Posted: Nov 15 2005 at 4:35pm | IP Logged

realistically, just how much power would one gain from adding an exhaust and cold air intake such as the K&N FIPK, i know what the manufacturers say, but rarely do you ever see that kind of gain, usually about half of what the man. specs say to expect for HP and torque gains from what i've seen and heard. just wondering what some of y'all ahve gained out there with your mods and what effects y'all saw on mpg as well. from what i've researched if you dno't change driving habits, you should see an increase in economy due to the vehicle being able to breathe better, however hearing louder growl tends to make people a little heavier footed, i know it did me in my 240SX, so my mpg didnt' change a whole lot, it went up at first, but then i'm sure i never really drove very economically with it either.

thoughts and ideas appreciated

Posted: Nov 16 2005 at 9:13pm | IP Logged

I used to be in the same boat... till I actually tried the mods myself.  From installing a drop in K&N filter in my old Frontier, my top speed went from 102 MPH to 107.  An exhuast bumped it up to 110, and putting on a bedcover allowed 115.  I never ran into the governor on mine.  The bed cover also gave me some better fuel economy. 

As for fuel economy... surprising the K&N filter does increase.  I bought a 02 Highlander back in May... and it got pretty decent mileage doing 55 MPH, around 19.5-25.4 MPG depending upon wind and road.  After dropping in the K&N filter, my MPG for 55 MPH are now around 24.4-34.8 MPG!!!!!  That is EXCELLENT for a V6 AWD SUV. 

Of course, lead foot does tend to have draw backs.  I noticed when flooring it with the stock air filter, the MPG reading would say 5.1 MPG or so.  After dropping in the K&N, I've seen it drop to 2.9 MPG.  A drastic change, but the more power is noticable.  I noticed the wife's Highlander has 2 HUGE mufflers.  I'm thinking of cutting one off (the wife does like to hear a rumble) and see what that does. 

Posted: Nov 18 2005 at 8:31am | IP Logged

so what's so special about the FIPK as compared to the other cold air intake kits, i've been leaning towards it cause all the reviews say good things about it really. as for exhaut i'm probably gonna end up going with the gibson side swept single out instead of the dual out on it (not that it's a true duel exhaust) but just don'tknow what difference having duel pipes on the exhaust will make anyway other than looks, if i'm wrong somebody please correct me. i also have liked the sound for it, plus i haven't seen very much out there for the 01 fronty i have other than the gibson.

as far as your bed cover, did you have a softop cover, and what brand and all that...i want a sturdy enough soft top that iwon't hear it flapping in the wind and annoying the hell out of me as i roll down the road. next question is what kind of increase did you see, both in around town and out on the highway with that addition to your truck. (question for you kcidmil).

for you drew boy, where did you get your FIPK from? and that's interesting that just the cold air intake addition can make that big of a diff in you noticing pull with your truck, i can't wait til i can afford it and the exhaust i want, and well...the jury is still out on the TBS if i'm gonna try and waste money on that or not lol...

OH one other thing.i was doing some searching for cold air intakes the other day and saw one on this site (can't remember which) that was only for GM/Dodge/FORD trucks i believe and it had some type of grooves cut in it that caused the air to be spiraled and made more dense as it entered the engine, has anyone ever seen that for the nissans and is that just some more hype like the turbonator and other inserts like the tornado