How to Install Intake on 350Z (VQ35HR)

Looking for a more aggressive exhaust note on your Nissan/Infiniti coupe? The best place to start may be the intake! This video covers every step as we install a JWT pop-charger on the 2008 350Z.

First Impressions

This may be one of my favorite mods to date. The Jim Wolf Technology pop-charger system added a whole new personality to the Z. When I first pulled out of the driveway I noticed a slightly louder sound but nothing too crazy. The first time I laid into the gas I almost fainted. The sound with the JWT pop-charger is just phenomenal as you heard in the video. As with most intakes, the sound difference is most noticeable at wide-open throttle (WOT).

What You'll Need

Dual Intake for 350Z/G35/G37: There are a number of options here. I ended up choosing the dual pop-charger from Jim Wolf Technology.

Basic Hand Tools: Ratchet, sockets, and screwdrivers are required. Box wrenches make heat shield and radiator mounts installation easier.

Drill and 5.5mm (7/32") Bit: Used to install heat shield brackets.

Gloves: Highly recommended when installing rubber edge trim on heat shields..

Applications

This video applies directly to the 2007+ Z cars (VQ35HR engine) as well as the 2007+ G35 Sedans and the latest G37 coupes (VQ37HR engine). All of these vehicles have a dual intake arrangement.

The install should be similar (just one less intake) on earlier 350Zs and Infinitis with the VQ35DE engines.

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Original Transcript

After installing the Nismo exhaust I was happy with the sound of the Z. It had an amazing growl from the outside...but could have used more volume inside the cabin.

Don't get me wrong, the exhaust was still loud enough that old ladies yelled at me from the side of the road (I'm only doing 25mph here!). But I wanted a little extra sound and power.

My requirements were simple: the intake had to add to the beautiful exhaust note, it had to have proven horsepower gains since some mods on the Z will actually lose horsepower. Lastly, it had to be a quality part made by a shop known for Z parts.

I decided to go with Jim Wolf Technology's pop-charger intake. They had spent over a year tweaking their design which was able to squeeze out some more power. But more importantly their design was known for creating an extra nice sound when slamming the gas.

If you are in the market for a decently priced intake check out jim wolf technology dot com.

So let's get started on this install...

My parts came packaged neatly from JWT and included full color instructions. This video follows those instructions almost exactly.

Check to make sure you have everything before getting started. You should have one or two heat shields depending on your engine type. And a bag of hardware.

We are going to start with the driver's side intake on this 2008 350Z. We will be removing the intake hose clamp, the mass air flow connector and the mounting bolt. Use a screwdriver on the hose clamp...then unplug the connector and use a screwdriver to remove the little mounting tab that holds the wiring in place. Lastly, use a 10 mm socket or screwdriver to remove the bolt.

Now remove the hose from the end of the air box. This may take some bending and pushing but that's ok, just be careful. With the hose disconnected pop the intake air box upward to remove it.

The only thing we need from this piece is the mass air flow sensor which we will get to in a second. In the meantime get your new intake assemblies ready. It's a good idea to remove the filter and check for any packing material left in the tube or filter. You do not want pieces of cardboard or dirt damaging your engine! You will also noticed the fine tuned shape of the inlet piping. This trumpet-like shape of JWT's pop-charger gives it the sound and power.

Reinstall the filter and then repeat for the other side if applicable.

Going back to the old intake we remove the mass air flow sensor which is held on by two screws.

Carefully remove the mass air flow sensor from the old air box and then install it in the driver side intake pipe. Be very careful with these parts since they are both fragile and expensive! The MAF bolts are offset so it can only go in one way.

Reinstall the screws...and then move onto the intake shielding. These shields keep the intake from picking up hot air from the engine bay. To figure out which one goes on the driver side put them together like this with the upper holes facing you. The one on the right is the driver's side shield.

The top rubber trim is the same for both shields so just pick one and slide it onto the top edge. I highly recommend gloves for this step.

Now be sure to leave any excess towards the front edge of the shield like this.

The other rubber trim piece is side-specific so pick the one that has the slightly longer piece on top and that also folds inward. It will make more sense when you are holding the pieces!

Slide the top trim on first making sure to push it all of the way onto the shield. Then slowly work your way around the corner and finish it off.

When you are done it should look like this. While you are at it you might as well install the trim pieces on the passenger shield.

Time to break out the mounting hardware. You will be using these gold tabs to secure the shield to the frame rail. I found the easiest way was to install the tabs on the heat shield first with the supplied bolts but keep it kind of loose. Then slide the shield and tab around the edge of the car body frame rail shown here.

It is very important that the shield is not touching anything other than the frame rail edge. When it's lined up properly, tighten up the bolts.

Before we install the intake tube and filter we need to clip the edge of the original air inlet. This gives the new air filter some clearance. A pair of garden scissors does the trick. Looking back it's probably easier to do this BEFORE installing the heat shield.

You may have wondered how to tell the right and left intake tubes apart. Well here's the trick. Each one has a bolt missing. With the mass airflow sensor pointing up, the empty bolt hole should point out of the engine bay.

Go ahead and install the intake tube and filter pushing the tube in far enough that the filter clears surrounding parts. Find your hardware kit and remove the mounting bracket that matches the driver's side. It should fit like this.

Take the supplied bolt and washer and secure the bracket to the intake tube. Use the original mounting bolt on the other end of the bracket.

Check clearances around the filter making sure that no new parts touch original parts then tighten things up...and reconnect the mass air flow sensor...and finally the intake hose clamp.

The last step on this side involves creating a mounting bracket for the heat shield using the supplied hardware. You will need a drill for this step with a 5.5mm or 7/32" bit.

Drill a small hole in the plastic body core support being extra careful not to drill into the radiator below!

Now install the bolt, washer and bracket. Tighten the bolt with a lock-washer and nut. Note I accidentally used the larger washer on the top--make sure you use the smaller one supplied and save this one for the bolt on the heat shield.

Now take that larger bolt and install it with the larger washer.

With everything in place and clearances checked tighten up the bolts and this side is done!

If you have an earlier 350Z or G35 with a single intake you are finished but later models like this one have a second intake on the other side of the bay.

It's an exact mirror of the other side. The only thing I did differently was to install the mounting bracket a little earlier. I also wanted to point out that this bracket does not touch the fluid reservoir here.

This is the clean, look you'll get when you are finished. I was very happy with the fit and finish of the JWT pop-charger. Yeah it looks nice but I bet you want to hear some more sound clips! Again these are taken with the Nismo exhaust and JWT intake. Enjoy!

I would like to say thanks to Jim Wolf Technology for making an amazing product.