can i do this? cai install
 

so the dealership quoted me 225 to put on the ms intake. f that. i think i can do it.

anyone got any tips to make the install go more smoothly?

the instructions look fairly complicated, and it seems pretty involved removing the bumper and all.

anyone had trouble who tried it?

i guess the aem intake is the same. i think i saw a diy for that but can\'t seem to find it now.

i havent asked him.i had planned on doing it myself, but i just pulled out the instructions and got a little nervous.

My dealership did the install for $50. I can't believe the prices fluctuate so diff. However had I been quoted $250 I would also do it myself.

Should not be too difficult. Just make sure you have some time, patience, music, and something to drink. An extra pair of hands always helps :)

The AEM instructions are much easier to follow because they have more pictures showing what needs to be performed.
I don't see why you can't use this manual also for the MS CAI install.

You can view/download the AEM installation manual here:
http://www.aempower.com/images/produ...s%2021-485.pdf

It's pretty easy. It will take you longer if you've never taken off the bumper before but i installed an AEM intake in a little over an hour last week. First time ever for me, but i've taken the bumper off multiple times before.

Follow the AEM instructions Jon316G provided ^^^ they're good.

thanks, guys. i needed the motivation. bout to give it a go here in a little bit.

is the one jack stand in the trunk kit sufficient to lift the front, or do i need 2? i'm thinking i'll need two. i should probably have some good ones anyway so i can start changing the oil.


edit: looking at these AEM instructions, i'm not as worried anymore.

thanks again.

hmm. step one in the instructions says to jack the front end. but all the bolts and pins do seem to be accessible from the top. wth?

cool, thanks.

edit: well, hold on. you have to remove the wheels. or can you just turn them either way like for the side marker?

looks like you can. sweet.

I have done installations for others that felt overwhelmed or thought it was a daunting task.

You don't need to jack the car up for bumper removal:

What I did was pop out all the black screws in the front fender well as well as the bolts along the bottom so they have some free room to move.

By doing this you can tilt the front bumper forward without having to remove it 100%.

You may want towels so you can put them on the end of the bumper so movement won't scratch or damage anything.




Chase next time let me know if you need help with stuff like this, we can get the locals together and we can have a tech session.

That is something I think we have been lacking in our local community.

You should check out and post up on http://cflrx8club.com/index.php


Very helpful bunch.

As well if you would like installation to be completed I can make arrangements.

And yes you can turn your wheels so you can easily get out the screws.

yeah, i wanted to try it myself first. i know you're there for me if i need, brice. no worries.

The Central FL region had a large separation, we used to be on one local website but then split into three.

I am trying to reunite the Central Florida Region but it was drama and politics that separated us all not an easy task.

I am sure if the local AZ community split into 3 it would be very divided. I would say we have one of the top 5 largest communities but are so separated we have nothing to show for it.

Yeah we started Sponsoring events in IN and TX as a test to see how things go...

I am planning a Massive Meet for the South East Coast.

Others have been doing "Palooza's" with some success but once again Politics came in to play and those died out.

As soon as things are squared away with my car, I will be announcing a date for the massive meet and drive full of events...i.e. Car Shows, Spirited Drive, as well as giveaways for the community.

Dang, where's the popcorn? :dunno:

If you want to do it yourself.... I would have a friend come and watch. They don't have to say a word unless your unsafe. They can help when you ask.

That way you won't get stuck in the middle of a job.

I never used a jack. Easy for me to remve the screws on the bottom with out it.

here at rx8club, we know drama.

i appreciate the efforts of both bhr and fluid, and I'm confident that i can install this if I ever get started.

i also know that if i had asked, brice would have helped me install or would have just done it himself. i only inquired about the dealership price because i'm going in there soon anyway to pick up a new coolant sensor, and their work is warrantied.

Oh btw, good luck on the install Myriad!

its really no big deal, i've swapped intakes 3 or 4 times and i have removed my bumper another 2 or 3 times.

all it take is patience. and make sure you remember where the little screws go for the under carriage!

Seriously guys, just answer the question instead of taking pot shots at each other.

i wish i itemized or photographed them. i'm struggling to figure this out now. and since i didn't jack the car up, and my car is low as hell, i'm on my back feeling around and hoping.

i also have 3 10mm bolts, one with a funky lipped washer, that i'm thinking are just superfluous. i'm usually wrong about that. i once took a vcr apart to retrieve a tape and had some leftover pieces when i put it back together. they seemed small and insignificant. everything appeared to be working fine until i tried to rewind.

and there's a fairly large undercarriage piece leftover that doesn't seem to fit anywhere.

and i can't find the hole for attaching the temperature sensor--which didn't need to be unsnapped anyway.

i'll probably post some pics up if i can't figure it out.

