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Air filter choices... Help!


anglais49

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Decision time, and as ever I need help from people with more of a clue than me...

 

2003 Fairlady

 

Now has:

GReddy air filter - no idea which one, hopefully there's one standard kind! (image attached, hopefully)

Standard JDM Fujitsubo exhaust system

No up rev, no plenum spacer

 

post-19226-0-14356700-1392208547_thumb.jpg

 

 

Plan to very soon get:

Cobra non-resonated, de-cat exhaust full system

Uprev + plenum spacer

 

...so a filter decision needs to be made asap. The primary motivation for all the mods is.... well, to be honest it's just for the sake of it. I was thinking more about getting a better sound out of it when I started. I'm quite happy to have performance gains too, I just don't want to blow loads of money chasing another 50bhp that won't change my life.

 

 

Despite the best attempts of Mitz/CS to explain it to me, I still don't really know what I'm doing... The advice in this thread was quite useful http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/80394-air-filter/, suggesting taking off the aftermarket filter, replacing with standard box and buying a better filter. Same thing Mitz said....

 

But I have more questions:

 

1) What is this GReddy filter? Is this cold air intake? I presume it must be since (cold) air must just be coming through the grill and into the filter? Why would I want to take off this one and put a standard box back on? Why is that better? Why did a previous owner put this filter on in the first place if it isn't better than just dropping a better filter into the standard box?

 

2) What difference is my current GReddy filter making to the noise over a standard box? Might sound like a dumb question, but I haven't heard it with standard, so I can't compare.

 

3) Let's say I put the standard box back on, it looks like I can choose between:

K&N - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/K-N-Air-Filter-For-Nissan-350Z-2003-3-5-33-2031-2-/400381234298

Pipercross - http://cougarstore.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_17&products_id=53

Is there any difference?

 

I'm about to spend £800 on the exhaust and another £600 or whatever on Uprev & plenum spacer, so skimping on an air filter for the sake of £40 is pointless when I'm already spending £1400. I don't mind spending more if it's worth it. But what's worth it? What do I get for my money?...

 

4) Loads more of these mushroom looking filters from £150-450:

http://www.tarmacsportz.co.uk/products.aspx?CategoryId=dd876c45-6d4a-41df-bc25-7c19903fe703

http://cougarstore.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_17&products_id=55

Why do they cost more yet look similar to the filter I'm advised to take off mine and replace with a £40 filter. So confused.

 

5) I have a mate with a 350Z who has blown a lot more money getting loads done on his, including cams and some sort of air intake that takes it from the down near the ground rather than up at the front. I can't find any examples of this but assume it's much more expensive. Worth it?

 

 

 

Someone with a clue please save me from myself! I don't like having options :surrender:

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But I have more questions:

 

1) What is this GReddy filter? Mushroom foam type Is this cold air intake? Yes I presume it must be since (cold) air must just be coming through the grill and into the filter? Why would I want to take off this one and put a standard box back on? If you're worried about possible heat soak from the engine or wish to gain an extra few horse power Why is that better? Less chance of heat soak Why did a previous owner put this filter on in the first place if it isn't better than just dropping a better filter into the standard box? Was maybe after more induction noise, wanted it to look nicer under the bonnet or believed hype that he'd gain some extra HP.

 

2) What difference is my current GReddy filter making to the noise over a standard box? Standard box would be quieter as it's enclosed Might sound like a dumb question, but I haven't heard it with standard, so I can't compare.

 

3) Let's say I put the standard box back on, it looks like I can choose between:

K&N - http://www.ebay.co.u...2-/400381234298

Pipercross - http://cougarstore.c...&products_id=53

Is there any difference? K&N is an oiled paper filter ~ Pipercross a dry paper filter

 

I'm about to spend £800 on the exhaust and another £600 or whatever on Uprev & plenum spacer, so skimping on an air filter for the sake of £40 is pointless when I'm already spending £1400. I don't mind spending more if it's worth it. But what's worth it? What do I get for my money?... Different looks, slightly varying performance, different noises.

 

4) Loads more of these mushroom looking filters from £150-450:

http://www.tarmacspo...25-7c19903fe703

http://cougarstore.c...&products_id=55

Why do they cost more yet look similar to the filter I'm advised to take off mine and replace with a £40 filter. So confused.

