umm..

that sounds friggin awesome

 

Thanks for the sound clip and all the info so far. Does the AEM instructions come with pictures? I am a newbie and may want to try to install it myself!!! Do you think it's possible?

 

If you need help, I could help you install it. Thing like that are relatively easy to install.

 

Since an oil filter change requires that you drop the plastic shield off the bottom of the car -- I'll probably end up taking off and cleaning the intake filter every other oil filter change or every 14k miles (if it needs cleaning).

It's been raining a little here in LA and i've started thinking about buying a AEM bypass valve in case it ever rains hard. Not that I plan on driving through rivers, but after a few days of hard rain some of the puddles in my neighborhood get deep.

I'd guess the filter sits less than a foot from the ground, so it can be dangerous. I may just keep the valve in my passenger side storage box and put it on if it gets to that.

I don't want to really leave it on because I think its ugly and i've heard it takes away from the sound.

 

Yes, comes with B&W pictures. It's definitely a DIY job for most. If you're a newbie it'll just take a bit longer -- but its fun! You can't really go wrong (except for mounting the MAF backwards). Just take your time and study the pics in the instructions and the ones posted and use them for reference.

 

great zxsaint, so when my AEM arrives, I'll just cruise over to your place so you can help me throw the sucker on my car... you free next weekend??? j/k

 

You know, that one time I had a chance to drive your car I was really impressed with how good your AEM sounded. I'm seriously thinking of dumping the $65 K&N and having your friend install one for me. What I really would like is a dyno comparison.

 

Don't dump it! I'm sure someone here would give you at least $50 for it.

 

Here are the Dyno numbers. Impressive, but are they real?

http://www.aempower.com/pdf/results/...50Z%20Dyno.pdf

 

ehh that's funny. Those stock dyno numbers for the 350z are LOW! SO if someone dyno's their car and they see 232 or 240, they're gonna **** their pants. Unless, they did a pre-dyno. Idk, that's weird..

 

that's odd, I paid $40 for my K&N and I'm pretty sure no one wants my used filter... but if someone does, please correct me (but would have to wait until actually installed my AEM first).

so seriously zxsaint, how much would your friend charge for installing my AEM once it arrives... if you could, PM me the information and I'll give him a call. thanks.

 

I have looked at the dynos of the CAI on the AEM web site and I am a little confused. On some of the models they have two models the regular and the short intake. When you look at the comparison dynos of the AEM vs stock, the AEM always has more hp, regular AEM, and short intake AEM. OK. But when you look at the stock hp from the two different comparisons the stock hp changes. The stock hp is lower on the AEM short intake comparisons. Why is that? Marketing? Seems funny too me.

 

I do kinda wish I ran a dyno before the install.

IMHO, I don't really think any CAI adds much noticable HP -- rather, it keeps you from losing HP due to engine heat building up.

 

Just thought I would address a few questions from this post:
First, you clean the filter by removing it form the end of the pipe and following the instructions on the AEM filter cleaning kit.
Second, removing the strut bar helps out in installation. The strut bar is more of a cosmetic piece than an actual load bearing member anyway (look at the oversized holes that the mounting bolts go through).
I noticed from the pictures of the blue intake that the installer did not relocate the wiring harness as it says to do in the instructions, so the pipe probably rubs. Eventually this rubbing will eat away the powder coating and cause problems. I also notices that the rubber isolator under the pipe tab does not have the nut and washer installed on it...weird.
AEM did not try to make a "ram air" intake because the length of the pipe is very critical for tuning the intake. The "tuning" actually has a larger effect on power than the air flow (to a certain point).
The injen kit is a little different, they place the filter in front of the radiator, and use a very long silicone coupler (that only comes in bright red). It looks like they just determined where they wanted the filter, then built a system that connected the TB and the filter, ignoring optimum tuning length.
I recommend taking off the wheel for the AEM intake install, this provides excellent access to the area behind the front bumper where the filter is to be located. Positioning of the system is critical to avoid contact with the car.
The dynos on the aem website are from a Dynojet 248C, they are the average values of three consistent runs. Maybe they are low because here in california we use 91 octane. Dyno number can also vary based on what kind of dyno they were tested on. I know for a fact that a Mustang Dyno measures 10% lower than a Dynojet.
As far as baseline number changing, try dynoing your car (without modifying it) on three or four differnt days. I would be very surprised if the runs were perfectly consistent.
I know for a fact that the dyno charts on the website are real.
Good luck with your installs.
If anyone in the LA area needs help installing one, let me know at:
zqpm1056@yahoo.com.

 

Nice intake and sound clip. I had a AEM CAI on my GSR and it had that same great growl at the higher RPM. I was very pleased with the product. I am still thinking about putting one on my 350Z, but I'm not sure which route I'm going with the Engine, N/A or turbo. I'm waiting to see what companies come up with for the ECU. Cleaning every 14,000 miles is about right. That's the interval I used and that filter gets DIRTY! Your better off cleaning the filter in a warm bucket of dish soap, like Dove, then using the little spray pump bottle they give you in the K&N filter charger kit. Just pick up a spray bottle of the K&N filter oil.

 

So you really think they built the intake around where they wanted the air filter position? That's an interesting theory. What do you think optimum tuning length is? I take it you would say the AEM has bigger gains (if any at all) right? And if the Injen is too long, I would assume you claim that you lose hp maybe?
I'm just trying to get a handle on this. Any info would be appreciated.

 

I dont know the exact optimum tuning length for the 350Z. Extremely expensive equipment is required to measure and record the pulses through the intake system. By tuning the intake to these pulses you can actually have a pressure wave, that was created by the intake valve opening and reflected at the end of the pipe, help fill the cylinder with air.
You can also spend 5-6 hours at the dyno experimenting with different intake designs to see what gives the best power. But for these new cars you have to monitor the what the ECU is doing, sometimes they pull out timing when the MAF sees an increase in airflow. sometime you are working against the ECU.
The ECU "learns" and adapts to the current situations and corrects parameters as it sees necessary.
Some BMWs require that you buy an intake and a chip at the same time, or you wont see any power gains, for example.

 

Warranty Question
I am fortunate to live in SCal and near Stillen Motor Sports. I purchased an AEM CAI from Stillen several weeks ago and they installed it on the spot (excellent service and product knowledge). I asked the service tech if this would void the warranty and he stated that "IT WOULD NOT" and referred me to a web site that gave me my rights as a consumer for "add on's".
I just had a 4000 mile service at the dealer and they tell me that I have possibly voided my warranty by having the CAI installed!!!! I was blown away by this and consulted Stillen. They insist that I have rights as a consumer and that I should fight the dealer if they insist on voiding the warranty. Can anyone give me some advice here?

Do you have any concerns about your warranty and this installation?

The Stillen Catback Exhaust System is awesome...with the AEM CAI the sound definitely has more agressive.

 

I will not void the warranty. There was a famous case called the magnuson-moss case. Look it up on the internet. It states something like the dealer cannot say the warranty is voided unless they can prove that the aftermarket part causes problems.
There may be additional info on the SEMA website.
Just type in "magnuson moss act" on an internet search.
good luck, and fight them to the end!

 

Sign me up for a group buy..