Just purchased a 2003 Touring with 38,000 miles. Been wanting a Z car since I first saw a 1990 300ZX at a car show (yes I'm that old). From what I've read in this forum, a 2006+ stock intake with an aftermarket filter seems to be the best intake system. My question is has anyone swapped out a 2003 intake for a 2006+ one? If so, is it a simple unbolt old intake and bolt new one in? Don't know if they have the same bolt pattern and same profile. Thanks.

 

Were all old AJ …

Welcome to the forum

I invite you to read through multiple posts and/or keep up-to-date on threads and you'll soon realize that no bolt-ons are going to make much impact without a tune.

with that being said...figure out what you want to do with your car from horsepower standpoint

full bolt-ons and a tune will yield 280hp to 300hp (at the absolute maximum) and cost between $2000 and $3000

if you strap a turbo or supercharger you will see 350hp to 400hp (reliably) for the $5k to $8k realm.

It goes up from there the big HP number guys are making in the 800 to 1200hp range and are probably $50k to $60k in parts/work/tuning/etc.

figure out which bucket you want to be in and make a game-plan for your car.

A good place to start is to find someone who has built a car that you want to emulate … repeat all the good stuff they did and none of the bad stuff.

 

Bealljk, thanks for the response. Not looking to do a lot, just some modifications my son and I can do. Don't want to shorten the life of the car too much. Probably nothing beyond a plenum spacer, intake and exhaust. Being Nissan modified their intake in 2006, I assume it does work better or they wouldn't have spent the money to do it. Was just wondering if anyone out there had exchanged them. If it's a different bolt pattern, I wouldn't be able to do it. Also, per your note, did plan on having it tuned after the modifications. Thanks.

 

They modified the plenum to increase airflow at redline for an increase/bump in horsepower for the mid-generation bump … obviously did a twin TB design for the HR. All fine and good but it cost the rev-up mid-range torque. Some people will actually put a DE lower on their rev-up motor to get the torque back.

So an intake($100), plenum spacer($200), motordyne MREV lower plenum($500), an exhaust($1000) and if you wanted to go one step further look into the NWP throttle body upgrade($300) add an uprev tune($600) and your looking at 280hp. If you wanted to go one step ballsy-er you could do a cam-shaft upgrade but that's digging into the engine and will add a fair amount of cost.

 

To answer the original question, straight bolt on, you will feel not difference tho. My favorite I've tried out of 4-5 I've had is the stillen. If you want cheap parts I have some I can sell. Full plenum with spacer, Z1 intake and should have Z1 HFC to sell as well lol.

 

Honestly, you are looking at a swap that will yield very little difference, if any, and IMO is simply not worth it. As mentioned, you will be better off going with a plenum spacer and TB upgrade with a tune.

 

I mean, the air box is the most efficient but it requires something like the S1 and S2 intakes to get anything out of it. That setup uses a bigger tube tho, and if you go bigger you might at well get the admin or furooki

 

Thanks all for the input. Much appreciated.