AEM CAI Install
Thread Starter
bose? just say no!
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
AEM CAI Install Gurus! Please
Hey guys. I'm attempting a newbie install of an AEM CAI on my 98' 3.0 CL. I know this must have been posted before but the forum temporarily doesnt allow a search. If anyone with experience could help me out, I'd appreciate it. I have pm'ed with dustbuster4 for some help and this is what he gave me.
Now this is excellent but I have a questions. If anyone would like to help out, please do.
The two "hoses" that are connected to the stock intake, they seem pretty attached. How should I go about disassembling those connections?
Plus any clarification or pointers would be excellent. I need all the help I can get. Don't wanna hurt the baby you know...
You need to remove the stock intake and air box, plus remove the resonator (which is located under the stock air box (filter).
I wish we (a-cl.com) were back up to speed, so that I could direct you to a thread that tell how to remove the resonator. But, I'll try.
[Removing the stock air system is pretty easy (just disconnect all connectors leading up to the air box).]
Take the lid off of the air box, remove the filter. You'll notice several bolts that hold the air box to the car itself. Removing the air box makes removing the stock intake much easier. Make sure to disconnect the 2 hoses that connect to the stock intake, then take it off of the throttle body.
Once you get the stock intake and air box out, you'll notice more tubing that is sticking up underneath where the air box was mounted. You need to get this out because the filter of your AEM intake will need to be in that area. The only way to get out that tubing (and finally see the resonator), is to remove the tabs that hold the wheelwell to the car (front driver's side).
You need to pop out the tabs (only do 3 or 4) that are located towards the front of the wheelwell. In addition, there are 2 bolts underneath the car that make it possible to finally "peel" back the wheelwell (you need only to remove as many tabs as is necessary to get the resonators out). Once the tabs/bolts are removed, you can see the resonator. There are 2 or 3 bolts that hold the resonator to the car. Once these bolts are removed, you should be able to pull the resonator through the wheel well (just make sure that your wheels are turned so that you have enough room to pull the resonator out).
Finally, you'll have the space that you need to connect the AEM intake.
Connect the AEM intake to the throttle body. Attach the two hoses (as they were attached to the stock intake). Put the filter on (by going throught the wheelwell) to the intake. Mount any support brackets AEM may have given you, and put the tabs/bolts backinto the wheelwell.
I hope this hasn't confused you too much, and good luck!
I wish we (a-cl.com) were back up to speed, so that I could direct you to a thread that tell how to remove the resonator. But, I'll try.
[Removing the stock air system is pretty easy (just disconnect all connectors leading up to the air box).]
Take the lid off of the air box, remove the filter. You'll notice several bolts that hold the air box to the car itself. Removing the air box makes removing the stock intake much easier. Make sure to disconnect the 2 hoses that connect to the stock intake, then take it off of the throttle body.
Once you get the stock intake and air box out, you'll notice more tubing that is sticking up underneath where the air box was mounted. You need to get this out because the filter of your AEM intake will need to be in that area. The only way to get out that tubing (and finally see the resonator), is to remove the tabs that hold the wheelwell to the car (front driver's side).
You need to pop out the tabs (only do 3 or 4) that are located towards the front of the wheelwell. In addition, there are 2 bolts underneath the car that make it possible to finally "peel" back the wheelwell (you need only to remove as many tabs as is necessary to get the resonators out). Once the tabs/bolts are removed, you can see the resonator. There are 2 or 3 bolts that hold the resonator to the car. Once these bolts are removed, you should be able to pull the resonator through the wheel well (just make sure that your wheels are turned so that you have enough room to pull the resonator out).
Finally, you'll have the space that you need to connect the AEM intake.
Connect the AEM intake to the throttle body. Attach the two hoses (as they were attached to the stock intake). Put the filter on (by going throught the wheelwell) to the intake. Mount any support brackets AEM may have given you, and put the tabs/bolts backinto the wheelwell.
I hope this hasn't confused you too much, and good luck!
The two "hoses" that are connected to the stock intake, they seem pretty attached. How should I go about disassembling those connections?
Plus any clarification or pointers would be excellent. I need all the help I can get. Don't wanna hurt the baby you know...
Thread Starter
bose? just say no!
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
Well I went ahead and ripped out the stock intake. What I can't figure out is... how the mounting (to the fenderwell) doesnt line up to any screw holes. Is this normal? I think I should have a stable for the intake. Let know if you guys have an answer for my situation.
A-CL Post Whore w/N2O
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,070
Likes: 1
From: D.C. Suburbs
BTW: I "wrote" all of the above while a school and from memory!
If AEM gave you a bracket/brace (either welded to the intake or separate), you'll probably need to drill a new hole in the fenderwell.
You can click on the pics in my signature to see how I "rigged" a support for my CAI. It looks like hell, but it's functional. I was able to used a pre-drilled hole that originally was used to mount the air box to the engine compartment.
I will probably build a custom support brace, and mount it elsewhere (drilling a new hole).
If AEM gave you a bracket/brace (either welded to the intake or separate), you'll probably need to drill a new hole in the fenderwell.
You can click on the pics in my signature to see how I "rigged" a support for my CAI. It looks like hell, but it's functional. I was able to used a pre-drilled hole that originally was used to mount the air box to the engine compartment.
I will probably build a custom support brace, and mount it elsewhere (drilling a new hole).
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,567
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Originally posted by mushi
Well I went ahead and ripped out the stock intake. What I can't figure out is... how the mounting (to the fenderwell) doesnt line up to any screw holes. Is this normal? I think I should have a stable for the intake. Let know if you guys have an answer for my situation.
Well I went ahead and ripped out the stock intake. What I can't figure out is... how the mounting (to the fenderwell) doesnt line up to any screw holes. Is this normal? I think I should have a stable for the intake. Let know if you guys have an answer for my situation.
)
tighten all the clamps and let the arms/bracket rest on whatever is in it's way.
Thread Starter
bose? just say no!
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
Just finished getting the intake installed and taking a nice spin around the town. It feels like a new car... you can hear it sucking up the air with a vacuum-like sound. Dubs to you nugs3 and BIG THANK YOU to dustbuster for the wisdom. One thing though, I pretty much jacked up the wheelwall in the process. Excessive force while screws still in place = torn plastic. Damn. Think I can get a wheelwall from a junkyard?
A-CL Post Whore w/N2O
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,070
Likes: 1
From: D.C. Suburbs
Originally posted by mushi
Just finished getting the intake installed and taking a nice spin around the town. It feels like a new car... you can hear it sucking up the air with a vacuum-like sound. Dubs to you nugs3 and BIG THANK YOU to dustbuster for the wisdom. One thing though, I pretty much jacked up the wheelwall in the process. Excessive force while screws still in place = torn plastic. Damn. Think I can get a wheelwall from a junkyard?
Just finished getting the intake installed and taking a nice spin around the town. It feels like a new car... you can hear it sucking up the air with a vacuum-like sound. Dubs to you nugs3 and BIG THANK YOU to dustbuster for the wisdom. One thing though, I pretty much jacked up the wheelwall in the process. Excessive force while screws still in place = torn plastic. Damn. Think I can get a wheelwall from a junkyard?
You could probably find the plastic wheelwell at a junk yard, but you can buy it new here for less than $35.00.
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