Got it put on today. Here are some pics. Oh yeah and I removed the center section of the engine cover too. I have affectionately renamed it simply "The plastic heat blanket". Figure it'll let the intake cool off a bit better and doesn't look any worse, although I may need to trim up the remaining cover a bit.

BEFORE


AFTER

 

looks good, did you move the AC line to install it

 

did u have to modify/cut the plastic pieces that go over the struts...

I had mine painted so i really would not like to ruin them...

pics looks great...

I am waiting to see taz's final product... then i will chooose one...

price ??

Time to install? 5 mins?

 

So i just looked at stillen and it says the FSTB is 148.50 plus shipping...? I know its stillen so it will always be a little more, but isnt taz's going for 90 shipped?

Anyone have any comments on pro's and con's of the stillen bar?

 

Nice Job Mack, I have the same one. I also have the progress rear sway bar. Its funny because I really dont think it improved the car much, but when I really think about it I just dont remember how it felt before I added them so its hard for me to compare if there is any improvement. Im sure there is but I just dont notice it anymore. How do you like it?

 

I like it, and I one too. Not sure if it made much of a difference in handling but it sure looks good.

 

Did you have to shave the top part of the intake manifold to avoid rubbing?
I think that was part of Stillen's instructions.

 

And you didnt have to wait months to get it, very nice!!!

 

LOL... u still waiting for yours from taz ?

 

yep, some basic communication would be nice. I know he is busy and all but an update would be nice. Good price on products but dont think Id buy from him again.

 

LOL some good feedback here.

1. Yes I had to trim the driver side plastic overlay a bit to fit over the brace.
2. No I didn't have to shave the intake
3. I did have to "play" with the AC lines just a bit but unbolting them and moving them around while installing the FSTB but once the FSTB was in place I simply screwed the AC line back into place with no problem.
4. Total install time about 10min (mostly because I had to dig for the right tools).
5. No it wasn't cheap, yes it arrived in about 4 days!
6. I've noticed an ever so slight tightness on handling, noticed it last night going into a highway entry doing about 50mph on a VERY tightass turn. But like Deus says, regardless, it sure looks good!

 

The Stillen FSTB is great and looks good, Stillen is a proven performance parts provider and you cannot loose getting a Stillen and no waiting... And I know for a fact that other then slightly trimming the plastic strut covers, no shaving or rubbing on mine and I have worked enough on Rambergs car to know his Stillen does not rub either... Last, it can be polished!!!

 

Damn Chern that looks SICK! Love the polish man. How much elbow grease did that take??

Also, do you apply a cleaner/protectant to your plastic and rubber parts by the windshield? Looks damn good.

 

It took the FUSB to a polisher who took 16 hours and charged me $60 bucks, during the process he showed my how he polished and I went out and bought a Demel polisher kit with flex neck and polisher bit set. So when the time came that I wanted to polish my IM, this is what happened.

My boy Ramberg bought a new IM and had it polished beautifully. When he took his old IM off he mailed it to me and I took about 6 weeks and ported/polished it myself. I then swapped them out and mailed him back my old one. So the whole time my car was down only 3 hrs for the swapout. And when I did the swapout, thats how I then learned how to do the IM spacer mod, so I did that myself also...

wet sand paper from 250-1000 grit are a must!!!
As well as a good professional polishing liquid!!! I use:
RI WASH 'n GUARD® Premium Metal Polish
https://dri-wash.us/cgi-bin/storefro...RDERID!#polish

For upkeep I use Windex and a paper towel and every couple months, I'll polish all the metal surfaces...

 

LOL man you are a huge WINDEX fan aren't ya? Hey Chern did you trim what remains of the engine cover yourself? Any tips?

 

where did you get the mesh for the grill? I got some from Home Depot but looks too cheap..

 

That's an Active Tuning grille- ck it out @ www.activetuning.com
It's a bit pricey but the quality is 2nd to none- you certainly get what u pay for.

 

I just removed the gray IM looking plastic thingy (they separate), then using a Dremel cutting bit I removed as much plastic off the lip so you sand less. Then with a Dremel flat sanding belt, sand it down till it's flush, then go to a high grid (400) to smooth it out!!! This will then expose your real IM and in my opinion, cools better because you now have more cool air over the top of the IM to dissipate heat faster.

 

I did the same thing with my Kinetix manifold. I removed the grey piece and cut away teh black cover until it was the right shape.

 

Oh jeesh. Home Depot dude? Here checkout this thread. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=407157

 

Cool thanks Chern. Yeah I just left mine off as in the pics above. Seems useless to have that cheapass plastic sitting there keeping heat on my IM. Thanks also Deus. I'll put dremel and sanding the engine cover on my top few list of upcoming mods.

 

FYI here is a shot of the Stillen level so you can see the clearance over the IM.



Another shot from the side.




Just a shot of the sweet Injen CAI, Oooops, how did that get in there?