My aplogies for the quality of some of these images - my digital camera is pretty old...

First, you need to gather your materials. For this project, you'll need at a minimum a 10mm socket wrench, a phillips head screwdriver, and a flathead screwdriver. Optionally, you may also want some snips for cutting the cable-tie that holds the MAF cable, some plyers for removing the hoseclamp underneath the inlet tube, and some replacement cable-ties. For the purpose of my project, I used the following:
10mm socket wrench
screwdriver with phillips and flathead bits
Montesino Gran Corona cigar
Jack -n- Ginger on the rocks


Here's the engine we'll be working on - its the G35 Sedan engine with an InSaNeAmine Grounding Kit and a 350Z Inlet Tube.


1) Remove the engine cover using the 10mm socket wrench:


2) Remove the inlet tube...
a) disconnect the bolt connecting the tube to the plenum
b) loosen the hose clamps at either end of the tube
c) work the tube loose from the air intake box at one end and the plenum at the other
d) with your fingers (or optional plyers) loosen the hoseclamp on the hose on the underside of the tube and work the hose off the inlet tube.
e) pull the tube out and set aside


3) Remove the bolt holding the intake box to the chassis


4) Unclamp the 4 clamps that lock the airbox closed. At this point, you can work the back of the box out, revealing the air filter.


NOTE: The MAF sensor has a cable that is tied to the housing. You can get significantly more "wiggle room" by cutting this cable-tie. Just make sure you aren't cutting the actual cable and be sure to have a spare cable tie handy. Here's the MAF sensor. You can trace the cable to where it's tied down. You may or may not need the extra room - I didn't.


5) Now that the airbox is open, pull out the old filter and install the K&N.


NOTE: There have been several threads debating which K&N part number is suitable for the G35. As far as the 33-2031-2 part number, you can clearly see it's a perfect fit. The pictures don't do justice to just how perfectly this part fits in the box. I have no experience with part number 33-2259 so can't comment on how well it fits. 33-2031-2 fits perfectly, though.


There was no need to use the spacers provided in the kit and mentioned in the installation instructions.


6) Now, we have to put everything back together again. Holding the air filter in place with your hand, lower the airbox back into place and seal the box. Firmly hold the airbox together and snap the clamps closed. Snap the bottom clamps closed first to avoid the box opening back up and the air filter dropping out.

7) If you cut the cable tie holding the MAF cable in place, replace it now.

8) Place the inlet tube back into the engine compartment, connect the hose to the bottom, squeeze the hoseclamp open and clamp the hose on.


9) Put the inlet tube back into place. Tighten the hose clamp at the plenum end first. Then the end that affixes to the intake box - this end is flexible and easier to work with.

10) Now that the hose clamps are in place and tightened, bolt the intake box back to the chassis, then bolt the inlet tube back onto the plenum

11) Finally, replace the engine cover - your [almost] done!

The general consensus on this forum is that you should disconnect the battery for at least 12 hours after any performance modifications to reset the ECU. If you make frequent mods, or if you want to reset your ECU with minimal effort, you may want to install a battery master disconnect switch, available from most auto parts stores.




-townsley-
2003 Brilliant Silver Premium Sedan
Z Inlet, K&N Filter, Tinted, Grounded

 

Can I ask, if I'm gonna do the z tube mod and the KnN at the same time, what additional information do I need? I'm new to the modding scene, I have limited experience, like changing my own oil and air filters, but have little experience with this kind of mod. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Great job! Very helpful and informative.

2003.5 G35C BL/GR, NAV, PREM, AERO, TINT, SPORT, Valentine 1

 

Boondoggler - performing a K&N filter and Z-tube installation at the same time will be very easy. I'm new to the modding scene too. Installing a grounding kit was my first mod, then the Z-tube, followed by the K&N. I've been described as Mechanically Declined - believe me, if I can do these mods, you can too.

The only difference between the Z-tube and the stock tube is that the stock tube has some large compartments (baffles) that aid in noise reduction. The connections to the plenum, airbox, and exhaust hose are exactly the same.

