Then it was time to install the filter element. The AEM instructions say simply to attach the filter element and tighten the hose clamp. However, there wasn’t room between the end of the intake pipe and the little black reservoir to get the element in place on the pipe. I wasn’t about to take the anchor off again, so I had to figure out a different way.
The little black reservoir is held in position by a small plastic tab on the back, inside corner where it mounts to the another slot in the coolant reservoir.
By removing the small, black reservoir and pulling it and it’s tubing forward, there was plenty of room to slip the filter element over the intake pipe. Once on the pipe, there is sufficient room and flexibility to work the small tank’s tubing back under the filter to reposition the tank on the front of the coolant reservoir.
Once on the pipe, there is sufficient room and flexibility to work the small tank’s tubing back under the filter to reposition the tank on the front of the coolant reservoir. After installation, the filter’s hose clamp was tightened and the rubber foam strip was reattached to the heat shield’s engine-side edge.
As can be seen below, once installed there is no rubbing between the filter and the small black tank or any other surface in that quadrant of the engine bay.
Final Steps:
The only things remaining were to reattach the IAT sensor wiring harness, and reconnect the valve cover breather tube. Because the stock breather tube now is too short to reach the new intake pipe, AEM has provided a plastic coupler and a small section of hose to bridge the gap. Inserting the plastic coupler into the supplied hose section takes some lubrication (a little water, or oil) and pressure against a hard, flat surface as shown.
Once the coupler is fully into the supplied hose section, it is more easily inserted into the stock breathing tube. Then the hose is attached to the metal port on the intake pipe. It is secured to the smooth pipe port by the final, small hose clamp (also not pictured).
The completed assembly looks like this before… and after replacing the engine cowl.
Anyone can complete this install in about an hour with only the simplest of tools needed.
Initial impressions of the intake and its performance: It sounds good (throatier) at start-up, and is quite noticeable upon hard acceleration or WOT. In fact… it sounds like a “Brute!”
But it is almost unnoticeable in the cabin under normal cruise conditions.
We haven’t had it long enough to determine whether there is any fuel economy benefit or seat-dyno difference, but it does look cool! And it never needs oil!! I'm going to like that!