Pod filter or standard airbox ?

[kalium]

My EFI L28 in my 260 is still lacking an air filter. I've got a pipe made up for a pod filter (yet to buy the pod filter...), but I'm worried about getting defected/fined here in QLD. Should I just source a standard 280zx airbox and is it easy enough to bolt onto a 260 ?

 

Cheers

Ray

[Zedman240®]

A good person to ask is Allan (260coupe). He's done what you're thinking of doing. Look through his photo album for a pic of the engine bay.

[xa1973]

Hello Mate

 

For whats its worth Ive removed the original air box set up on my 280zx and plumbed a pod in its place, you can by the kits from any good auto speed shop, Ive had no problems with rego as long as its clean and looks proffessional

 

Cheers

 

[maddos]

Not an easy option to go the 280zx airbox. Tried it on mine when I did the conversion.

Totally different aircleaner box used in the 280z.

Pod filter on mine was a fairly easy option. Bracket from repco fits under cable clamp on

pod filter to bolt down in front of radiator support.

Why would you be defected for airfilter type?

[haul]

Hi Ray, I have a l26 efi turbo, I am also here in QLD, and i run a pod filter, it used to have a well made home made airbox which sat between the radiator support and the grill. And yes It is illegal in QLD to have a pod filter, but is a much simpler set up.

Cheers Tony

[maddos]

Does anyone know the reasoning behind pod filter being illegal?

[Zedman240®]

I think its related to the EPA and noise polution. Induction noise can be louder than an exhaust sometimes!  The way I likes it

[nuclear_z]

Thats all it is, EPA for noise  I'm in the process of engineering my L28 turbo and I thought I could box my pod, making an airbox... No deal. The RTA in NSW wants to see an OEM plastic airbox, though ironically, I am allowed to modify the OEM airbox to make it fit 

 

Well that was my pain in the ass engineer I had before. I am meeting a new one that Peter used, who apparently was quite easy-going...

[kalium]

Hello Mate

 

For whats its worth Ive removed the original air box set up on my 280zx and plumbed a pod in its place, you can by the kits from any good auto speed shop, Ive had no problems with rego as long as its clean and looks proffessional

 

Cheers

 

 

That's interesting. You bought a 'kit' ? I'v enever seen kits sold, just the pod filter. Did the kit contain an elbow bend ?

 

Cheers

[260Coupe]

Guys

 

I am very scepital over pod filter "performance" enhancements over original induction sytems, I dyno'd my Zed with the 280Z filter housing installed and found no loss at peak power over no filter at all and more power than a pod filter with much less noise........not sure how a 280ZX filter housing would perform . Our dyno results also prove that 240z airbox works better than pod filters (so put that 240Z air box back on!) and that most Nissan filter housings are so well designed that they out perform the after market stuff..............IMHO car manufacturers do not spend millions of $$ on developement for nothing.

You can find 280Z filter housings on US ebay for as little as $8.00usd  (yes that's what I paid for mine) and filters are available through your local Nissan dealer (same as R31 Skyline and early Maxima)

 

In summary............ loud induction noise does not = more HP

 

Here is a pic of the 280Z filter housing whilst we were dyno testing

 

Alan

[kalium]

Very interesting indeed. I am not into the extra noise nor am I a fan of the ricerboy look of the pod (unfortunately my car looks rice enough as it is...). Maybe I will try and order one from the US.

 

Cheers

 

PS I bet it's not cheap/easy to ship though ?

 

Guys

 

I am very scepital over pod filter "performance" enhancements over original induction sytems, I dyno'd my Zed with the 280Z filter housing installed and found no loss at peak power over no filter at all and more power than a pod filter with much less noise........not sure how a 280ZX filter housing would perform . Our dyno results also prove that 240z airbox works better than pod filters (so put that 240Z air box back on!) and that most Nissan filter housings are so well designed that they out perform the after market stuff..............IMHO car manufacturers do not spend millions of $$ on developement for nothing.

You can find 280Z filter housings on US ebay for as little as $8.00usd  (yes that's what I paid for mine) and filters are available through your local Nissan dealer (same as R31 Skyline and early Maxima)

 

In summary............ loud induction noise does not = more HP

 

Here is a pic of the 280Z filter housing whilst we were dyno testing

 

Alan

[maddos]

I'll share freight if you find two. Don't want to be caught myself come rego time.

[JP]

Does anyone know the reasoning behind pod filter being illegal?

 

Because it is a modification to the fuel injection system and therefore affects emmissions.

 

On a pre-74 car you should be fine.

[260Coupe]

Agree.......I'm not into the "rice rocket" look either.......I prefer the factory look all the way

 

Yes freight from the US can be a bit exy............ my $8 air box cost $43 us to ship .........I think it cost me around $83 Aussie dollars in total so not so bad............And the best thing is it all looks factory fitted.