You'll need an additional step after step 2 to take the hostclamps off the stock tube and put them on the Z-tube. Then, at step 8, just put the Z-tube back onto the engine, rather than the stock tube.

The Z-tube takes a bit of wrangling to get it onto the airbox, but it's do-able. My only words of advice are to be very careful not to drop the bolts when you remove them. If they fall into the engine compartment, you might never get them back.

After you make the replacements, do yourself the favor of waiting to drive the car until you've done the ECU reset. I guarantee you'll be very pleasantly surprised with the outcome of your mods.

Good luck and happy mod'ing!


-townsley-
2003 Brilliant Silver Premium Sedan
Z Inlet, K&N Filter, Tinted, Grounded

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm pretty handy, but just a little leery of screwing around with my new $35k car with little experience. But you have to learn sometime, right? I'll be careful with the bolts, I already had one fall into the front bumper when I was screwing around with my license plate and it took about 20 minutes figuring out how to get it out of there, I don't even want to think about trying to get a bolt out of the engine compartment!

 

When I put my stillen intake in, I dropped I bolt in the bumper somewhere, I said F it and bought a new bolt.

2003 G35 Coupe 6mt Diamond Graphite
AIM= bkchang79

 

thanks for the help. I bought one the other day and couldn't believe how difficult it was going to be.

With my 95 mustang, I just unsapped a few things and boom it was in there in less that 3 minutes. can't believe this one.

04 Sedan. Obs. Black W/ Willow. Premium, Navigation, Sport Tuned. 35% Tint, K @ N, Brand Spankin New.

 

So am I to understand that replacing the air filter requires removing the intake tubing all the way back to the plenum?

Oh man, I can just see a place like JiffyLube doing something like that...

--Steve

 

You don't have to remove the whole intake tube. There's another how-to in the FAQs & DIY forum that describes this process by just unclamping the back of the airbox and pulling out the old filter. However, this how-to also said that it was a tight wedge to get the K&N into the box.

With the various debates on which K&N Part Number is right for the G35, how well the filter is supposed to fit, horror stories about engine damage caused by improperly fitting filters, etc - I wanted to make absolutely sure that I had everything installed correctly. I'm sure Jiffy-Lube wouldn't go through all this trouble but, Jiffy-Lube doesn't love my G35 like I do either.

The process can probably be shortened and improved. I wanted plenty of room to work and an excuse to tinker in the garage with my 3 favorite things - cigars, cocktails, and my G35!

-townsley-
2003 Brilliant Silver Premium Sedan
Z Inlet, K&N Filter, Tinted, Grounded

 

I hear you about 3 favorite things to do in the garage.
Booze, smoke and engines! You know there is a much
easier way to change out the air filter......
The Infiniti technician showed me how to do it when
I bought my K&N drop in filter.
1) Remove the horizontal air scoop that sits
over the radiator: pop those plastic rivit heads up
and the entire rivet can be removed.
2) undo the 10 mm bolt holding the air box in place.
3) unhook the 4 clamps holding the 2 halves of
the air box togeather.
4) pull the entire air box upward by grabbing the
scoop.
5) there is now room to open the box, extract
and replace the filter.
6) snap the box togeather. There is a hole below
the AirBox that a projection at the bottom of the
AirBox must insert into. Line these up and push
the AirBox back into place. Reconnect the 10mm bolt,
reattach the scoop over the radiator. Your done in
5 minutes time.

2003 Twilight Blue 5AT Sedan, sunroof,
Graphite Leather, splashguards,
GG/DB red 12 wire Hyper-grounding kit,
350Z intake duct, Stillen Hi-Flow Airbox

 

Now *that* is an efficient process. Maybe I'll do a little photo-documentation and repost this how-to. Thanks Cato!


-townsley-
2003 Brilliant Silver Premium Sedan
Z Inlet, K&N Filter, Tinted, Grounded

 

Yes, old thread, but....the pics are gone. :/

 

So you thought it was best to actually type out your thoughts on the obvious.

 

In hopes someone would restore dem pics, yeah lol.