Intake On The Cheap

Originally Posted by LunaZ

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.

Originally Posted by kielbasa16

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

Originally Posted by Vegasboricua

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.

Originally Posted by LunaZ

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.