The Z had about 2,000 miles on it and I figured it was time to let the VR30 breathe a little easier. I grabbed the NISMO Cold Air Intake - one of the few bolt-on intake upgrades that's actually engineered for this platform rather than just slapped together with a cone filter and a prayer.
The stock airbox does its job, but it's conservative by design. The NISMO unit replaces it with a purpose-built intake box and ducting that improves airflow without sacrificing filtration. The install itself spanned two evenings - I started the night of October 4th and wrapped it up the next day.
First order of business was disconnecting the factory airbox from the intake hose. If you're doing this yourself, do your homework on that retaining clip before you start yanking on things. A couple of long screwdrivers will do the job - just pop the clip forward as far as you can and the airbox lifts right off.
The most challenging part was getting to the hose clamps connecting the factory air hose to the turbo inlets. I used a combination of swivel socket extensions to work in the tight space. The passenger side was noticeably more difficult than the driver's side - it's tighter over there, and there's an extra PCV hose connected to the intake hose that you have to deal with.
Of course, the garage supervisor had to be on-site for the entire operation. She set up camp with her fan and tennis ball and kept a close eye on things from her bed. Quality control at its finest.
With the NISMO intake in place alongside the Z1 carbon engine cover and radiator air guide, the engine bay is starting to look the part. The twin NISMO intake boxes give it a purposeful look that matches the rest of the build. More importantly, the throttle response feels just a touch sharper. Time will tell if the seat-of-the-pants feel holds up!
