I was looking at getting a plenum, but I have had trouble deciding. I like the Crawford V5 because it is made of metal and has better gains. I definately don't mind paying $25 for much better quality and gains, but I don't like having to buy another strut bar for $170 + shipping. The Kinetix V4 lets you keep the stock strut bar with a total saving of about $200(probably even more because I was gonna get the hi-flow cats + plenum package), but I don't like the plasitc and gains weren't as good as Crawford's. I wanted to ask the owner of either product about what they liked and disliked about the product and if you could feel a difference after install. Do you think the product was worth the cash you forked out?

 

Well, to be completely honest. Based on my sh!tty dyno numbers, NONE of the mods I have done have been worth the gains or loses in my case.

I would get the Kinetix because it looks better and is cheaper. Like you siad, you can retain your OEM strut bar. With the Crawford plenum, you have to send in your OEM one as a core.

There have been absolutely NO failures with the Kinetix V4 plenum and it has been out for about 6 months. I have driven the **** out of my car since the install and no signs of problems. I have been to the drag strip once and ran about 5 or 6 autox events. I have also hit 145 MPH several times.

As far as HP gains, I believe they are both about the same.

Zach

 

You also get to keep your stock plenum when buying a Kinetix V4 which is critical for potential factory warranty claims. No need to trade them in which is required by Crawford or else you will need to pay an additional $200 (I believe). They also carry a lifetime warranty. I also purchased the plenum & hi-flow cat package. Best BANG for the buck.

 

Keeping the stock plenum is not critical for warranty work. If something does go wrong and requires attention, and is a warrantable item, they would have to prove it was caused by or is related to the installation of the plenum.

My car has only been to the dealer twice in almost two years, and I certainly don't remove and replace the plenum for each visit. They know my car, and the visable mods I have done, and have not had a problem with them.

As you might have guessed, I have the Crawford. IMO, it's still the best bang for the buck out there.

Lou

 

I was wondering the same thing. I'm leaning towards the Kinetix. That Crawford plenum looks good too though. Who cut that valve cover in the pic? Can you use the valve cover w/ the Kinetics?

 

So far my choice is Kinetix. I was reading on their website that the plastic helps keep the temperature down and if there is a lifetime warrenty which is definately makes me feel 1000 times better about the duriblity of the material. People say the gains are the same, but if you look at the results the Kinetix had 8hp gain at peak. The Crawford Plenum had a 9hp gain at peak. That is a one horsepower difference. So the question is, am I willing to pay an extra $200 or more for one horsepower. No, so unless the Crawford Plenum owners can justify this, I am definately gonna say that Kinetix is a much better deal.

As for other plenums they are out of the question.
APS Plenum is geared to FI and for a NA application they expect gains of 5hp, requires another strut bar, and the plunum alone cost $799!!!!

Those are the only plenums I know about other than the new Kinetix, but I don't think that is in my budget.

 

I had the Kinetix V4 and it wasn't the most quality made plenum. It had fitment issues. I couldn't just drop it straight in. Also it rubbed on my strut bar. Just barely but when the engine flexes it makes a funny rubbing noise. I had to add washers under the strut bar to raise it up a bit. When taking off the plenum for any reason I felt as if the thing is so fragile its going to break. Also another complaint I had is the blow by (oil) that gets sucked back into the plenum. It makes the cork gasket fall apart. I sold the Kinetix to get a Crawford Plenum.

Kinetix had a good idea going with plastic to lower intake temps but the quality isn't all there. I tried the Kinetix and wasnt very satisfied thats why I sold it. It all depends on ur budget. But you get what you pay for. This is just my opinion, I'm letting you know what to expect. Good Luck.

 

Interesting, any other Kinetix V4 owners have this problems?

 

Thats the first ive heard of the v4 causing oil blow by.


Does anyone elses v4 rub against the strut and make a vibration noise?

 

the clearance between the strut bar and plenum is definately tight, but we have since in the past month given it an additional 1/16" of clearance, so we havent had too many issues with it recently.

It usually can be remedied by simply adjusting the strut bar.

As far as oil blow by, I doubt it is a cause of the plenum, as the factory plenum also has oil on the inside after use.

 

I didnt mean the casue of the blow by was the plenum's fault, I was just saying the cork gasket doesnt like it. It falls apart.

 

So if a 1/16" of clearance has been added, does that mean 1/16" is lossed inside of the plenum to accomodate this? Wont this affect the airflow? I know its just 1/16'" but everybit counts right?

This is just my opinion but I think the Kinetix plenum would be best if it wasn't made to accomodate the stock strut bar.

 

That's a great point you mentioned.

I own a G35 that does not come with a strut bar.

Ideally, I would want the most performance possible in my situation since I have no concerns about any clearance issues.

In addition, I don't know what underneath looks like but that groove for the strut bar looks as though it would hinder air flow.

 

I have Kinetix, it is ok. Up 2Hp lost 10 torque, smooth out the high end hp

 

YOU LOST TORQUE!!!!!!!! I rather have 10 lb/torque than 2 hp in my opinion. To me torque is more important than hp. Do you lose torque on the Crawford Plenum?

 

This has been discussed in several other threads regarding the "dip" in the plenum.

Basically we maximize the space under the strut bar by thinning out the section of material.

Total height gained over factory plenum directly under the strut bar is still 1/2"

 

will the jic strut bar git over the plenum?

 

no, the JIC bar does not fit our plenum

 

Those of you following this thread...

For better understanding of what the plenum is, and what is gained... check out Crawford's video that was released around the inception of the product.

CLICK HERE TO LAUNCH VIDEO

The front two runners located in the lower plenum are "choked" because the plenum has to slope downward, and under the stock strut bar in order to fit. Note the front runners sit directly BELOW, and slightly forward of the stock strut bar! The remarkable gains in power up top, and across the board are contributed by raising the front of the plenum... and keeping a continuously smooth chamber from front to rear, thus increasing total plenum volume.

This modification was tested... and proven by Crawford's on the flow bench. Then backed once again using Adam's (VandyZ) stock Z on the dynojet.

This in turn though does require the removal of the OEM Z strut bar... Which is replaceable by an available, and even stronger aftermarket piece offered by Crawfords.

For further explain of the plenum that pioneered the modification for the VQ powered FMs... reference our site.

http://www.crawfordz.com/plenum.htm

Thanks again to all the enthusiasts that have experienced not only traditional two decade old customer service... but also top performing parts!

 

Love my ver. 4 . However the oil issue did concern me. Since I drive the $hit out of my car, I didn't want all that oil to flow back so to keep everything nice and clean I just installed a Greddy catch can. All is fine now.

I did the washer trick for the STB and it worked out fine.