gain from these mods? I did the same mods and don't expect more than maybe 10Hp at the most. Damn right that's expensive - but it's better than stock and sounds MUCH better.

 

I guess from reading several posts before doing these mods, and obviously not enough, I thought I would definetly feel the difference. Since this is the first car I've added performance parts to, I was willing to take the plunge. I'm not regretting I did, but I think it's best that other's thinking about doing these mod have reasonable expectations so they don't go bashing the products. After talking with an Infiniti tech who was a big bike racer/builder, the only good thing he said about the Stillen Hi-flow was the venturi ring, he thought the stock box was already optimal, and the K&N filter while allowing for less restrictive airflow, would also allow more crap in. He warned about performance parts posting Dyno's that could be misleading. I probably will end up doing the ECU upgrade, but I certainly will not have high expectations.