R2C Intake - Lessons Learned
12-01-2013, 09:54 PM
#46
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The stealth clamps arrived on Friday although I didn't get my hands on to them until Saturday. I will try and post pictures but I am having PC issues, may be time for a new one I don't know. They were well packaged and arrived in a timely manner, no complaints. There was a signed thank you note from the folks at Sure,which I thought was a nice touch, and they tossed in a couple stickers.
The clamps themselves were a nice color black and seem to be holding the color well. They're just a little bit wider than the SS clamps and they definitely have more grip. They're advertised as having silicone on the inside to assist with the hold and I was envisioning a thick piece but it seems to be a very fine layer. I'm not saying that these are like superglue, just that there is more "tack" to them than the SS clamps.
I installed them on a piece of 3 inch HPS hose, I was going to order blue but I chickened out and went black after all. The clamps JUST fit over the hose which made it a lot easier to finish the swap out but had me a little concerned. I'm reluctant to say the stealth clamps run small, I think it's much more likely that I sized them incorrectly but they actually fit just fine as long as you aren't looking for a lot of extra length. So, as Rochester thought, 3 inches is probably a little too long for this length of hose. I felt like 2 inches wasn't long enough and the 3 inches works though it's very snug and pushes the filter against the front of the engine compartment. This makes me think that 2 1/2 inches is probably the length I would like for this set up, time will tell. Specific to the stealth clamps from Sure Motorsports, based on the ones I've received and installed so far, I like them and wouldn't hesitate to buy them again. I'll continue to monitor the connections and see if anything changes with updates if there are any issues I identify.
I'm going to go and fight with my PC, I think it's iTunes causing issues again. I'll edit and add photos as soon as I am able. Edit to add - here are a few pics, they're huge...
With original parts
With new hose and clamps
Side to side comparison
Overview
Clamps a
Clamps b
Hose and clamp a
Hose and clamp b
The clamps themselves were a nice color black and seem to be holding the color well. They're just a little bit wider than the SS clamps and they definitely have more grip. They're advertised as having silicone on the inside to assist with the hold and I was envisioning a thick piece but it seems to be a very fine layer. I'm not saying that these are like superglue, just that there is more "tack" to them than the SS clamps.
I installed them on a piece of 3 inch HPS hose, I was going to order blue but I chickened out and went black after all. The clamps JUST fit over the hose which made it a lot easier to finish the swap out but had me a little concerned. I'm reluctant to say the stealth clamps run small, I think it's much more likely that I sized them incorrectly but they actually fit just fine as long as you aren't looking for a lot of extra length. So, as Rochester thought, 3 inches is probably a little too long for this length of hose. I felt like 2 inches wasn't long enough and the 3 inches works though it's very snug and pushes the filter against the front of the engine compartment. This makes me think that 2 1/2 inches is probably the length I would like for this set up, time will tell. Specific to the stealth clamps from Sure Motorsports, based on the ones I've received and installed so far, I like them and wouldn't hesitate to buy them again. I'll continue to monitor the connections and see if anything changes with updates if there are any issues I identify.
I'm going to go and fight with my PC, I think it's iTunes causing issues again. I'll edit and add photos as soon as I am able. Edit to add - here are a few pics, they're huge...
With original parts
With new hose and clamps
Side to side comparison
Overview
Clamps a
Clamps b
Hose and clamp a
Hose and clamp b
Last edited by RexHavoc; 12-01-2013 at 10:53 PM. Reason: Adding pics
12-02-2013, 08:18 AM
#47
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Excellent review on the Stealth Clamps, Rex. Excellent pictures. Very well done. 
These clamps look to have noticeably better design quality than the SS clamps. The worm gear, the inner lining (really?), and the band itself all speak to an improved design. And good that it does, because otherwise you'd be paying someone to paint standard clamps flat black, and that's not cool. In other words, it looks like you got what you paid for, which is gratifying.
As to the stealthy color... IDK. I like it, while at the same time I also like the bit of bling two clean SS bands provides. This may be something I revisit in the spring, when it's not freezing in my garage and I'm spending more time with my car.
As for your couplers... aside from the 3" length, I'm guessing you're liking the HPS in black, yes? That ring of amber against the mid-pipes is a very appealing look, IMO. If you want to go down a 1/2", you could just get out the box-cutter and hack away at it. And even though you'd be putting the hand-cut edge hidden against the throttle bodies, I still recommend you come up with as precise a technique as possible when cutting.
Again, nicely done, Rex. Thank you.
These clamps look to have noticeably better design quality than the SS clamps. The worm gear, the inner lining (really?), and the band itself all speak to an improved design. And good that it does, because otherwise you'd be paying someone to paint standard clamps flat black, and that's not cool. In other words, it looks like you got what you paid for, which is gratifying.
As to the stealthy color... IDK. I like it, while at the same time I also like the bit of bling two clean SS bands provides. This may be something I revisit in the spring, when it's not freezing in my garage and I'm spending more time with my car.
As for your couplers... aside from the 3" length, I'm guessing you're liking the HPS in black, yes? That ring of amber against the mid-pipes is a very appealing look, IMO. If you want to go down a 1/2", you could just get out the box-cutter and hack away at it. And even though you'd be putting the hand-cut edge hidden against the throttle bodies, I still recommend you come up with as precise a technique as possible when cutting.
