The guys on the altimas.net forum have been doing this for awile. The 2004 Max basically has the same intake as the 3.5 altimas. What they do is cut open the drivers side portion of the factory air intake. The stock opening is only open half of its length in front of the car. The altima guys dremel out the drivers half of the intake opening and claim that they get much more air into their engines and increase trap speed in the 1/4 mile. Might be worth a try..

 

Why go through all that trouble when you can just get a K&N pop-charger and just replace that stock intake box?

That's what I did:

http://homepage.mac.com/deeprave69/PhotoAlbum2.html

 

I modified my stock intake and I've found it to be better than the Injen CAI and the Frankencar intake w/midpipe. I have a couple pictures on my homepage if you want to see what I did.

 

Hmm, I still don't get why would that setup be better than FrankenCar intake. You still using all the stock hardware from the filter to the TB and that doesn't seem to provide a smooth airflow like you would get with FrankenCar intake.

Did anybody ever dyno the GAB compared to the FrankenCar intake?

 

The frankencar gets hotter air from under the hood, the factory snorkel gets cold air from in front of the car. By widening the stock snorkel you will gets much more cold air into the motor.

 

I also have a ram-air type set-up that connects to the bottom of the stock intake scoop.

 

The stock air intake can't be too bad, the frankencar gains only 3-5hp tops over the stock intake. In the heat of the summer I will be willing to bet that the stock intake will be equall to or slightly better HP wise than the frankencar. In the 5th gen forum the highest trap speed in the quarter mile was obtained by using the GAB mod on the stock intake. The mod the altima guys are doing is sorta like the 5th gen maxima GAB exept that they are opening the stock intake at the front snorkel rather than the air filter box holder. It may be worth a try since it will cost you absolutely nothing but your spare time.

 

What's the part number on your K&N? Did you notice any increase in performance? How's the sound? When you installed it, did you need to modify anything to make it fit? Thanks.

RiceRocketJockey

 

I think this will increase performance over the pop charger since you get the ram air intake that you lose with the pop charger

 

I don't know about modding stock intake, but what I was saying that even after you mod your stock intake by cutting stuff you are still left with all the crap between the TB and air filter. Air flow won't be smooth with stock setup. I think that is where FrankenCar intake gains are made from the midpipe. I really feel that my car gained around 10hp or more with it on. It just flies to redline compared to stock.
I can't really tell anything about GAB and how will it perform, but all those stock components between TB and filter restricting the air flow.

As for comparison look at the intake tube on 350Z you will notice that is all straight and smooth. And on 2002 Maxima it is not straight at all. Nissan already egnineered it that way on Z to give it more power. My friend installed similar intake setup on his Z and gains were almost non existent. Why, because stock intake tube was already straight.

Also look at 2004 Maxima, intake tube on it is pretty straight as well.

Now I think if you add midpipe to GAB intake, it will be a very good setup. I think some people on this board are runinng it that way.

 

Please post the pop charger purchased and how much.

I bought a K&N for the infiniti that works well.