This Air Intake ok?
 

Hey gang,

I'm wanting to go away from ground level air intake, I forget who makes it but it's a major brand...B-Line....just remembered...looks nice but it's too low to puddles which are very deep here where I drive sometimes. (don't want to explain everything here, but right now the filter is a little too exposed while car is in progress on some custom work I'll be doing over next few months...nothing crazy, but my life is right now...need a simple solution for the following questions: )

Wanting to go to a short ram intake, not a major mechanic guy, but I do know the intake tube and air filter have to be within certain specs for the MAF and for combustion to work well.

Will this eBay wonder actually work? Not looking to spend a lot of money, and I got the B-Line for a good price used. Love the powder coated metal look, but right now I just don't want to worry about water at all.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RAM-AIR-INTA...3D381564716250

All help appreciated, and yes yes...I know it's an eBay cheapie...so please let's not revert to attack mode as if I don't know that good parts sometimes cost good money....but some of that eBay stuff has been proven to work well, just a case of knowing which products are junk and which aren't.

Or...well and....any recommendations on the cheapest air intake other than stock? Stock is ugly...want engine bay to look better than Nissan does.

Thanks guys, truly,

Saved

Works ? Yes, looks better than stock is subjective!

Just because something looks cool doesn't mean it works. That intake is not better than the OEM intake with hours of R&D from NISSAN. You will be sucking up heat-soaked engine bay air and making less power.


But it seems you already made your decision.

No-one is going to be impressed by your engine bay with an ebay intake.

If someone says something about my dirty engine bay I just point at the turbo and they go "ohhh...ahhh"

EDIT: That being said...for the materials you get it's ok for the price

If you're just going for looks and you like the polished chrome look, then go for it; but you will have considerably more heat-soak because it's metal, as opposed to your OEM plastic one.. Also, make sure that you put a check mark in the 'returns accepted' box on ebay incase it doesn't fit.

Thanks guys, I may just use the stock intake again but I really would prefer to have the polished look or a powder coated look. My current intake is aluminum and I don't have any performance hit that I can detect. Car is very responsive and has nice bolt ons.

Saved

I recommend staying with stock air box(s). They are quite good, the only thing you will gain from a pop-charger is induction noise. (Ask me how I know lol).

Look into Z1 intakes, at least they have a heat shield. Proven, 3 hp loss every 10 degrees of hotter air. This will pull air roughl 170 degrees, an intake with heat shield, CAInd stock all pull air within 10 degrees of ambient temp.

Spending a few extra bucks is worth it , and you can always look at used stuff

Another option: http://www.administrationtuning.com/...DE-p/mafde.htm

Wrap stock intake tube in aluminium tape/foil?
Profit?

Thx for link but that thing is ten times more expensive...

Looking for an inexpensive solution , might just go back to stock.

Looks like a budget build - might want to look into a z-tube, and/or '06 air box with K&N drop-in. This would be much better than a short tube that sucks air in from the engine bay.

Thx, I have been looking at the Z tube actually, going to keep shopping and researching for the short term.

Terrasmak: Thanks, that's great info...I always read your replies in every thread I explore to learn. I'm probably just going to go back to stock...I have the K&N filter, just really preferred the look of the B-Line since it's powder coated metal...looks like quality. But if I could find a used Z tube I'd probably go that way.

Saved

I just sold my old Stillen lol. The Z1would be decent for the price, but you can probably rig something up with a piece of tubing, a filter, and a few couplers as well.

A polished Z-Tube would probably be your best bet. Wider piping for more potential airflow, but still may be susceptible to heat soak.

You could use reflective wrap on intake, or get the Motordyne aramid gasket. The gasket is really good - I can go for a drive, pop the hood, and the upper plenum is cool to the touch. It does its job extremely well. (it will heat soak at idle, or after driving if the hood is down)

Does the B-Line intake for the Z heat soak? Do all metal intakes heat soak?

Wondering if I'll see a hp bump going back to stock. When I put the B-Line on I did other mods so I don't know what gave me what other than things are definitely better with a plenum spacer. (Motordyne 5/16)

Saved

Say no to hot air intakes! lol

Get a cheap eBay intake if you want, fitment wont be perfect, but make sure the filter sits inside the bumper.

First you need to know the difference between investing hot air and heat soak.