well... I figured I tried to stay away from modding but I cracked and bought something simple like z-tube and k&n filter. Well I spent 30 minutes after work installing it, why did I take so long? I worked with crappy tools, I had 10mm bolt and put it one of those 50 piece screw driver kits.

I had a hard time getting one of the bolts off the engine cover so I said screw since I could still slide it over enough to get the clamp off the top of the tube.

After all this I took it out for a spin around the city and all I can say is I can feel almost no difference in power, at first I even thought it felt sluggish. Then I realized no... its about the same. BTW I took out the power duct too to see if it would increase sound... doesn't sound that much louder if at all than stock.

I've heard so many good things about it but I really don't see why spending money on this mod is really worth it... it still cost me over 100 bucks including the k&n filter....

On the gas mileage, I don't know, not drive enough to see if it makes a difference but I hope it does atleast. Doesn't matter much anyway.. I don't keep track of gas and don't mind filling it up here and then.

One last thing, A mechanic is only as good as his tools... FTW I'm not a mechanic so.....

 

Your next logical step is the turbonator. There is currently a very informative thread about its gains on this forum!

 

Concur. Great post, will read again. A++++++++++++

 

^^ bwahahahaha. i can't get enough of the turbonator.

 

wut did u expect??? lobster????

 

when i saw that thread turbanator, I completly ignored it without knowing what it was just because of the name... but anyways.. if i wanted gains I go with nitrous... but I swear I read so many threads people saying they hear a substancial amount of sound difference in the thing and even more after removing the power duct thing.

I knew the power gains would've been only 2-3hp at most but I was looking for a deeper sound!

I might just order myself some highflow cats.

 

I put the z tube and k&n filter & sound is a lot different for me. I like the noise that it makes, a little different under the hood. Intake is'nt really a mod for great performance gains, if you want something that gives you a kick try installing the motordyne spacer for the plenum. You can feel the difference expecially on the freeway when you push your car above 3k rpm. Much more responsive.

 

The Z tube and K&N filter combo in itself will not yield any really noticeable HP gains. However, it will compliment future mods such as a plenum spacer and/or plenum mod.

I removed the "Power Duct," as well. Didn't notice anything different having done that. So, it's back on.

 

I may as well stick mine back on, I think it looks funny showing the filter like that and I would think it would be better since it directs airflow better into the box.

Well... I'm not looking for performance, it hasn't done anything for me for 5 years beside get me in trouble.. it's time now show and sound.

 

You really didn't waste your time installing the Z
Tube unless that's all the mods your going to do.
Once you've done other mods like cat-back system,
K&N filter box and the MotorDyne spacer the Z tube
will be doing its job......don't give up, the more mods
the better.

 

sounds like you expected too much from the z-tube. it would give 2-3hp IF any and that's not something you can feel. in regards to the sound, i have to agree with the others, it does provide a "throatier" sound, but it's not gonna make it sound deeper like an exhaust, cats, etc.

if you're unhappy with it, you can post it up for sale. i'm sure there are others who don't have it that wouldn't mind taking it off your hands.

 

What the hell were you expecting.. You took out a small part of the G tube (just the res) and your expecting to feel the difference and hear it too? And got a new filter? Okay-- That may have gotten you 3 horsepower if your lucky.

If you wanted to do your intake right, you shoulda done some form of CAI with the ztube (or intake tube that came with it).

You need to save your money and buy a few together-- I don't know how many times I have to say that.

No one will be happy with 5 horsepower at a time. Your car can differ 5 horsepower depend on weather and warm up.

Save your money and buy all/most your intake mods... Intake/plenum.

Then save your money for at least half of your exhaust (headers/cats) than cat back exhaust.

That's the way I did it and I couldn't be happier with my modding... My G pulls so hard I can't wait to put some new pullies, cams and 10 wire grounding kit.

Group by group or all at once, Don't buy a tube and a peice of cloth and expect to feel the difference.

 

ok.. maybe we are all just misunderstanding..

I'm not dissing the z-tube, I've been in the modding world for a while now and I knew what to expect as for power goes... 2-3 horsepower if gained at all would be almost impossible to tell from an everyday driver.

I was hoping to get a better sound but no really to be exact the tube on my car sounds no different from stock even without the power duct.

I'm not trying to make my car pull hard, i'm not trying to make some street beast... been there done that tired of this.

I feel like just having a nice little street show car, I expected the z-tube to make some difference in noise but doesn't... YES I will buy high-flow cats to increase this noise.. NO I don't want a catback to change the exhaust tone dramastically.

I just wanted some input from people who JUST have z-tube and noticed sound difference after like from what I read.

No need to shout... Cheers Have a Beer

Ohh BTW.. CAI is not for me, this is my daily driven car in a not so great weathered area.

 

I personally didn't notice much a change in sound in the engine bay, but I'm almost certain that the Z-tube made my stock exhaust a bit louder. It now has more of a 'burble' than before. The engine response is noticeably better, but that could be just the placebo effect.... Guess I'll have to wait and see what my HKS exhaust will do hehe .

 

great to hear, i didn't get much sound either.. maybe I'll pick up some high-flow cats and that should make a bigger change.