I need eyes and replies on this post - engine dress-up

S

stuck

Member
Hey all,
Since I'm done with the exterior of the P5, it's time to move on to some engine dress up. This is a daily driver so i'm going to keep it stock with the exception of an intake and maybe some ground wires. Any replies to the questions below would be a big help! THanks in Advance!

1. What is the best way to clean an engine and what products should I use?

2. Is there any other product like the carbon fiber engine cover like the one DG makes? Really don't want to paint it.

3. I have an auto. Should I be buying a Short-ram intake?

4. Ebay intake or name brand? Ebay with name brand filter? Your opinions please!

5. Ground wires. Your thoughts? Any pics or install tips you have would be great!

Pics would be great for all of these issues!
That's all for now!
Much appreciated!

-STUCK
 
stuck said:
Hey all,
Since I'm done with the exterior of the P5, it's time to move on to some engine dress up. This is a daily driver so i'm going to keep it stock with the exception of an intake and maybe some ground wires. Any replies to the questions below would be a big help! THanks in Advance!

1. What is the best way to clean an engine and what products should I use? I just use the car wash and then wipe it all down with 2001 shine.
2. Is there any other product like the carbon fiber engine cover like the one DG makes? Really don't want to paint it.

3. I have an auto. Should I be buying a Short-ram intake? Go E-Bay short. Other than the filter they'er all the same.
4. Ebay intake or name brand? Ebay with name brand filter? Your opinions please!

5. Ground wires. Your thoughts? Any pics or install tips you have would be great! I don't see why anyone would waist their money, Show me some one that as a ground kit and what the HP gain was. There is none, put that money towards a shorty header and highflow cat. Looks cool and gives you a good gain.
Pics would be great for all of these issues!
That's all for now!
Much appreciated!

-STUCK
Click to expand...

Let so some pics of the car.
 
Seeing I have one, I am a big fan of the Injen CAI. It's the truest CAI out there, the short ram just eliminates some of the restrictive flow, but still is more or less getting warmer air. I got the polished, wish I had done the black powdercoat, looks really sweet.
I don't like putting KMart kinda stuff on my car (read:ebay) If I wanted to go cheap, I would've bought a Kia.
Good luck!

stuck said:
Hey all,
Since I'm done with the exterior of the P5, it's time to move on to some engine dress up. This is a daily driver so i'm going to keep it stock with the exception of an intake and maybe some ground wires. Any replies to the questions below would be a big help! THanks in Advance!





3. I have an auto. Should I be buying a Short-ram intake?

4. Ebay intake or name brand? Ebay with name brand filter? Your opinions please!



Pics would be great for all of these issues!
That's all for now!
Much appreciated!

-STUCK
Click to expand...
 
My opinion:

Stick with name brand on the intake, whether cold air or short ram, I just haven't been impressed with the ebay ones that I have helped friends install, I feel you get what you pay for. I have INjen CAI (black) on the other side there are things you can do yourself, take the grounding wires, go to www.knukonceptz.com you can get great wire for a great price, ring connectors, and nice battery terminals. I am in the very long process of setting up a local group buy/ install meet with them. If you are going strictly for appearnce go with the 4 gauge wire, if you don't care about the appearance of the wires go with 8 gauge, the performance difference will be very minimal. The DG carbon fiber cover looks real nice,I have it on my speed, or you can paint your valve cover, pretty easy to do, I like the crinkle paints like they use on the Mazdaspeed Miata, also look around on the forum or post interest in the mazdaspeed protege engine cover, its clean and looks nice, do a red top battery (or other color). I can help you with grounding points if you decide to go that route, just let me know, hope this helped, I can get pictures of my stuff later on if you want them. Scott
 
1. What is the best way to clean an engine and what products should I use?
There are many ways to do it, but simplest would be to get some simple green and go to a car wash. Mask off any exposed electronics (I removed my battery as well to remove all possibility plus then I could clean the tray and it easily). Spray SG on an almost cold (should at least be cool) engine and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Spray it off with the power sprayer. Let your car sit and dry for about 5-10 minutes (while unmasking and reinstalling battery and wiping excess water) then start it up. You're good to go.
2. Is there any other product like the carbon fiber engine cover like the one DG makes? Really don't want to paint it.
As far as covers go, I think its either an MSP one (need bracketry) or the DG one (comes with bracketry). That's about it.
3. I have an auto. Should I be buying a Short-ram intake?
I'd buy the short ram over a CAI, the engines are small enough and not powerfully enough to where it will make a difference. Plus the SRI looks kick ass with the filter in the bay (and you seem to be going for looks)
4. Ebay intake or name brand? Ebay with name brand filter? Your opinions please!
Either or, but since you're looking for style points, just get a used AEM off of someone on the boards. You may have to wait and perhaps post a couple WTB threads but it shouldn't take very long.
5. Ground wires. Your thoughts? Any pics or install tips you have would be great!
Either buy 1sty's set of groundwires or make your own. Anything else would generally be a waste of money (not because the grounding doesn't help your idle or mpg, but rather they aren't any better). Also along the lines of a grounding kit, you could look at the Nology HotWires for spark. I don't really put much faith in their claims of gained HP but they do add a nice effect to the engine bay.
 
You can get the cf engine cover from us which is sweet. Or we also make it in fiberglass, ready to paint. Or you can get a mp3 plastic cover. The brackets that we sell with our kits can be used for the mp3 cover to fit on a p5 engine. Thats what I did. Im getting a cf one for shows. The cf will not change color or warp so it can stay on all the time.
 
When I put my angel eyes in I had to take the bumper off and I just yanked the hole thing forgetting that I had the lip attached on the wheel well. It came unglued and now is just there with the 4 screws. Im taking to shop to get re glued. It definently does not look like that normally.
 
thats good to know. i was looking at getting one but if that was the standard fitment i was going to scratch that idea.
 
Fitment is excellent.

I would say get the Injen. I personally dont like the quality of the Ebay intake. My Injen fits and works great. I always drive in the erain and hit potholes of water all the time and havent got any water in there.As for the Ground wires I heard that its helps in gas mileage. Ebay sells them. Ther was someone on the forum who sells them in any color. Check the vendor list. There might be a how-to on how to make them. Not very hard.

My 2 cents
 
grounding wires - cpmplete waste of money
ebay or name brand? - a pipe is a pipe, spend the money on a better filter and get the ebay intake.
cleaning the engine - hot pressure washer, and then when it dries armor all the whole thing
 
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