STILLEN Performance Intake - Ready for Purchase - Video included

[Kamauxx]

Do you have it installed yet? Or gave up on the install
If you wish to return yours just let us know
We will take care of you

I appreciate that but after what I've been through that sucka is staying put!

 

[NICK_KHAR]

I appreciate that but after what I've been through that sucka is staying put!

Well then
Install aside
Whats your take on the response after installing
Or have you not driven it yet

 

[Kamauxx]

Well then
Install aside
Whats your take on the response after installing
Or have you not driven it yet

I believe it works as advertised. But I don't think an "install aside" review is acceptable.

The install, fit, and finish is a huge piece of any car modifier's take on a product. I can understand why people are frustrated. It doesn't seem like Stillen spent much time thinking this thing out.

Honestly I already had borderline trust issues from the way Stillen released this intake. After installing it I can say with certainty that I will never give them my business again. I don't care how they edit an install video to make it look easy to unaware customers--they need to go back to the drawing board and re-work this thing.

Caveat emptor.



Nick, this is nothing against you. Your price for the intake was cheaper than the other 2 places I'm aware of that are selling it. Your shipping from coast to coast was fast. Your willingness to accept the product back even after I've installed it shows your dedication to your customers. Thank you for that.

 

[WildBill]

I ordered a Dragy last night to get a baseline on a stock car and results after the intake.
Hopefully this weekend for me. I figure I can handle 4 hours of pain and torment for the results.

 

[Roarbomb]

well, with my paycheck going in at midnight tonight i was looking to purchase these today. Guess ill wait.

 

[sym]

Well then
Install aside
Whats your take on the response after installing
Or have you not driven it yet

I got mine installed. I'm a little worried about everything staying together (drivers side filter is really tight, but it wants to squeeze itself off of the elbow if I crank it down), but I'm probably being paranoid. I'll check it in a few days to make sure I've maintained the clearance from the radiator hose and that all of the fittings are still seated properly.

The intake is as quiet as stock under 2K RPM and above that you can hear the turbos spooling and the BOV. It's sweet. I wish they looked as 'tight' as the JT setup but that was also hundreds of dollars more.

It makes me wonder though, wouldn't it be possible to objectively test the performance of a variety of Stinger intakes with a temperature probe and a pressure sensor where the intake meets the engine? I think the results would be interesting - I have the equipment to do it but I'd only be able to do a comparison between stock and the Stillen intakes. It'd be cool to do the same with the JT and K&N offerings as well.

 

[Kamauxx]

I got mine installed. I'm a little worried about everything staying together (drivers side filter is really tight, but it wants to squeeze itself off of the elbow if I crank it down), but I'm probably being paranoid. I'll check it in a few days to make sure I've maintained the clearance from the radiator hose and that all of the fittings are still seated properly.

The intake is as quiet as stock under 2K RPM and above that you can hear the turbos spooling and the BOV. It's sweet. I wish they looked as 'tight' as the JT setup but that was also hundreds of dollars more.

It makes me wonder though, wouldn't it be possible to objectively test the performance of a variety of Stinger intakes with a temperature probe and a pressure sensor where the intake meets the engine? I think the results would be interesting - I have the equipment to do it but I'd only be able to do a comparison between stock and the Stillen intakes. It'd be cool to do the same with the JT and K&N offerings as well.

You have a pic of the clearance you've got for the radiator hose? I'm curious how you have everything adjusted to get any clearance there. I have none, but nothing abrasive is rubbing there.

I'm also worried about something popping loose. I told my wife I was going to start hauling all my tools in the trunk for when the intake fails.

 

[sym]

You have a pic of the clearance you've got for the radiator hose? I'm curious how you have everything adjusted to get any clearance there. I have none, but nothing abrasive is rubbing there.

I'm also worried about something popping loose. I told my wife I was going to start hauling all my tools in the trunk for when the intake fails.

I'll see if I can snap a picture of it later. The clearance is super tight, you could probably only get a few pieces of paper between the two. They'll probably still make contact intermittently, but it's better than constant rubbing. I'll just have to keep an eye on it.

If you look at my install post I used some washers to set the filter slightly further back from the driver's side - this let me get a slightly better angle on the rubber 90 as it comes out of the engine to let the metal elbow clear the radiator hose. You have a few points of adjustment (rubber 90 angle from engine, insertion depth of the metal 90 into the rubber, filter insertion depth, and I added the filter bracket offset with the washers), but it's hard to make it fit right. On top of that I bet there are slight variations per car as to how much clearance to expect - it might be easier for some to get clearance but for others impossible.

I'll also add - on the passenger side there is contact between the intake and a few components, but the components appear to be in both a plastic and rubber sheath, so I'm not super worried about it. You can't really see it in the picture below but this is the area it's in:



Similarly, it might be possible to add something sacrificial to the radiator hose on the other side and just accept the rubbing. I'm not worried about the clamp or the rubber boot, but the radiator hose rubbing through would be a bad day.

Biggest concern is still the driver's side filter attachment to the metal 90. It's tight, super tight actually. But I'm used to cranking down on those suckers until I can't move them anymore. But if I keep tightening it it just pops the filter right off. It'll hold, but it's not confidence inspiring.

 

[WildBill]

Would it be better to rough up the last 1/2" of the pipe where the filter slips over to get more gription? Sand blast, coarse sand paper, or add grooves if the material is thick enough.

