Which one guys ?

 

I vote for TSP lid if you get a SSRA or FTRA ram air kit to compliment it. If you don't want an after market ram air kit/CAI then the FIPK II would be better then just the lid IMO because you should get better HP gains on a dyno.

FIPK II = bitter HP gain on a dyno chart.

TSP lid + SSRA = better HP and throttle response at speeds over 60 mph.

No complaints here with my TSP lid and SSRA

Good Luck

 

i'm very happy with the gains of my tsp and ssra. and the look in the engine bay is nice and clean and streamlined...much better than stock at least.

 

... just fipk or the air box

 

Just to play devil's advocate...how does anyone know that there are HP gains (over the FIPK) with the SSRA at speeds over 60mph? The car's never on a dyno at that point. It's theoretical, isn't it? It's a guess about what should be, based on our experiences of holding our hands out windows on the highway.

I tried the Fast Toys ram air kit on my '98 and noticed nothing. There was no gain in the 1/4 mile ET or trap speed. Autotap showed a minor decrease in IAT, but that's it. Based on my experience, I can't recommend those kits. I sold mine after a month or so of use. My intake filter was FILTHY, covered with leaves and bugs.

The dyno may not be the greatest means to decide which part to buy, but I'll take the part that gains more on the dyno over the one which *theoretically* should gain more. Concrete numbers are better than a hunch or a perceived feeling.

With the FIPK, you know what you're getting. It ain't 28 rwhp, but it's more than you will get from a lid. I'm going FIPK on my '02.

 

True you can't measure the HP from SSRA but it's not the dyno that most people are mostly concerned with. I have no personal numbers at the track to compare ATM but when I researched this for myself I found a few threads where people were gaining 1 to 2/10's at the track after the SSRA. That's not overly impressive but it's also nothing to snear at. Once I get a helmet and DSL then I can hit the track and try a few runs with and without SSRA to get some personal numbers.

What I can say from my experience is that when I had the car with nothing done but the dynomax muffler I wanted to see what this car could do. I never had a V8 car prior to this so I had the itch to find out what 120+ felt like. I found myself on a very isolated section of hwy (farmland area with no cars in view in front or behind) so I nailed it. I went to 125 quickly enough but it was sluggish after that. By 130 it lost all pep. I accelerated to 135 and then quickly backed off and got down to 75 again. It was a rush going that fast but I noticed the lack of power from 125-135 not that I plan to spend much time over 100 anyway (that speed scared the **** out of me).

After I installed the TSP lid and SSRA I ran the car again when the right opportunity came along and all I can say is WOW. I was 140 before I knew it. I admit I am a wuss at that speed and just as quickly as I got there I went right back to my normal 75 hwy speed. But there was no question the SOTP feel on the hwy with SSRA and a good lid is well worth it and I use paper filers so cleaning is not an issue. No leaves in mine yet but I plan to run with my block off foam in the bottom scoop during the fall season.

I didn't like the way the FIPK looked but that is just personal preference. Since you stated you only wanted to compare lid to FIPK then the FIPK should work better then just a lid.

Only complaints I have heard about FIPK is the car can run hotter at idle and it can become messy if the filter is over oiled. But overall the vast majority of FIPK owners I talked too were very happy with it.

Good Luck

 

we have dynoed several cars with the FIPK and then switched to a lid and the lid always beats the fipk

and a lid is alot cheaper and makes more power

 

After installing a K&N FIPK, I have been an advocate for one ever since. I felt noticable improvements immediately.

From my own experiences and comments on this board, I would have to say the FIPK is one of the best improvements for a stock Z28 daily driver.

While the FTRA and SSRA do supply clean/cooler air box/lid, they do not force air into the engine. There also exists the possibility of getting water (in standing puddles) into the engine resulting in hydrolock.

 

I apologise for starting this whole FTRA/SSRA thing. The original poster has expressed he does not want a comparison to ram air kits but strictly lid vs fipk. We have gotten a little off the subject here.

However I have to say in defense of SSRA that it does ram air but you have to be at high speeds to get that affect (it by no means compares to a blower however so don't get me wrong). Hydrolock can happen but it is very uncommon and can easily be avoided with a block off plate or in my case block off foam.

I always heard the FIPK II dynoed more than a lid so I was a little surprised by what the chef said. I guess results can very so maybe the lid is worth another look even by itself. I feel for you bro because I had a very hard time deciding myself. I even ordered the fipk and then while it was shipping changed my mind and did the TSP lid instead. I'm starting to think now that performance gains may be pretty close so look at some pics of carbon fiber lids/clear lids and fipk and see which one you like better based on looks if all else fails.

Good Luck (I know this is a tough choice).

 

THANKS - I REMEMBER YOUR POST. IS IT NOISY COMPARED TO THE FACTORY LID?

 

I don't think either one is noisy (tsp lid or fipk). I heard FIPK has a nice sound to it at WOT but maybe a fipk user can chime in on that. As for the TSP lid I did not notice any increase in noise from my engine. But you have to remember I have a loud exhaust (dynomouth) which sounds bad a$$ so if it is louder then it must be minimal.

 

are the ssra's hard to install?

 

you make alot of sense

 

Nope

 

FIPK or LID? hmmmmm.......both will work pretty good, that decision comes down to the looks and either one will be better than stock.

IMO, i like how the clear lid looks.