Intake On The Cheap
 

I guess "cheap" is all relative, but I decided to go with K&N drop-in filters and Cobb post-MAF tubes at a total cost of right around $200.

Aren't those K&N filters sexy?

http://www.the370z.com/members/lunaz...op-filters.jpg


I haven't dynoed and I don't have any means of measuring IAT, so i don't have any hard data, but the intake note sounds a little better than before and it seems a little more peppy, like it wants to get to redline sooner.
I might consider a tune after i get the exhaust on tomorrow.

man seems like you are getting new parts on a daily basis! what does the whole setup look like? Not sure I want to shell out $450 for a CAI myself.

Probably the most effective option for intakes.

Nice intake tubes.

Looks nice. I was thinking of doing the same thing. Where did you get the Cobb MAF tubes from?

What did you use to paint your engine cover? I like it :tup:

He has a nismo the engine cover comes like that stock.

No he doesn't have a nismo. Checkout his pics. And also doesn't the nismo has a different strutbar?

Cobb tubes courtesy of Forged.
DIY Nismo-look engine cover courtesy of simota1's DIY's.

Do you have dyno for the tubes and K&N? Any noticable power gains? I have the drop Ins but Im a little skeptical about the tubes.

Really liking the black!

Same here. If only I could get some hard proof that these MAF tubes are worth it

They're only $125. It's not like you haven't spent that or more on other cosmetic enhancements to your car ;)

I don't have any before or after dyno sheets. In fact, I have NO dyno sheets.
In theory, these have to be an improvement:
- Smoother flowing silicone tubes vs. the accordion-style OEM rubber hoses
- Heat resistant silicone vs. OEM rubber
- They look nice vs. OEM accordion-style tubes
- Retain the factory airboxes which already get cool air vs. any short ram system that draws hot air from engine compartment
- Quick install vs. lengthy install
- Retain OEM MAF housing vs. changing diameter of MAF housing and creating lean condition

Is this setup a huge HP gain? Of course not.
But for about $200, you can improve the airflow, make the engine bay look nice and get a couple of HP at the top end.
The thing I noticed most is that throttle response is much smoother and the car is much happier to rev all the way to redline.

Someone already dyno'ed their Z with K&N Filters and got a little gain through out the power band. The tubes will also help because it's smooth and not all wrinkly like the OEM one.

I ran these a while back wth HKS drop ins and noticed it was a bit more willing and smoother as expected.
To me it was 200 bucks v 400 + for a CAI, made sense coupled with keeping the stock MAF I knew exactly where my fuel was.



Then I made these.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/IMG_4400.jpg

LunaZ where did you order the smooth Cobb tubes? They seem easy enough to swap with the stock ridged tubes yea?

Actually no I haven't bought any cosmetic enhancements for my car. I wanna work on the engine a little bit before I do that. Im just careful with my money. Im not broke or anything or hard up for cash, but I am someone who like my money well spent. The only reason why im asking is because Im debating whether or not to just buy the cobb tubes or just keep the money in the bank and buy some stillen g3's later on a few months from now.

About 20 minutes to remove the old tubes and put the new ones on.
I got 'em from Forged, a forum sponsor.

Illuminated kick plates and window tint sound like cosmetic enhancements to me.
Easy, cowboy... you don't have to defend or justify your financial position to me. If a Stillen intake is what you really want, then I'd skip the Cobb tubes and continue with your plan to put money away to reach your goal. In the end, you'll be happier and more appreciative of the big prize rather than an intake on the cheap.

For me, going this route was a matter of not wanting to pull the nose off the car or do something that, in conjunction with my exhaust, was gonna necessitate a trip to the dyno and a tuning.

The Car came with kickplates and tint from the dealer. But I see where your comming from.

OP,
Nice setup. I'm looking to do this on my car for now until they come up with the better solution for the Nismo's. Do you have to remove the strut bar to install the tubes? Did you re-use your stock clamps?
Thx.

I worked around the strut bar and used the original hose clamps.
A little WD-40 and a spoon will help shoehorn the last bit of the tube around the throttle body.

So that was the trick you used!? I tried to avoid taking off the strut bar when I installed the tubes 2 nights ago and got so frustrated I finally said screw it and took the bar off. Haha!

Neat trick! thanks:tiphat:

Anybody know where I can pick up a set of the black tubes these days?

Rallysportdirect.com ask for Kirill and tell him Keith passed the recommend.

Thanks for the contact, unfortunately looks like all thats left is blue... Somebodys gotta have 1 set left lying around somewhere!

Oh man, soz ,he had black last week ;-(

balls... Might have to wait for somebody to sell em to me used

you can get these directly from Cobb Tuning, black or blue

CobbTuning.com - Post MAF Hose

Wish that were the case man, but it appears they have stopped producing the black version for whatever reason, and no vendors have them left in stock. My car theme is going to be blackout, wanted to keep it that way in the engine bay so I'm trying not to compromise that with blue tubes.

In another thread people have confirmed that the black post-MAF tubes for the G37 are exactly the same and to go ahead and just order those. Will be calling COBB tomorrow.

I would be interested to hear what you find out. I was going to order the black ones this week.

No go yet again... Cobb is only making blue for the G37 now also and have no black left.

Nice good luck

No luck unfortunately, no more black for the G either. I posted in the classifieds to see if somebody would sell me theirs or even swap with me if I purchased the blue set.

.02cents...

Watch the fitment, make sure they overlap well and have a good contact area around the clamps.

My buddy used to have thos on his G37. They worked good, but every now and then, if he got on the engine really hard over rough surfaces they would work themsevles loose. They are supper slick and that causes slipping.
Then start sucking air from the seperated area.

I would think on a track car, they would be ok. But not on a street car, especially if you get that motor a rockin...

They look great though!

FYI, I just got back from Cobb Tuning and they just told me that they won't be producing anymore parts for the 370Z.

so they couldn't improve much from factory... is wat they're saying.

It almost looks like you modded a second set of Cobb's. Did you do any additional mounting?

What was your total cost as pictured?

Anyone have more info as to why Cobb stopped producing these?

Sorry, missed this...

COBB post MAF's about 120 ish, clamps I had, spare set of air boxes hacked for MAF tubes - free from member on forum.
2 3in to 2.75in silicon elbows, 25 bucks, 2X3inlet filters - 20 bucks, ones in pics were AEM dryflow (35 each)
Two brackets made from scrap metal in garage. Job done
Sold on here to another forum member who loved em... **** 500 dollar CAI's