What is the elephant tusk thing coming out of my intake elbow? Its stock and looks like it serves no purpose but to cause air turbulence. Is it worth replacing this with an aluminum one?

 

yes it is and that is all that it is there to do

 

Ah, the resonator, or "Donkey Dong" whichever you prefer...

Anyway, it's there to reduce intake noise (I'm tired of explaining exactly how it works, search and you'll come across at least 2 posts where I cover how it works). Replacing your intake elbow with one that does not have the resonator is not going to get you much, if any power. It doesn't protrude into the intake at all and the amount of "turbulence" (technically any air traveling through that elbow is going to be considered turbulent flow, but we don't need to get into that) it creates is negligible to your motor...If you want something shiny go for it, but it's going to be a visual mod mostly.

 

If you really want something for your elbow, I have a 1LE elbow I'll sell you cheap, just PM me if interested.

 

Yes they sell cheap ones on ebay for 50$ around there. I believe they come in black, if your not into the silver color of the vortechs.