Best Short RAM/Cold Air Intake Filter System

[Primer55]

:helpWhich Short RAM is the best? AEM? Injen? K&N? just to name a few. How much of a horsepower increase should I expect with a Short RAM intake? I have just started shopping around (I got my 240sx last week).

[Tino]

I'm not sure if search would cover this or not... I think we talked about it before havent we... err maybe not, wait yea we did? didn't we?

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

yep we did. the almighty self-cloaking search but night work.....if you can find it.

[UncleBen]

i don't think there is an almighty "best" intake out there but most will say go w/ Injen. i have worked w/ an AEM intake and i didn't like it. instructions suck (didn't really use them much anyway) and it didn't line up well. My injen was perfect. it sounds amazing, and you can feel a difference. not sure about HP gains but don't expect huge numbers. 5 maybe

[DELUCCA21]

To me Injen is the best. Is the most expensive too but if you want quality you have to pay the price.

[Primer55]

Can I hook timing chips up and have the short RAM intake???

PS: I already have a K&N Air Filter, it it worth it to switch to the short RAM??

[Primer55]

Sorry I am such a "noob" to this, but I have never done these thing to a car before.

That said, which Intake system will give me the most horsepower increase? and which is better Short RAM or a Cold Air Intake? And are AEMs and Injens the only brands that make intake systems for 240sx's?:thinker

[UncleBen]

1) the biggest HP increase u are gonna see isn't which brand you buy its, well, nothing u can do. yea, you can put an intake and it will give you more power, but if you buy AEM or Injen, there probably isn't gonna be any difference in the two.2) CAI is better, out of either a CAI or just short ram, just because colder air is better. its denser. the cooler air you can get up into the throttle body, the better power you get. 3) those aren't the only intakes. Hotshot makes a short ram for our cars. i've heard its pretty good. Any more questions? : )

[Primer55]

Yeah, What about the timing chip I have already installed, will it negatively effect my air intake (i.e since it already makes the engine think its cold air)? and how much of a horsepower increase can I expect with the Injen Cold Air Intake? The AEM Short RAM Intake?

PS: I Already have a K&N Air Filter in my car (in the stock port), is it worth it to get the CAI (I assume so, but its worth asking since the intake is 292.60)

PPS: Oh and what about the stock muffler, will I want to change it out if I put in the CAI?

[UncleBen]

i don't know what kinda timing chip thing you are talkin about. but if it is doin what you say, i don't see what difference gettin a CAI would be. the horsepower gain would be as i said, maybe 5. and yes, if you get an exhaust w/ the intake it would help. just a muffler by itself i don't think does jak. just makes your car loud.

[UncleBen]

ok, granted if you get a high-flow muffler it will help some. OEM mufflers are restrictive...

[Primer55]

Just out of curiosity? How do I attach a Image to my signature like you have, and this timing chip doesn't really do exactly what I said, it really just advances the timing of the firing of the pistons to wait just a few fractions of a second longer to gain more horsepower. The Injen CAI system actually gives you 25hp increase at 4500 rpm (the 5hp your talking about is average gain through the whole spectrum they test it: 0rpm - 8500rpm/9000rpm)

[240SXer]

You'd be at rev limitor well before 8,500-9,000. I don't know about you guys, but mine bounces at around 6,800rpm. 25hp is a bit much, i'd say maybe 13 max. Not even the notorious import tuner came up with a number that big.

[MaineExport]

and this timing chip doesn't really do exactly what I said, it really just advances the timing of the firing of the pistons to wait just a few fractions of a second longer to gain more horsepower. The Injen CAI system actually gives you 25hp increase at 4500 rpm (the 5hp your talking about is average gain through the whole spectrum they test it: 0rpm - 8500rpm/9000rpm)

NOWHERE NEAR 25 hp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whoever sold you that line is full of it!!!! The timing "chip" you speak of is nothing more than a 3.3K ohm resistor. There is a thread in the tech secton regarding the "Free (almost) timing...." It does nothing noticable... and it will not effect your car even with the intake. 5hp is a generous increase at peak... 25hp is a total load of crap... I assure you. Even with intake/header/exhaust you will be VERY lucky to see a net gain of 25hp.... VERY lucky. Short ram and CAI both have advantages. CAI gives you more dense air, short ram reduces the amount of air volume being sucked through the tube. The CAI gives you twice the volume to pull into the TB, making it a little harder for it to breathe. It is hard to say which will net the biggest increase... most likely a short ram with a cold air duct... or hood scoop would be the best of both worlds.

