Maddog2873
Member
My new intakes from AEM arrived today and I installed them as soon as they arrived. I was able to uninstall all of the OEM parts in just under an hour on my own. I then took about an hour and a half to install the new stuff. Mind you I never do any of my own work because I usually either don't have the tools, help, or know how to be messing around under the hood. I had swapped the intake on 2 cars previously so I figured I could handle this one. Someone who is more comfortable under the hood could probably have done it much faster.
Install notes:
1. The directions said to disconnect hoses first and take the filter housing out last. I ended up finding it easier to remove the filter housing first and then work the hoses loose from there. The biggest reason for this was I couldn't fit my hands in the places they needed to go. (a specific tool may have made this easier but I don't know what it might have been and I didn't have it, lol) I was using a vice grip to move the clamps.
2. I left the hoses connected to the BOV's at first and then later realized it would be easier if they were fully removed. I also had to trim the length of the hoses to fit with the new tubing. I left the other hoses alone and did not have to trim anything else.
3. On the driver side, there are 4 screws that will hold down the new shroud. 2 bolt to the frame and the other 2 bolt to the filter adapter (part that directly connects to the air filters). The bolt that it closest to the front of the vehicle was a MAJOR pain as something is in the way. I'm not exactly sure what was hindering me other than it was thin silver, and not flexible. Luckily someone with more nimble, and less tired fingers than mine came along and got it seated.
4. Overall the install was very straight forward and the provided directions gave me all I needed to get everything in place without having to go back and do something over. Granted that will depend on how much you read the directions if you have to go back and fix something.
Driving impressions:
At first startup, it sounded like a jet was about to take off, but I imagine that was because of a cold start, and I imagine it will do that on every cold start. It calms down after a few seconds and then you can't hear anything different at idle. On my first drive I honestly heard more than I expected. The "whoosh" sound is quite noticeable, but not in a bad way (to my ears at least). The whip sound you get when abruptly letting off the gas is equally noisy, but to me that's the best sound of all. As many have stated, you will hear nothing if you are just casual cruising, but if you get your foot into it, you will hear what you paid for.
I took the wife for a ride after my first run to get her stamp of approval. She could care less but got the biggest kick out of watching my face and the stupid grin I had every time I purposely got on it just to make noise. All that really matters here is she didn't veto it, yay!
Install notes:
1. The directions said to disconnect hoses first and take the filter housing out last. I ended up finding it easier to remove the filter housing first and then work the hoses loose from there. The biggest reason for this was I couldn't fit my hands in the places they needed to go. (a specific tool may have made this easier but I don't know what it might have been and I didn't have it, lol) I was using a vice grip to move the clamps.
2. I left the hoses connected to the BOV's at first and then later realized it would be easier if they were fully removed. I also had to trim the length of the hoses to fit with the new tubing. I left the other hoses alone and did not have to trim anything else.
3. On the driver side, there are 4 screws that will hold down the new shroud. 2 bolt to the frame and the other 2 bolt to the filter adapter (part that directly connects to the air filters). The bolt that it closest to the front of the vehicle was a MAJOR pain as something is in the way. I'm not exactly sure what was hindering me other than it was thin silver, and not flexible. Luckily someone with more nimble, and less tired fingers than mine came along and got it seated.
4. Overall the install was very straight forward and the provided directions gave me all I needed to get everything in place without having to go back and do something over. Granted that will depend on how much you read the directions if you have to go back and fix something.
Driving impressions:
At first startup, it sounded like a jet was about to take off, but I imagine that was because of a cold start, and I imagine it will do that on every cold start. It calms down after a few seconds and then you can't hear anything different at idle. On my first drive I honestly heard more than I expected. The "whoosh" sound is quite noticeable, but not in a bad way (to my ears at least). The whip sound you get when abruptly letting off the gas is equally noisy, but to me that's the best sound of all. As many have stated, you will hear nothing if you are just casual cruising, but if you get your foot into it, you will hear what you paid for.
I took the wife for a ride after my first run to get her stamp of approval. She could care less but got the biggest kick out of watching my face and the stupid grin I had every time I purposely got on it just to make noise. All that really matters here is she didn't veto it, yay!
Adding thermal heat shielding made a huge difference on my intakes!
