CAI and Strut Bar installed with pics!

[mvalpreda]

Installed my CAI and strut tower bar this weekend. The engine is the same volume at low RPMs, but when you romp on it....she wakes up! Much louder and more responsive. I feel more low end torque. I just topped off my tank to see if the MPG is any better. I usually get about 310 miles from a tank.

The strut tower bar makes the car handle exponentially better. It's flat and sticks to the ground. I'll replace the rims when I need tires and I'm sure it will be even better.

Took about 90 minutes for the CAI and about 8 minutes for the strut bar.

Enjoy the pics.

[Clipsed]

looks good, but 90 minutes to install a CAI!!!! WOW!

[mvalpreda]

There was a lot of parts to take out. That and for that one, you need to take off the driver's side front wheel to get at the inside of the fender. My jack was a little too tall to get under my car very well.

That and I was having fits figuring out how to get the second piece to fit in the fender opening as well. It's a bit of work. Prolly only take me an hour if I was to do it again.

[Clipsed]

I see then, wow that is a long time though even an hour, no biggie though! looks good!

[weems84]

just ordered the same thing from versaspeed and suppose to get it tommorow. I was thinking about 45mins to do both. I'm gonna attempt to put a bypass filter where the connecting coupler is. If it works i'll post some pics. I have an old bypass that is laying around that i've cleaned up.

[Jemdawg]

An hour isn't too long at all unless you want to speed through it and beat a record of some sort. Maybe if it took 2+ hours I'd say that's long.

[blackversaatl]

Your AEM CAI looks good! 90 minutes is not long at all. That's BLOWS by when you're doing mods to your car. Hey everyone, I tried to install a custom CAI for the Versa. It won't work because of the MAF Sensor being the size of a Smart Card Disk for your computer LOL.

I didn't realize that until after removing all the stock parts and virtually having the custom CAI installed. Plus, by the time I would have bought ALL the parts I needed to make the CAI fit, I would have been about 50 dollars or less short of the price of the AEM or Stillen.

Just still with the AEM or Stillen one. It's much easier.

[eduenrique]

I was reading that to install a strut bar you need to raise your car at least in front to help on the pre tension adjustment. Is this true?

how can you set the pre tension adjustment?

[justmerging]

On a real (well designed such as the DC sports piece) Strut tower bar there is no adjustment. The only adjustments should be in actually alignment specs which has nothing to do with strut bars (except for maybe caster and camber adjustments which should only be done at the top if there is no other way)

[mvalpreda]

The car feels identical with the strut bar on there....but its FLAT and stable when you turn hard. There was another thread I saw that said they could go into corners twice as fast....that's no joke! I don't make a point out of racing my little econobox around, but under evasive maneuvers....I feel a lot better.

[justmerging]

Mark, if you like the improvement with the strut bar wait until you get the springs(then you'll really want better tires).

[joaopinto]

I ordered a strut bar, it's on the way, but I don't exactly know how to mount it. Is it that simple, just take out the bolts, add the bar and put the bolts back in?Does the DC Strut Bar come with it's own bolts? Are they longer than the original ones?

[justmerging]

The bar does come with longer bolts and a spacer washer for the passenger side. It's really easy to install but not as easy as some. The black plastic cowl can get in the way of the rear bolts but it's also easy to remove and re-install.

[mvalpreda]

Mark, if you like the improvement with the strut bar wait until you get the springs(then you'll really want better tires).

Thinking springs as well. Tires might be down the line after these are toast. I figure I will get 45-50k out of these tires if I rotate.

And the install was a piece of cake. If you are planning on a CAI though, I would do that first.