[Primer55]

Bull****, I have seen the Horsepower specs (gotten from my friendly neighborhood nissan dealer) that show the Injen CAI w/ Filter gives a 25hp increase at 5500 rpm. Now it doesn't matter what your 240sx maxes at, they test the engine from 0rpm to 8500rpm/9000rpm, and its horsepower increase peak was at 5500 rpm (5hp was the average increase of the set interval: 0rpm-8500/9000rpm).

2) Maineimport: What do you think the resistor does, it slows the circut in the car's computer to allow mere fractions of a second longer (were talking 1/10000ths of a second, maybe less) to allow more fuel and horsepower into the piston chamber (at least that is what it should if you look at where you hook it up). I called it a "chip" simply because I have no better word for it, and that is what it looks like.

PS:I will try and attach the readout spec I got from the nissan dealer (I have a friend in the service dept who has a car like mine (1996 240sx SE) he has been doing things to, he's helped me out a little with this). He ran a total horsepower readout on his car w/ stock filter, w/ Short RAM, and w/ CAI yesterday to help me out (I wanted to know which is better) and If I can scan it in and attach it I will show you.

[MaineExport]

Bull****, I have seen the Horsepower specs (gotten from my friendly neighborhood nissan dealer) that show the Injen CAI w/ Filter gives a 25hp increase at 5500 rpm. Now it doesn't matter what your 240sx maxes at, they test the engine from 0rpm to 8500rpm/9000rpm, and its horsepower increase peak was at 5500 rpm (5hp was the average increase of the set interval: 0rpm-8500/9000rpm).

2) Maineimport: What do you think the resistor does, it slows the circut in the car's computer to allow mere fractions of a second longer (were talking 1/10000ths of a second, maybe less) to allow more fuel and horsepower into the piston chamber (at least that is what it should if you look at where you hook it up). I called it a "chip" simply because I have no better word for it, and that is what it looks like.

PS:I will try and attach the readout spec I got from the nissan dealer (I have a friend in the service dept who has a car like mine (1996 240sx SE) he has been doing things to, he's helped me out a little with this). He ran a total horsepower readout on his car w/ stock filter, w/ Short RAM, and w/ CAI yesterday to help me out (I wanted to know which is better) and If I can scan it in and attach it I will show you.

I'm not about to start a flame war here... but if you want to believe you got 25 HP out of an intake, you go right ahead, I won't stop you. By the way, if Injen could get a 25 hp gain from their CAI ... THEY WOULD ADVERTISE IT AS A 25 HP GAIN!!!!! Do you really think that they would only say, "upto 5hp gain" when they could get away with saying 25.... hmmmm I think not. I'm curious why your local Nissan dealer allowed your engine to be revved 2500rpm past redline, that was really nice for them to do that to YOUR car! As for the resistor, you are wrong again, it doesn't slow down the signal. Any knowledge of electronics would clear that right up for you. It sends a constant signal of 3.3k ohms of resistance to your ECU... as opposed to the variable resistance provided by the IAT. And for the record... as was discussed in a previous thread, the IAT is for diagnostic purposes only, and doesn't directly effect the ECU or engine systems.

I promise you, if your local dealer told you that you gained 25 hp... they are wrong, and they are misleading you. The ECU timing resistor is pretty much useless... I have it, I've used it with and without... and it makes NO noticable difference. I'm honestly not trying to ***** back and forth with you, but the HP thing is just way off. Did the dealer dyno the car before and after the install? Something is wrong with those figures.... totally wrong.

[UncleBen]

NO ONE CAN GET 25 HORSEPOWER FROM AN INTAKE. its impossible, you can not do it. i have the Injen CAI and i promise you i am not 25 horsepower up from what i was b4 the intake went on. and if they revved your car 2500 rpm's past redline, it woulda blown up. and if it didn't, SERIOUS SERIOUS damage was done. our tachs don't even go up to 9k RPM's so how do you know thats how far up it went?

[MaineExport]

NO ONE CAN GET 25 HORSEPOWER FROM AN INTAKE. its impossible, you can not do it. i have the Injen CAI and i promise you i am not 25 horsepower up from what i was b4 the intake went on. and if they revved your car 2500 rpm's past redline, it woulda blown up. and if it didn't, SERIOUS SERIOUS damage was done. our tachs don't even go up to 9k RPM's so how do you know thats how far up it went?

