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Hey all,

Just spent the last 2 hours installing the fipk I got from a member here. The hardest parts were getting the heat shield to bolt on and rerouting all the mess of wires connected to my battery. The intake wouldn't even fit at first, but it's because of my engine bay. Finally I got everything back together. Didn't bother doing the idle learn procedure, since the ecu will learn on its own.

Initial impressions:

I drove it slow like it was still stock and didn't notice any difference. No noise, and no low end loss. Car still jumps off the line and has good response. This made me very happy. I used to have a retarded AEM SRI that sounded like rice all the time and actually robbed low-end power.

Now I haven't really tested it out that much, but I did get on the freeway. I accelerated sort of aggressively to around 4-5k rpms and noticed a very low, nice-sounding growl from the intake after 3k rpms. No rice noises like the AEM. Just a very deep and throaty sound. I'm also pleased with this, because I was worried it would sound bad again.

I cruised on the highway at 65mph for a few minutes and could hardly notice any noise!! My old intake would be going waaaaaaarerr....all the time and made me crazy on long trips. With the K&N, it sounds stock! I can't believe how good this thing is.

So basically I don't have any disappointments. It was everything I was hoping for. One thing is you most likely won't feel any gain in the upper rpms. The dyno said 5whp (and I'm sure it's there), but I didn't feel any difference. Maybe I haven't driven hard enough yet to really get the effect. Well I'm hoping this little upgrade will make even more power once I get the ported head installed this coming weekend. See you later...

Oh and a few more things. As with all intakes I think, you still have that constant hissing sound as the car warms up. Once warm, it will go away and sound normal. You also get that ssss sound when you turn off the car

 
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good review. I have aem SRI right now and ya it does make you lose your low end power. Im gonna try out the injen CAI and see how that does.

 
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No doubt FIPK was and still is best mod I've done, with Kamikaze header a close second. I did feel a lil more kick in shift to 3rd gear.

 
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I could not believe it myself, good stuff.

 
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Well after driving some more, it seems that the response got a bit worse. I still think stock intake is the best for daily driver people. I'm still keeping it, because it sounds good and my stock airbox fell into pieces.

Another thing. I opened the hood after driving to feel where heat was coming from. Put my hand near the engine and it was hot air. Then I felt inside the heat shield and it was regular air temp. So the heat shield does work!

 
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I also installed the FIPK2 yesterday. Works great, I was checking on it every hour just looking at it with my hood open. I took it out around town to listen to the intake and stuff and when I brought it back to touch the filter and everything I noticed the filter (inside the heat shield) fell off the tube where it is connected by a hose ring. I think I tightened it down to tight the first time (I tightened it really really tight), so I have it on there snugly but not too tight (I gave it a tug with the hand and it didn't really budge so hopefully I have no problems. Do u think I'll still have problems?>????

 
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same sotry over and over. people switch from AEM to the FIPK and say its great. i wonder if i should just get the FIPK in the first place and not even bother with AEM SRI

 
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Learn from my mistakes. That AEM SRI was one of the worst mods next to tezzas. Made high-pitched ricey noise all the time and took away power! With the K&N, you get a deep growl that almost sounds like exhaust, and even then you only hear it in the higher rpms. Cruising at 65mph=stock sound.

 
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yeah you have to go about 85 before you hear the FIPK with regular driving. i'm back to my stock box from FIPK, and i can't feel a low end gain, so maybe i never lost one. glad to hear you like the intake, i woulda kept it but i don't think it fits with the K20A2...

 
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Thanks. It works well and even at 6k rpms it's not too loud like the AEM. I'm hoping the port work will make it even better.

 
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So I should go for the FIPK that I can get at cost over the Injen RD CAi I can also get at cost at a local shop, or no? I know you reviewed based on an AEM SRI, but was wondering if anyone else had any insight?

 
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Overall, I'd say metal intakes are a bad idea. The metal heats up fast and stays hot from engine heat, whether it's cold air or short ram. The fipk is all plastic and has a great heatshield that blocks engine heat--it works! I would say fipk over everything else. The only other design I was considering is the Volant cold air intake that's coming out in a week.