Again, nicely done, Rex. Thank you.
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12-02-2013, 08:20 AM
#48
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RexHavoc (12-02-2013)
12-02-2013, 11:06 AM
#50
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Lol, I agree I just haven't swapped it back out yet. To Rochester's point there are way too many logos. I think just the dipstick would have been about right. Or perhaps none.... Seemed like a good idea at the time, what can I say? Whoops!
12-02-2013, 11:12 AM
#51
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Granted, I have the ZeeToyz cap, so I'm just experimenting. But maybe this is an option for you since you have both as well.
12-02-2013, 11:15 AM
#52
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Excellent review on the Stealth Clamps, Rex. Excellent pictures. Very well done.
These clamps look to have noticeably better design quality than the SS clamps. The worm gear, the inner lining (really?), and the band itself all speak to an improved design. And good that it does, because otherwise you'd be paying someone to paint standard clamps flat black, and that's not cool. In other words, it looks like you got what you paid for, which is gratifying.
As to the stealthy color... IDK. I like it, while at the same time I also like the bit of bling two clean SS bands provides. This may be something I revisit in the spring, when it's not freezing in my garage and I'm spending more time with my car.
As for your couplers... aside from the 3" length, I'm guessing you're liking the HPS in black, yes? That ring of amber against the mid-pipes is a very appealing look, IMO. If you want to go down a 1/2", you could just get out the box-cutter and hack away at it. And even though you'd be putting the hand-cut edge hidden against the throttle bodies, I still recommend you come up with as precise a technique as possible when cutting.
Again, nicely done, Rex. Thank you.
These clamps look to have noticeably better design quality than the SS clamps. The worm gear, the inner lining (really?), and the band itself all speak to an improved design. And good that it does, because otherwise you'd be paying someone to paint standard clamps flat black, and that's not cool. In other words, it looks like you got what you paid for, which is gratifying.
As to the stealthy color... IDK. I like it, while at the same time I also like the bit of bling two clean SS bands provides. This may be something I revisit in the spring, when it's not freezing in my garage and I'm spending more time with my car.
As for your couplers... aside from the 3" length, I'm guessing you're liking the HPS in black, yes? That ring of amber against the mid-pipes is a very appealing look, IMO. If you want to go down a 1/2", you could just get out the box-cutter and hack away at it. And even though you'd be putting the hand-cut edge hidden against the throttle bodies, I still recommend you come up with as precise a technique as possible when cutting.
Again, nicely done, Rex. Thank you.
I think I am going to trim a half inch off the HPS, I like the black very much great suggestion!
once I figure out how to maintain the measurement I'll give a whack (literally and figuratively I suppose) I have a couple blades that should allow me to run it straight down but I don't want to butcher it up you're correct.I do think you're getting what you're paying for, they definitely didn't just paint a clamp black. These are nice and seem to have some engineered thought behind them for certain.
I appreciate the kind words, hopefully the write up helps someone.
12-02-2013, 11:19 AM
#53
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Rex, since I've had the OEM cap just sitting here on my desk for the last few weeks, (having swapped it out for the black, logo-less ZeeToyz cap), I've been playing with it. With the razor blade and some careful patience, you can remove the embossed washer fluid symbol from the plastic. And then sand it down perfectly smooth... which I've done, because it's there. Next up is some Krylon black plastic paint.
Granted, I have the ZeeToyz cap, so I'm just experimenting. But maybe this is an option for you since you have both as well.
Granted, I have the ZeeToyz cap, so I'm just experimenting. But maybe this is an option for you since you have both as well.
12-09-2013, 03:30 PM
#54
Sorry for being a little late-to-the-party on this . . . Does the hood liner serve any purpose in regards to protecting the paint on the hood from the engine heat? On my previous car (a 1999 Ford w/ no hood liner), the paint on the hood began to noticeably fade in some areas - I assumed it was from the engine heat, but I suppose it could have also been the quality of the paint used.
I love the idea of hearing more of the engine by removing the liner, but I'm a little concerned about the possible long-term effects to the paint. Maybe I'm overly paranoid, but I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts are on it.
Thanks in advance.
I love the idea of hearing more of the engine by removing the liner, but I'm a little concerned about the possible long-term effects to the paint. Maybe I'm overly paranoid, but I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts are on it.
Thanks in advance.
12-09-2013, 03:38 PM
#55
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Sorry for being a little late-to-the-party on this . . . Does the hood liner serve any purpose in regards to protecting the paint on the hood from the engine heat? On my previous car (a 1999 Ford w/ no hood liner), the paint on the hood began to noticeably fade in some areas - I assumed it was from the engine heat, but I suppose it could have also been the quality of the paint used.
I love the idea of hearing more of the engine by removing the liner, but I'm a little concerned about the possible long-term effects to the paint. Maybe I'm overly paranoid, but I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts are on it.
Thanks in advance.
I love the idea of hearing more of the engine by removing the liner, but I'm a little concerned about the possible long-term effects to the paint. Maybe I'm overly paranoid, but I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts are on it.
Thanks in advance.
However, just by asking I think you have your answer.
12-10-2013, 07:18 PM
#57
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You probably bought the car at Autoplace Infiniti-Nissan. I like that dealership.
Welcome to the forum.
12-11-2013, 08:39 AM
#60
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blnewt (12-11-2013)
