By 306 horsepower and an engine designated the “Rev Up” just isn’t enough for some people. Do you have a Nissan 350Z or Infiniti G35? If so, you’re either looking to modify it somehow or super boring. Nissan’s Z-cars are some of the most popular tuner cars on the market, and for good reason: they’re cheap, fast, rear-wheel-drive sports cars with great weight distribution and cool coupe styling, plus huge aftermarket availability. One of the easiest ways to make an improvement in throttle response and the induction sound of your Nissan 350Z or Infiniti G35 is a cold air intake.
What is a Cold Air Intake?
Unless you’re looking for power mods for your Tesla (in which case you may be misguided), the engine in your vehicle works in a few simple steps: suck, squeeze, bang, blow. Air is sucked through the intake system, through the MAF sensor and throttle body, and into the combustion chamber. There it’s compressed, mixed with fuel, and exploded, sending the piston back down the cylinder and exhaust out of the header.
Our focus here is cold air intake systems (CAI). These aren’t the drop-in high-quality air filters that “increase fuel mileage and performance.” These are high-performance intake systems that are tuned and tested to boost horsepower and torque across the rev range. A cold air intake is a simple first step to increasing your vehicle’s induction performance. Usually, they are a direct fit into the factory intake location and install with a few simple bolts and hose clamps. A performance air intake kit makes a great compliment to an aftermarket exhaust, improving airflow and engine induction noise.
VQ35DE Intakes
In the case of the VQ35DE V6 engine in the early model Nissan 350Z (2003-2006), there are a few routes to go. For style points and some louder intake noise, you can start with the Mishimoto Performance Cold Air Intake. This intake replaces the stock airbox and drop-in filter with a massive cone and a heat shielded housing, offering improved throttle response and a clean, cool look. If you’re looking to gain some more power and are planning supporting modifications, we recommend the aFe Takeda Stage 2 intake. Thanks to its wide, straight pipe and massive filter media, the Takeda Stage 2 is able to deliver a 34% gain in airflow over the OEM design and managed a gain of 19hp horsepower and 16 lb-ft of torque close to redline. Alternatively, aFe also offers their popular Magnum FORCE series intake for the VQ35DE. The Magnum FORCE uses a similar design to the Takeda but has a shorter run for more low-end torque at the slight cost of horsepower.
VQ35HR Intakes
Late-model 350Zs, starting with the Nismo in 2007, use the VQ35HR engine. The HR has a redesigned intake manifold featuring dual throttle bodies. aFe offers a revised version of the Takeda series intake for HR motors that delivers an extra 9 horsepower and 8 lb-ft of torque over the VQ35HR’s base output. Tunes can get you further along your modification journey, offering additional horsepower and better MPG. If you’re looking to go all the way, you’ve can get a full power kit from The Administration. The Administration, also known as Admin Tuning, has developed a massive intake to help feed your VQ35HR, as well as a new map for your ECU. This flash can pump up your numbers by over 30 horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque at the wheels through a manual transmission drivetrain. The most dramatic of tunes can deliver 35 horsepower and 24 lb-ft of torque, and tons more with a free-flowing exhaust and cams!
Cold air intakes (CAI) are a worthwhile step to the modification of any vehicle. Stock airboxes are designed to get air from the atmosphere to your intake manifold with as little drama as possible, keeping things quiet and efficient. Aftermarket cold air intake systems get you as much as possible out of the distance between the front of your car and the squeezy-bangy bit that makes power, giving your Nissan 350Z or Infiniti G35 the “oomph” it needs to stand out amongst the crowd. Combined with an exhaust system, upgraded throttle body, and other performance parts on your wish list, a cold air intake puts you well on your way to making your Z-car breathe and perform the way it deserves. For cold air intakes, air filters, exhaust systems, and more check out the Motoroso Marketplace and build your dream VQ35!