A true mechanic always has pieces left over lol

It's happened to all of us, i still have mustang parts from a car I sold years ago, pics should let everyone help you out.

okay, so i guess i'm supposed to reset my ecu now?

engine light on, hunting for idle.

IT shouldn't cause any CEL. At least mine didn't

make sure your MAF is secured. Both the unit itself and the socket.

pictures.

I can tell you what they are like right away :)

The hole for reattaching the temp sensor ? u mean the outside temp sensor ? or ?

If its the black outside temp sensor, look for the hole underneath the front brace member. Its on the body frame.

pics

yes and yes.

i did start it once before the filter was on. bad? that's when it threw the cel. there's screens in there. shouldn't matter too much, i thought.

i think some other screws were included with the kit. but they need an hexagonal head i don't have.

seems to be all good now. tightened the Maf screws. no more cel. still sort of hunting for an idle. steadies at 900 but goes back to 1500 for a sec.

woohoo. done.

total time: 6 hrs. first major mechanical endeavour. not bad, i guess.

the hunting should go away after the ecu readjusts. maf is ridiculously sensitive.
but 6 hours?! jeebus.

Didya put the OEM screens back in?
The one before the MAF is quite important and can make a big diff in the idle.....

wha? there were screens in the pipes with the kit. wide thatch though. hmm.

lol. i made a couple mistakes and did more than i needed to especially with regards to the undercarriage. all in all, i think it was a great learning experience, and i feel closer to my car -- which i didn't think was possible.

soounds good under wot. deeper, more manly. i don't think the throttle response is better, but the feel is, if that makes sense.

congrats on the success of your virginal mechanical adventure.

yep, thanks for the help everyone. and thanks for the dramatic interlude. i enjoyed that too.

its def something u can do urself, and at the end of the install ull be happier cause u did it urself

Next time you wanna attempt anything, just shoot me a PM and head on down to Indialantic and I'll help you out. It's not that far!

thanks, man. cool. we'll do. i've got an exhaust that needs to go on. you got tools for that?

OMG! installed mine today took me 4hours :[ lol

lol. fun though, right?

I have 2 sets of hexagon set (metric and imperial) so I just use the new screws that came with the CAI, its new, and I already paid for it, why not ?

but as long as yours is secured, it doesnt really matter I guess.

Took u 6 hours? lol ! Well, for someone never did it b4 it sounds about right.

I think I installed mine in about an hour something. but I know how to take most of the stuff out (like bumpers and stuff) so I guess that helped a lot.


speaking of changing things, I changed my coils today, took me 12 minutes to do all 4 ;) (I was taking my time too, lol)

Yeah! except i was pissed cause some of my piping was bent do to shipping :banghead::rant: but i bent it back. the BITCHIST coupler was the one going on to the throttle bottle, and the damn cap for the vacume was also a bitch to put on, since it was tiny.... but i the end it was FUCKING worth it! and i love the sound!

I didnt use the cap that came with the CAI, first off because I capped it off long time ago cuz I had K&N b4 That, another thing is that ... the cap is mad small, I was looking at it and like .... "NAHHHH, NOT WORTH THE TIME!"

THAT VACUUM CAP is RIDICULOUS.

i used a cap from the stock box. it's square so you can hold it. seems to be working well.

i spent 30 minutes or more trying to put the reducer hose on the the throttle body while it was inside the coupler since that's how it was in the bag. lol. i got it on there only to realize later that things had gone horribly wrong. :banghead:

Same fucking here! i put WD40 as lubrication didn't really work, just slightly. what did you use?

I got some caps at pepboys like almost a year before that. it was like 2 bux and u get like 6 or 8 I think. it fits perfectly.

when I was looking at the stupid small cap came with the CAI I was like this shit is so fucking small. what the hell ? not worth the time, my old one still working good.

It's like fucking a virgin small! :lol: <-- that was too much lol

lol. good job!!

good job....:molepoke:

mine took 3 and a half hours.

never done any technical stuff like it. definitely a good learning experience.
plus its cool to say you did it urself :]