 

[Kamauxx]

I'll see if I can snap a picture of it later. The clearance is super tight, you could probably only get a few pieces of paper between the two. They'll probably still make contact intermittently, but it's better than constant rubbing. I'll just have to keep an eye on it.

If you look at my install post I used some washers to set the filter slightly further back from the driver's side - this let me get a slightly better angle on the rubber 90 as it comes out of the engine to let the metal elbow clear the radiator hose. You have a few points of adjustment (rubber 90 angle from engine, insertion depth of the metal 90 into the rubber, filter insertion depth, and I added the filter bracket offset with the washers), but it's hard to make it fit right. On top of that I bet there are slight variations per car as to how much clearance to expect - it might be easier for some to get clearance but for others impossible.

I'll also add - on the passenger side there is contact between the intake and a few components, but the components appear to be in both a plastic and rubber sheath, so I'm not super worried about it. You can't really see it in the picture below but this is the area it's in:

View attachment 12152

Similarly, it might be possible to add something sacrificial to the radiator hose on the other side and just accept the rubbing. I'm not worried about the clamp or the rubber boot, but the radiator hose rubbing through would be a bad day.

Biggest concern is still the driver's side filter attachment to the metal 90. It's tight, super tight actually. But I'm used to cranking down on those suckers until I can't move them anymore. But if I keep tightening it it just pops the filter right off. It'll hold, but it's not confidence inspiring.

You actually gave me a good idea. I'll probably go and get some heater hose later today and splice it down the middle to put between where mine is making contact with the radiator hose.

My filter on the driver's side was the same but I adjusted it and didn't tighten it quite as much as before and it seems pretty solid.

 

[sym]

You actually gave me a good idea. I'll probably go and get some heater hose later today and splice it down the middle to put between where mine is making contact with the radiator hose.

My filter on the driver's side was the same but I adjusted it and didn't tighten it quite as much as before and it seems pretty solid.

I was able to tighten the passenger side filter with an M12 impact driver until nothing moved. I'm confident it's not going anywhere. I have the 3/4" minimum insertion depth on the driver side as well, but once the clamp mostly tightens down the impact driver is able to pop the filter off. I just tightened it with a screwdriver until I was happy with it, but I knew if I tightened anymore it would start backing it off. I was, at one point able to get it even deeper on the elbow, where it wouldn't tighten off, but then I didn't clear the radiator hose. I had to choose the lesser of two evils.

 

[SteveCo]

... It makes me wonder though, wouldn't it be possible to objectively test the performance of a variety of Stinger intakes with a temperature probe and a pressure sensor where the intake meets the engine? I think the results would be interesting - I have the equipment to do it but I'd only be able to do a comparison between stock and the Stillen intakes ...

Please do! This is the kind of real world information (like the 0-60 test that @WildBill will be performing) that is of great value to the community.

 

[NICK_KHAR]

I believe it works as advertised. But I don't think an "install aside" review is acceptable.




Nick, this is nothing against you. Your price for the intake was cheaper than the other 2 places I'm aware of that are selling it. Your shipping from coast to coast was fast. Your willingness to accept the product back even after I've installed it shows your dedication to your customers. Thank you for that.

Definitely not taking it personal
I unfortunately/fortunately care about this community too much

Im also a Stinger owner and want to see this community flourish
We arent in it for the money. We want to see this market come to light and try and pick up as many manufacturers as possible

You all are the early adopters
And for that reason I will do whatever I can to take care of you
That means swallow a loss. Im perfectly okay with that IF its warranted

 

[Murray Kia Philadelphia]

Should I install this thing or return it? Mine arrived today.....

 

[NICK_KHAR]

Should I install this thing or return it? Mine arrived today.....

Would definitely recommend atleast attempting install

 

[Black Magix]

So what's the consensus? Wait on purchasing? My next upgrade is catch cans but an Intake is definitely on my list.

 

[Kamauxx]

So what's the consensus? Wait on purchasing? My next upgrade is catch cans but an Intake is definitely on my list.

If I were you I would wait awhile. I think they'll eventually go back to the drawing board and release a revised version.

 

[Jonathan]

So what's the consensus? Wait on purchasing? My next upgrade is catch cans but an Intake is definitely on my list.

My reasoning for Stillen...
I didn't care for Injen's reputation based on their history with other models that I've read. Infiniti owners complained about cheap materials. WRX intakes suffered from heat soak. It sure looks the best though, that red piping is delicious.

JT's looks the best but ultimately too rich for my blood just for an intake.

K&N wasn't fully enclosed and had fitment issues when initially released, but has been corrected now I believe.

Stillen is enclosed and cheaper than other options listed above. I heard good feedback from my friends who bought their stuff before.

I have no complaints from a performance stand point so far.

 

[WildBill]

I laid out my kit last night and saw what you guys were talking about with the filter attaching to a curved section of pipe with very little depth. I'm bringing home a set of muffler expanders for the weekend in case I find a way to make the last 1/2" of the curve straight (muffler expander inside, hose clamp outside, heat it with a heat gun, let it cool) We'll see how it goes.

 

[sym]

I laid out my kit last night and saw what you guys were talking about with the filter attaching to a curved section of pipe with very little depth. I'm bringing home a set of muffler expanders for the weekend in case I find a way to make the last 1/2" of the curve straight (muffler expander inside, hose clamp outside, heat it with a heat gun, let it cool) We'll see how it goes.

Sounds fancy. I think you're overthinking it.