 

If you can't find any on US ebay bay get onto the guys are Arizona Z car or the Z connection.....they offered to buy and ship for a small fee on top of the buy price.

 

cheers

 

Alan

 

[xa1973]

That's interesting. You bought a 'kit' ? I'v enever seen kits sold, just the pod filter. Did the kit contain an elbow bend ?

 

Cheers

 

Yes Mate

 

Why interesting ??

 

Take a look on Ebay theres a zillion for sale for all makes of cars, I bought mine from a speed shop in Cheltenham Victoria, included were the metal bend which I trimmed down 6 inches to suit my personal fitting location, various adapters, an expander coupling, clamps and a pov pak filter which I dumped in favour of a finer filter oiled unit

 

Cheers

 

 

 

[kalium]

 

 

Why interesting ??

 

 

 

I had just never come across their kit's on the shelves and had never thought of buying a kit (nor did I imagine one was available), that's all.

 

Ray

[kalium]

In case anyone was interested, I visited the wrecker and pulled out an old commodore airbox and then paid a trip to autobarn and got some of that overpriced flexible air duct hose. I pretty much cut the whole inlet half of the airbox off (so the whole filter element is exposed), and mounted it down the bottom in front of the radiator. Then used that flexi air duct hose to hook it up to the AFM. Not sure how efficent the whole system isor isn't, but it certainly does the job, and the whole setup cost me about $40 !

[stevo_gj]

Pics or it didn't happen! 

[RBZ 260]

from experince i think factory filter boxes with enlarged and cold air  ntake works the best with a k&N insert type filters.

 

in some applications that is difficult to do.

 

in my Z its pretty cramped but as the filter is tightly mounted between oversized intercooler and bonnet spring i only had one option is to fit a pod. it is mounted just infront of the grill so nice cold air is just there.

 

initaly had a el cheapo repco $30 one as that was the largest one i could fit in the tight space.

 

major problem with pods is that people mount them inside the engine bay and the poor thing suck hot air. hot air performance down.

 

the el cheap repco fitler was replacd with new k&N same size one and she went lot better.

 

in the S14 also couldnt install factory box due to intercooler pipe being in the way.

had a k&N insert than replced with $350 Apexi filter (didnt pay that much) performance did increase over the insert but it would have been even better if its boxed and fed constant cold air.

 

pods do work but need to be setup properly.

 

legalities. well i argue with them. stick your dB meter and we measure it if over 90db book me. well havent been done yet.

 

than again in SA they not that restrictive. they do hate boost controllers, blow off valves and anythin connected to the ecu...

 

[stewk240]

Guys,

 

I looked into this as well...unless you have a race car or tripple webbers fitted and are wanting to do a lot to the car that is not standard, it is a waste of time, money and can give little or no difference to performance. Leave it as it is, as it will get some cold air stright through to the standard intake from the fan and the stardard hole at the front....it was built that way with a lot of research. I completly undersatand if you have tripple webber or want to build a race car.

 

Stew.

 

 

[kalium]

The only reson I did it the way I did is because to do it standard meant importing one from the states...

 

[maddos]

I think some people are missing the point of the question. It was more about practicalities of getting an airfilter fitted when converting a 260 to EFI. Not so much "where the best performance is".

Correct me if I'm wrong Kalium

[kalium]

I think some people are missing the point of the question. It was more about practicalities of getting an airfilter fitted when converting a 260 to EFI. Not so much "where the best performance is".

Correct me if I'm wrong Kalium

 

You're not wrong maddos 

[PZG302]

The standard 280 air box does fit, I ran one on my first Z, a 260 built to 280 specs to run PRC.

 

When I got my current cat we ran basically the same set up with the standard air box in front of the radiator and behind the grill.

 

I now run a pod filter out the front of the radiator support beside the radiator to get as much flow as possible. This is then routed to the AFM, standard location and turbo version. To fit it I used the mounting bracket that came with the filter and bolted it to the radiator support from underneath and used the flexible air pipe available from Supercrap between the filter and AFM, keeping the pipe as straight as possible. The next step for me would be to fabricate this out of pipe, but expense and don't fix what ain't broke means it will be a while before I get around to it.

 

The only problem I had was the diameter of tubing to fit the pod was about 3mm too gig for the AFM, so I packed it with insertion rubber to seal the gap and used 2 good quality hose clamps to seal it.

 

Works a treat, but as the car will never see the road again I don't have to worry about legalities of the pod.

[waxhead]

This is an interesting thread as i didnt know you were not allowed a pod filter in Qld

Im wondering about shaping up my own system now.

Or maybe adapting one of another car to fit the purpose, lucky work just brought a plastic welder