Z1 INTAKE :

https://www.z1motorsports.com/z1-products/z1-motorsports/z1-350z-g35-cold-air-intake-kit-vq35hr-carb-legal-p-9056.html

VS

JWT pop charger

https://www.z1motorsports.com/air-intake-systems/jwt/jwt-dual-pop-charger-intake-07-08-350z-p-3819.html

I've has a K&n cold air intake on a 2004 DE and loved the pop intake sound when you accelerate, but I'm 42 and don't want anything obnoxiously loud and boy racer-y

They both cost the same, and I'll pair them with an Nismo S-tune exhaust, so nothing too crazy.

I dont care so much about HP gains and more about sound (deep and growly, not high pitched or raspy) and also what's best for the engine to let it breathe better

I did do forum search but strangely didn't come up with much about this specific scenario.

Thank you very much in advance!

 

Changing the intakes is going to minimally affect the engine sound. Of course, air intake modifications are absolutely worthless without a tune afterwards. You're not going to achieve a throaty V8 growl with the six cylinder VQ. It sounds like the JWT pop charger route is going to be the best option for you. Not having a closed air box with open conical filters will produce a little more sound at WOT with hissing at idle. If you want to absolutely maximize the gains, then you should look into the 3 in. long tube admin tuning intakes which will require a tune afterwards. Either way, as I previously mentioned, changing the air intake is not going to affect the sound significantly and it will still not be obnoxiously loud. Even with 4 in. intakes. Whatever you go with, get something that has a heat shield to minimize heat soak.

It's funny that you mentioned your 42. I'm 42 also and my Z is EXTREMELY loud. Lol. The loud comes from the exhaust - not the intake system.

 

Interesting because i do recall the K&N cold air intake on my old 2004 350z did make a notable difference in sound especially the hiss sound when you accelerate which I thought was cool.

I'm leaning towards the JWT too, not least in that it looks a lot easier to install similar to the K&N I did years ago. The Z1 Intake seems like you need ti remove the bumper and aome people even said you have to trim down some areas for it to fit

 

I'd go with the JWT simply because the velocity stack features, and the Z1 has those terrible looking couplers.

 

I wouldn't use any intake on this platform that has a K&N filter, they are terrible at filtering and let a bunch of dirt into your engine. All the ones you mentioned use K&N filters.

 

Which one would you recommend ?

 

Injen, with the blue dry filter, Short or Long is up to you.

 

Oof. Looked it up and it's like $300 more than either of the 2 I posted. I'm also not sure if it's CA carb legal because Amazon won't ship it here but there has to be a way to confirm 100%

 

They are CARB exempted, they have the numbers on their site. Injen doesn't do non CARB I don't think as they are in California.
The truth is Z1 quality is poor and the JWTs are venturis, filters and a partial shield. You have 2 options with Injen, I also recommend buying from CZP, they currently have a 10% Xmas sale and they have the short ones listed much cheaper than Injen themselves.

 

Thats a great website thanks!

 

Shoot me a PM if you want SP1987 (long) or SP1988 (short) and i'll do better than the competitor.

 

Seriously debating 3 options here and would love advice from those that have either of these. My main goal is induction noise/ deeper growl. For reference, had a K&N Typhoon short ram intake and loved the aggressive deeper growl. Looking for close to that without harming engine Long term.

Note my car has factory Nismo S-tune exhaust

A) get KN drop In filters. Let's more air in, wouldn't it increase induction noise and growl?

B) having loved KN intake on my 2004 DE, stick with K&N and get thr dual short ram intake for my HE

C) get the infamous JWT pop charger intake

I know that performance wise, stock air box is best. But I don't mind losing a negligible 2 hp for more growl and whoosh and aggressive tone. What I do mind is Long term damage to engine with the short intakes sucking in hot air.

If you Had any of these, let me know please how this affected sounds. Preferably HR models since they have 2 intakes

Drop in filters : $120
KN intake : $450-$500
JWT pop charger :$400

really not sure what to do and either option isnt cheap to just throw away and try something else

Thanks !!

 

You're not going to ruin the engine with an aftermarket intake. It may create a lean condition, but likely not enough to cause serious damage.

The "growl" you hear is the result of an open (or lack of an) air box and the air filter exposed. Drop-in filters won't change the sound.

Speaking of K&N drop-ins, they are an oiled filter which can be cleaned and reoiled and reused. That's the main appeal. However, the oil can gum up the MAF and cause issues. This is true for any K&N filter - even conical.

To minimize any potential damage, I'd recommend something with a dry conical filter. This will give you that noise and it being open.

There's much debate between the actual performance difference of a "warm" air intake and a cold air intake. A true cold air intake's air filter is going to be exposed to, you guessed it, cooler air. Likely mounted behind the bumper or in front of the radiator.

An aftermarket intake exposed to the hot temperature from the block or suffering from heat soak is not going to damage your engine.

IMO, cooler air is better, but you're not going for performance increase, so anything with a tube and a conical dry air filter will do the trick.

 

Thank you so much. So sounds like you're saying dont get the K&N intake because it's oiled. What about the JWT pop charger? Or the Injen short ram ? Almost $300 price difference between them. Will either give me the same deep rumbling sound when you accelerate like the K&N intake did on my old 2004 DE?

 

Don't use oiled filters, they are terrible for the engine unless you drive in a bubble. Injen has intakes with VERY good dry filters, that's what I recommend getting.
Edit: the BLUE injen filters are dry, not the red ones.

 

I do like the injen short ram intakes , but they're $700+ and the JWT Pop chargers are $400. Are the injens reallly $300+ better ? If you think they are ill get them instead, but its so much money

 

The JWT popcharger filter is essentially the same as K&N, it requires regular cleaning/oiling. Fun fact, AEM and K&N are the same company.

Stick to dry filters, this is solid advice for most modern cars that rely on MAF sensors.
Cheers!
-Icer

 

Dang. Well then Injen with blue filter it is. Model SP1988 I believe. Just have to figure out how to afford it.

Whats bugging me though is while searching this forum, and places like reddit etc, almost everyone seems to say the best intake for the HR 350z is the stock airbox with K&N drop in filters. I did see others say the same you are saying but how can so many people be so wrong about them ? It's so strange

Thanks for your help

 

UPDATE:

Pulled the trigger on the Injen short ram intake. $580 out the door. I hope it's worth it but injen seems to have rhe best reputation amongst aftermarket 350z parts so fingers crossed


I will update this thread with my impressions once I get and install it

 

K&N had a great marketing department. (Serious)

Honestly, almost every aftermarket CAI I've driven, owned or otherwise tested makes very little difference in terms of sound or performance. I do have, however, prejudiced opinions having had very positive experiences with Jim Wolf products (from CAI to cams to clutches) so I'm pre-disposed to PopChargers but I'm sure the Injen will be fine.