 

5) I have a mate with a 350Z who has blown a lot more money getting loads done on his, including cams and some sort of air intake that takes it from the down near the ground rather than up at the front. I can't find any examples of this but assume it's much more expensive. Worth it? Probably not especially if he goes through deep water or lot's of spray which may ingress into the engine.

 

 

Someone with a clue please save me from myself! I don't like having options :surrender:

Tried to answer as many questions as I could for you above in red lettering (all imo).

 

It's definitely an interesting topic air filters as there are a lot of options available with manufacturers making all sorts of claims.

 

I wanted more induction noise on my 350Z but without risking heat soak from the hot engine so I have tried to stay close to the standard air box characteristics of being enclosed. I went for a Stillen air induction kit which uses a K&N cone filter completely surrounded (more or less) by a polyurethene heat shield. It has a velocity stack (basically a smooth metal ring with curved edges) that uses the venturi effect to accelerate air intake speeds which Stillen claims increases power and throttle response throughout the entire rpm range.

 

Now whether this is better than the standard air box with a K&N panel filter is a bit of a moot point as either way there will only be a few horse power difference between the two imo which imo I would never notice either way. ;)

 

If you're happy with the sound from your induction kit then I'd just spend some money on a decent new cone filter to replace your old one and leave it at that. :thumbs:

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  • 1 month later...

The 2006 had a velocity stack as standard in the tweaked airbox, the parts can be bought as a kit from a member of this forum for the princely sum of approx £35. These when fitted with a plennum spacer and tuned and uned with Up-Rev have given slight hp raises over the standard airbox and pod filters which pretty much just give you a bit of induction noise. As GMBallistic mentions, the previous problem with pod filters is that they suffer from heat soak, thus losing a little power. Bizarre as it may seem, a K&N, '06 airbox or '03 to '05 fitted wth the velocity stack kit is the best way for you to go.

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Decision time, and as ever I need help from people with more of a clue than me...

 

2003 Fairlady

 

Now has:

GReddy air filter - no idea which one, hopefully there's one standard kind! (image attached, hopefully)

Standard JDM Fujitsubo exhaust system

No up rev, no plenum spacer

 

post-19226-0-14356700-1392208547_thumb.jpg

 

 

Plan to very soon get:

Cobra non-resonated, de-cat exhaust full system

Uprev + plenum spacer

 

...so a filter decision needs to be made asap. The primary motivation for all the mods is.... well, to be honest it's just for the sake of it. I was thinking more about getting a better sound out of it when I started. I'm quite happy to have performance gains too, I just don't want to blow loads of money chasing another 50bhp that won't change my life.

 

 

Despite the best attempts of Mitz/CS to explain it to me, I still don't really know what I'm doing... The advice in this thread was quite useful http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/80394-air-filter/, suggesting taking off the aftermarket filter, replacing with standard box and buying a better filter. Same thing Mitz said....

 

But I have more questions:

 

1) What is this GReddy filter? Is this cold air intake? I presume it must be since (cold) air must just be coming through the grill and into the filter? Why would I want to take off this one and put a standard box back on? Why is that better? Why did a previous owner put this filter on in the first place if it isn't better than just dropping a better filter into the standard box?

 

2) What difference is my current GReddy filter making to the noise over a standard box? Might sound like a dumb question, but I haven't heard it with standard, so I can't compare.

 

3) Let's say I put the standard box back on, it looks like I can choose between:

K&N - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/K-N-Air-Filter-For-Nissan-350Z-2003-3-5-33-2031-2-/400381234298

Pipercross - http://cougarstore.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_17&products_id=53

Is there any difference?

 

I'm about to spend £800 on the exhaust and another £600 or whatever on Uprev & plenum spacer, so skimping on an air filter for the sake of £40 is pointless when I'm already spending £1400. I don't mind spending more if it's worth it. But what's worth it? What do I get for my money?...

 

4) Loads more of these mushroom looking filters from £150-450:

http://www.tarmacsportz.co.uk/products.aspx?CategoryId=dd876c45-6d4a-41df-bc25-7c19903fe703

http://cougarstore.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_17&products_id=55

Why do they cost more yet look similar to the filter I'm advised to take off mine and replace with a £40 filter. So confused.

 

5) I have a mate with a 350Z who has blown a lot more money getting loads done on his, including cams and some sort of air intake that takes it from the down near the ground rather than up at the front. I can't find any examples of this but assume it's much more expensive. Worth it?

 

 

 

Someone with a clue please save me from myself! I don't like having options :surrender:

 

Is that you, chromatic ???

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