OK, I come from a Honda/Acura background, on those cars, typically, the air goes

IN-
1. Airfilter, then
2. Throttle Body, then to
3. Intake valves

then OUT

1. Headers
2. cat
3. Exhaust

fairly simple

NOW that I have a Z, it seems that there keeps popping up NEW components I am NOT familiar with. Let me see if I got it right??

IN

1. Intake
2. Throttle body
3. Plenum
4. Intake valves

OUT

1. Headers (2 sets)
2. Y-pipe
3. Cat
4. cat back exhaust

Is that right????

 

cats before y pipe.
every car has a plenum/intake manifold. you just never got that far with the acura. not all cars have a 2 piece intake manifold like the Z or the mustang. usually referred to as upper and lower plenum. on this board people have been reffering to the upper plenum. both make the intake manifold. sort of like the exhaust manifold's counterpart this is what directs the air to the ports (valves) and the exhaust manifolds bring it out of the exhaust ports. headers replace exhaust manifolds and are called headers because the bolt up to the head(s) (duh).

 

Maybe I am trying to put too fine of an edge in it but, don't forget the air flow sensor which is incorporated into the "intake".

 

with a 2-piece intake manifold, couldn't someone develop a plate kit for the z?

 

You mean a spacer? There is one but remember that we have a strut brace and not much is going to fit under it.