Cold Air Intake HP Debate - Is it worth it ?
 

Picked up my new 370z on the weekend. I'm waiting arrival of my Stillen Cat Back ( stock exhaust really does suck ) and contemplating ordering the G3 Cold Air Intake to bolt on as well. Been searching the forums but still I'm hesitating for a couple of reasons. First - Installation: not sure I like the idea of having to remove the front bumper to clean the filters. That just seems to be a PITA and I'm concerned over time the bumper "fit" will be compromised.

Second - and most important is, from what I've read there is no performance advantage until 5K RPM or more - and low end performance ( torque ) is compromised. I don't drive at 5000 RPM and have no intentions of running this car on a track - I do that on a two wheels...

Should I pass on this upgrade ?

I am wondering the same.

I had the Stillen CAI on my G-37 (exhaust too) - and noticed less low-rpm power. But she ran like a scalded cat at, ahem, highway speeds.

Picking up my 370Z NISMO later this afternoon... :)

If those are your concerns, then just order the Gen II CAI from Stillen. It has all the benefits of the Gen II in terms of style and sound, yet sits in the factory airbox location (new boxes) and is easy to service. HP Gains are less, but I don't race my car either... it's more for the look and sound under acceleration!

http://www.the370z.com/members/wheee...race-place.jpg

I thought it was worth it.. Lossing lowend, I still a good punch down low,, and HEEMM HW for the win. :)

K&N filter's & HPS Post-MAF hoses...negligible difference in gains from CAI, at half the cost and installs in no time.

http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...installed.html

The stock intake system actually has "cold air" built in. A more freely flowing intake pipe and filter are really all that is needed if you're after just performance. If you want a pretty engine bay and more sound then go with a CAI

lol, drop ins and maf hoses should not come near the gains made from the gen 3s. And with an exhaust, HFC, and the intake you should see more HP across the whole powerband... not just up top. Yes i understand diminishing returns happens as well.

Congratulations on your new purchase Hedly and welcome to the forum. There are two main groups in the forum: those who go for the CAI (Stillen Gen3 being the most popular CAI) and those who go for the Stock Catback with Performance Drop ins & Post MAF tubes. I personally belong to the second group.

The Stillen Gen3 CAI gives you a boost around 8hp-10hp (give or take), gains in power & sound will be most noticeable in higher RPMs range (don't know how often & how long you'll be driving at those RPMs during street driving). With the CAI, you'll lose low end torque and of course the cost, installation and warranty issues are to be considered in your final decision. Still, those who have the Gen3 love it.

The stock intake is pretty well designed and is actually a CAI. From changing the stock filters and replacing them with the K&N ones, I gained 3mpg within a few days, have better throttle and *feel* that the car is breathing better thus running smoother. With the addition of better Post MAF tubes, you should be able to get somewhere around 6hp, plus the advertised 1-2hp from the K&N filters. The combo above will give you gains very close to the ones from the CAI without loss of low end torque, no warranty issues and cost is a fraction of the CAI. This *to me* is a DUH WINNING situation :tup: Those who have this combo love it as well.

Check Out This Thread

I'm sorry but this is incorrect. Jordo! has dyno's showing 6 whp from just the drop-ins. Others have shown 10-12 whp from the combo. And the first breather mod always gains the most power. If yousee the Intake TV video, a stock 370z had a stillen G3 CAI, HFC, and CBE installed with an UpRev dyno tune. They reported the stillen G3 as only 6-7 whp, because it was installed last, and the exhaust system at 27 whp because it was installed first (and 10 whp from the tune). Stillen's site claims 18 whp from the G3 CAI, that is against a bone stock Z. I have seen dyno's of an otherwise stock Z with JUST a test pipe gaining 15-20 whp.

It's a matter of preference, but to say that the gains from the Stillen or any CAI are noticeably different from the drop-ins and HPS hoses is not correct.

OEM intakes are just fine.

this is true...i'm one of the ones that gain 10rwhp from the combo, my dyno are on here also...somewhere dynojet SAE corrected

Stokers are good but I have seen Dynos where the Gen 3's gave more than 18+.. Something like 23 WHP,, There was a thread on MyG37, Where he compared the R2C( Stockish intakes) and the Gen 3's.

Commentary based on review of numerous dynos here: http://www.the370z.com/985191-post25.html

And here, An these are numbers on a 7sd AT AWD sedan.

Stillen Gen3: 294whp/238tq
R2c: 272whp/226tq

My Stillen Gen3/R2c dyno comparisons - MyG37

Yeah sorry... you wont be convincing me that your drop ins and maf tubes equal the gen3 HP gains.. Just isnt happening. Call me ignorant, cause often i am!

wow all that thread proved was that r2c has better more useable power and g3 has higher peak numbers

under the curve > peak