 
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I justed picked up the intake today. Damn I wish I would have found this thread sooner. I'm going to sell it because I can't return it. Boxed is still sealed. Hopefully I can make a profit Now need to find someone in so cal that sells them so I don't have to pay for shipping.

 
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JJJ or Gearbox can you guys take pics of your intake installed? I would like to see how it looks. Thanks.

 
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**** in a handbag...

I just bought an AEM v2 intake off ebay from. Does the "AEM sucks" line apply to the v2's as well? If so, i have a new v2 intake I'll sell cheap

 
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If you have an LX, I would say keep it. Makes good power. But on the EX, it really won't do anything.

 
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Yeah I have a LX

 
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I meant the V2 is better on LX. Don't know about regular. I'll take some pics of the fipk tomorrow evening for you guys.

 
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Thats nice to know... At least I can expect performance to stay about the same on my LX and not drop.

On their website, AEM has specs showing increased torque for the LX/DX and high end HP increase... does K&N beat it? I haven't seen specs or personal experiences.

 
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The K&N FIPK is awesome..no doubt. I'm glad I didn't waste my money on the AEM intakes before getting it.

 
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I know the fipk II is the best for our cars. I had the Fipk II, installed it , drove it for a week. Noticed increase in noise (very good sound). I got on it a lot. I thought there might be better throttle response??? I was gettin on it all the time, wasting gas! So, I really believed it just gave me good noise from the engine bay. I stay about 3,000 rpms..I don't go up passed 5000 ever. So, I sold my Fipk II to another member on here.
He hasn't installed it yet. My conclusion is it sounds and looks cool, but little or no gain. No loss low end. I am back to stock with my K&N drop in air filter. Hope this helps.

 
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I love my FIPK II. I've had it since November of '02. The best part of it is that the car pulls harder above 3,500 or 4,000 RPM, but still sounds stock when the engine isn't working as hard. Most likely, I paid less than you guys did - $189.98 shipped to my front door. There was a group buy, but I don't remember who it was through.

By the way, I have an EX, so I'm not sure why people are saying it only works for non-VTEC models. The FIPK makes it so you can actually *almost* notice VTEC kicking in.

In my opinion, it's a great mod. For my car, it's up there with my extra-wide arm rest. lol.

 
Rep Power: 528

Dude, I told you it was awesome.

Did you reset your ECU? Cuz if not you gotta wait like 200-300 miles for it to adjust on its own. If you didn't adjust the ECU, that may be why you didn't really feel anything. Not like it's going to throw you into your seat anyway, but it may have something to do with it.

 
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Hey bro, yea, I did reset my ecu and still felt little gain, just noise. I was cool looking and great engine bay noise, but little gain. I know the gain comes at
4,000 + rpms...so, I sold it to civicgeek.
I might check out the volant.....

 
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Just added engine pic on the first page. Ceramic header and ported head are coming this Saturday! So I think the intake will really help with everything.

I don't feel much gain, if any, but it's still cool if you want an intake.

 
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I try and keep it clean like new. Header is gonna make it even better

 
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So what did u do, u took the stock filter out, closed the box, and put a K&N filter at the tip? cuz i dont wanna waiste my money.

 
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K&N drop in filter is the same size and design as stock, so it fits inside the stock airbox. That's what I was using for a while. It's good because of better air flow and reusable.

 
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hey everyone, this is for those who regret gettin an aem after readin these posts. i baught a cai off ebay for like 23 bucks. lol ha i know. but i was just curious. im gettin it in the mail tomorrow i think. ill instal it asoon as i get it. ill take sum pic and post so u guys can see my generic intake. ill let u know if i feel a difference. i drive my car hard all the time. shift at 5rpm no matter what. just used to it. i never shift before or at 3 rpm. but yeah. hey but an intake 23 bucks. thats pretty kool. right now i took out my intake resonator so i just have the filter box thats it. feels the same. and it doesnt sound any different. why is that??

 
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I always thought the resonator makes in quiet. I guess it's the airbox. Maybe something to do with the path of air.

Let us know when you get the generic one put on. Probably givesd the same gain as AEM.