Carlos' Review of Hotshot Pipe & K&N FIPK Filter
Name: Carlos
Email: [email protected]
Product: Air Intake System
Model: K&N FIPK Filter and Hotshot Pipe
Store: Options Auto Salon
Price: $287 plus shipping and tax
Car: 89 240SX SE
Worth_it: Yes
Difficulty_Rating: 2
Date: 23 Jun 1999
Problems
Their weren't any major problems with the installation. The only minor problem was just adjusting every thing to fit. Lets start with the Hotshot Intake Pipe first. The pipe has vacuum fittings for the vacuum hoses. Their are 3 of them and you do use all 3 on the Hotshot Intake Pipe. The Pipe for DOHC engines may be different. If you open your hood and look at the section between the radator cap and throttle, you can see 2 vacuum hoses side by side on the left and 1 more on the right side on the stock intake. The one on the right is just a breather hose to the valve cover. The other two are true vacuum lines that serve for idle purposes. When you remove the stock black/rubber plastic intake assembly from the throttle to the Mass Air Flow adapter, you will replace this section with the Hotshot Intake Pipe. When you do, you will notice that the NEW vacuum fittings are welded in different locations, which are just a little off from stock locations. The two vacuum hoses on the left did reach, but it was a stretch on the hose. As for the breather hose for the valve cover, upon removal I found a short brass pipe in the breather hose. I had to pull this brass pipe out of the hose about 1 inch to slip over the vacuum fitting. This pipe acted as a bridge between the stock hose and pipe vacuum fitting. Other than that, no problems. Towards the end of the pipe, moving away from the throttle, is where the MAF adapter plate which bolts on. Then on the other side is where the K&N F.I.P.K filter goes. I STRONGLY recommend buying this paticular filter because of two main reasons. First, it comes with the adapter plate that bolts on to the MAF plate perfectly, and second, it includes a place for the Air Temperature Sensor which sends information to the Mass Air Flow sensor. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND FOLLOW THEM CAREFULLY!!! The F.I.P.K. filter uses a metal support the hold the filter up. Since the Hotshot Pipe is bent a little differently than stock, it will move and relocate the filer by a few inches. In this case the air filter support won't reach. I am not using this support because it won't reach and the pipe is strong enought to hold the MAF plate and filter without excess movement. The F.I.P.K. adapter plate also has a fitting for the AIV black box emissions control. Since every thing has been moved around, the fitting will not reach the stock hose that runs to a little black box. What you will have to do, is get one big long hose that will reach from the adapter fitting to the black box or bridge the end of the hose to the fitting and that is what I did. Other than that, no problems.
Tips
Let the engine cool down first. Also, don't tighten the the Hotshot pipe to the throttle TOO TIGHT. If you do, it will lift the pipe upward and hold it in mid air. Then you will have problems trying to close your hood. Instead, let the pipe rest on the car and tighten it down enought to prevent vacuum leaks. To test for leaks, turn the engine on and rub your hand around the vacuum ends to feel for leaks. Also, ask a friend for help. Installation will move a lot faster if you use four hands instead of two.
Thoughts
The Hotshot Intake Pipe is a 3 inch mandel bent pipe which is not restrictive as the stock one. It really lets the air flow straight to the engine. Also it looks cool because its chrome. The K&N filter also sucks in air a lot faster and more of it which helps also. Performance with these two items has gone through the roof! I can rev faster and since my first mod was exhaust, this return my low end torque that was taken away with the exhaust. In my Borla exhaust review, I told you guys that my car ate more gas. The reason is, with bigger cat-back pipping, a vacuum was formed in the cumbustion camber which made my pistons move faster and inturn ate more gas. With the Borla exhaust, air was just flowing out like a water fall, and with the stock intake system, not much air was flowing in, which explains the gas eating problem. But now, with the K&N filter and Hotshot Intake Pipe, air flows in, and air flows out. My gas mileage is now back to normal. And for those of you wondering, my Borla is still holding up strong and no problems thanks to T304 Stainless Steel.
Other
The K&N Filtercharger Injection Performance Kit you need is model # 57-6000. I bought this filter at Pepboys for $203.71 plus shipping and tax. This will fit 240's from 89 to 93. The Hotshot Intake Pipe I used, for SOHC 240's is model # HS-1043 which I order from Options Auto Salon for 124.00 plus shipping and tax. DOHC pipes will be different in shape and price. I strongly recommend buying products from K&N and Hotshot because lets face it. If you own a Honda, you can get parts for your car anywhere. As for Nissan parts, they are a little harder to find due to all the money makeing is in Honda parts. Infact, parts for the SOHC are even harder to find than the DOHC. So, it is important to support these few companies that do make parts for our 240s. Because if we don't, they will move their profit sites to the Honda industry and then their will be no parts at all for us Nissan owners. Please, do buisness with Nissan oriented companies. Thanks and see ya out on the road!