Finally, another voice of reason. BTW I have four more of those "chips" in my drawer if anybody wants one... they're free!

[UncleBen]

if it helps send it over here, if it does jak shiznit, screw it

[APEXi240]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA 25hp, are you sure this kid doesn't own a Civic? Those sound like Honda gains to me, hahaha.

Maybe if he put an intake on and decided to squeeze a 35 shot, then he'd make 25 more hp.

Dealers by me don't have horsepower dynos. There is no way to dyno the car up to 9k. You'd have to remove the ECU, and do god-knows what else. Then once you get to 9k your car will make a lot of noise, and you will be graced with many bent valves, among other possible things.

There is no huge benifit in getting an intake. If you have a K&N just chop the bottom of your airbox off and enjoy.

[MaineExport]

There is no huge benifit in getting an intake. If you have a K&N just chop the bottom of your airbox off and enjoy.

No huge gain... but the more mods you do, the more useful it becomes.

[Zebrahead]

25 horsepower? That's weak. My Injen gave me 31 to the wheels, dyno'd. But even worse than the stickers. I've got three APC stickers (on on the back, and on each door), a MAZDASPEED banner on my windshield, and a few assorted stickers on my doors. After than, my car wieghed 300 lbs less, and I gained like 78HP on the dyno. My car now runs mid 13s.

Who needs a turbo, I got stickers! OOOH, and one of those fake BOVs. Added about 12hp.

Nick.

[UncleBen]

don't forget, i have a front mount cold air intake, which is better than an FMIC w/ turbo. it gave me like 100 dynoed HP cause the air is SUPER COLD!!

[Bbill528]

I have a mini-freezer in the front of my car, hooked it right up to the battery and i drilled a big hole through it and put an intake in there, the air is sooooooo cold its ridiculous. I'd say it probably doubled my horsepower.

[APEXi240]

HAHAHAHA.

Yes the more mods you have the bigger benefit it is...but in my case all I have is the filter and exhaust, and I'm not doing anything else, just savin for a swap, so a real intake isn't beneficial, in my case.

[MaineExport]

Come on guys, don't pick on Primer55 too hard, he was just given false information, and I tried to correct him... maybe a little rude, but sorry. His mistake was to flame back, instead of admitting his sources might have been wrong. And, hopefully next time you won't be such a **** when you respond.... sorry, no hard feelings.

[UncleBen]

yea, sorry about the idiots that gave you that whack info.

[Primer55]

Yeah that was My bad, I misread the chart I got. The test only goes upto 6500/7000rpm, I misread the charts graph. As far as the chip thing goes, you may not notice a difference, but I do. I have noticed an increase of about .2 seconds in my 0-60 time, but thats it, and that was worth $1.29 to me.

2) Like I have said in the past three posts 5hp is AVERAGE increase over the designated interval of 0rpm-6500/7000rpm (My bad with the 8500/9000rpm). I will attach a similar readout that I got from my friend at the nissan dealer that shows a 14hp increase with the Cold Air Intake vs. The Short RAM Intake.

[Primer55]

Hey 95silviase. Where did you get that 300ZX Fuel Filter? Can I install it myself, or is it something I would want professionally installed.

[MaineExport]

Yeah that was My bad, I misread the chart I got. The test only goes upto 6500/7000rpm, I misread the charts graph. As far as the chip thing goes, you may not notice a difference, but I do. I have noticed an increase of about .2 seconds in my 0-60 time, but thats it, and that was worth $1.29 to me.

2) Like I have said in the past three posts 5hp is AVERAGE increase over the designated interval of 0rpm-6500/7000rpm (My bad with the 8500/9000rpm). I will attach a similar readout that I got from my friend at the nissan dealer that shows a 14hp increase with the Cold Air Intake vs. The Short RAM Intake.

I don't know what is wrong with that chart... it shows a 13hp increase with the CAI extension.... and that is totally bogus... I would chaulk that up to some kind of error in the computer or dyno machine... or somebody giving you a made up chart. YOU WILL NOT GET THAT MUCH HP INCREASE WITH AN INTAKE........ EVER!!!! A V8 won't even see that kind of increase... let alone our tiny little 4 bangers.

145hp to the wheels with a CAI only? It's just not right.