CAI Install with a question. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

slim-n-none · 03-07-2013, 08:46 PM

So after getting a great deal from a C5 vendor, and super fast shipping, the fedex guy drops the CAI off. Five minutes later I'm tearing the stock box out and installing the CAI. Got everything done and its pretty much a breeze (they should have a motto like, "so easy a ricer could do it"). Only issue I had was getting the top on. It didn't want to fit under the front where the weatherstripping and hood meet. After some wrestling with it and just about whipping out the cut off wheel, it finally fell into place. Looks great overall, just need to get the washer relocated.

My question is, is the lid supposed to be really hard to line up, or do I need to take it back off for the third time and try to tweak the way it is set up?

Jeff_SS · 03-07-2013, 09:05 PM

My lid was the same way when I installed mine a week or so ago. It's a snug fit.

Mine:

rberns · 03-07-2013, 09:09 PM

Everything looks right there. Its supposed to have a snug fit.

GSTRYDR · 03-07-2013, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rberns

Everything looks right there. Its supposed to have a snug fit.

Little Profanity involved with my install too. It was freakin tight, but looks great and still seems to be secured well. I think the difficulty may be from such a good quality product and fit. I am very impressed with the quality of mine. Good choice!

slim-n-none · 03-07-2013, 09:40 PM

Thanks y'all, I figured it was a tight fit, just wasn't sure if I missed something down low that was forcing the front edge up. Profanity shouldn't be an issue for the folks living around me. My neighbors have learned new words every time I have worked on either my camaro, or the c10 in the background of my pic. the worst episode was when I was doing the body work and welding on rusted out bed panels to fill holes.

Hahaha

Your pic looks almost identical to mine Jeff, they must be twins...

Juiced1 · 03-07-2013, 10:18 PM

Sounds like you got it. Looks good, and congrats on the intake!

SSGUNNER · 03-07-2013, 10:33 PM

Nice congrats OP. I get mine tomorrow. Messed up and will get delivered at work and its my day off so wont get it till Monday

Wont install until next week though.

camguynj · 03-07-2013, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slim-n-none

Thanks y'all, I figured it was a tight fit, just wasn't sure if I missed something down low that was forcing the front edge up. Profanity shouldn't be an issue for the folks living around me. My neighbors have learned new words every time I have worked on either my camaro, or the c10 in the background of my pic. the worst episode was when I was doing the body work and welding on rusted out bed panels to fill holes.

Hahaha

Your pic looks almost identical to mine Jeff, they must be twins...

Did you have to deal with removing the neg battery cable extention off the one mounting stud? Did your unit come with a notch in the air box by the mounting stud so the cable could fit thru the notch?

GMTool · 03-08-2013, 12:56 AM

I remember that I put a little silicone grease on the rubber of the outbd edge of the lid where it fits in between the two lips of the fender. Slid in and fit real easy then.

slim-n-none · 03-08-2013, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

Did you have to deal with removing the neg battery cable extention off the one mounting stud? Did your unit come with a notch in the air box by the mounting stud so the cable could fit thru the notch?

Yeah, I pulled it off just to get everything installed, but put it right back. Yes it had the notch. I think its just a tight fit. Should loosen up over time, well at least I think it should.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juiced1

Sounds like you got it. Looks good, and congrats on the intake!

Yes I did, your shipping was the fastest out of the other three things I have ordered this far from other vendors. If anybody is looking for CAI, I will be sending them your way.

MrGs SS · 03-08-2013, 05:47 AM

I took the lid back off.. did a bit of tweaking on the box to make sure it was nice and square and put some silicone spray on the rubber hood gasket. Much easier to get on and off, but it could be easier. Overall I really like the looks and performance of the CAI. I am going to put a light smoke tint on the inside of the lexan window as well, just to be a bit different. I am also going to do the scoop and washer bottle relocate soon, that will cut down on the need to pop the lid off unless I am servicing the filter.

Sales @ CAI Inc · 03-08-2013, 10:45 AM

Thanks for choosing Cold Air Inductions Inc.! The install looks great, I can't wait to hear your input after taking it for a spin!

**PLEASE READ**

As for the lid fitment, the box and lid are designed to fit tight for a good seal and a professional finish. Remember that the box and lid are attached to eachother when you receive them, so the 2 pieces obviously fit together just fine. Our CAI's are made exactly the same, some fit tighter than others jsut because movements in your car are going to vary vehicle to vehicle. The best thing to do if you are having trouble aligning the lid is to keep the box loose with the lid installed, move it all into position while they are together, remove the lid and tighten down the box, and then put the lid back on. You do not want to bend, muscle, tweak, cut or try modifying anything with the CAI since you know they fit together since they are already together right out of the box. Sometimes the trim on the engine bay needs to be moved a little, sometimes the installer is not aligning the lid where it needs to go inside the flange on the inner fender well, but the box and ild always fit together. As soon as you try and muscle things or force them they can bend making it that much harder to install.

Remember that we are always available for technical support!

Jeff_SS · 03-08-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slim-n-none

Your pic looks almost identical to mine Jeff, they must be twins...

Haha you have a good taste in cars and bolt ons apparently.

RatedZ · 03-08-2013, 11:33 AM

I saw a video where they installed the box first then installed the intake pipe. The comment was it will allow everything to fit better.

03-07-2013, 08:46 PM	#1
slim-n-none Drives: 2013 AGM 2SS RS M6 (sold) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: 29 33 35.6 N, 95 18 33.57 W W Posts: 107	CAI Install with a question. So after getting a great deal from a C5 vendor, and super fast shipping, the fedex guy drops the CAI off. Five minutes later I'm tearing the stock box out and installing the CAI. Got everything done and its pretty much a breeze (they should have a motto like, "so easy a ricer could do it"). Only issue I had was getting the top on. It didn't want to fit under the front where the weatherstripping and hood meet. After some wrestling with it and just about whipping out the cut off wheel, it finally fell into place. Looks great overall, just need to get the washer relocated. My question is, is the lid supposed to be really hard to line up, or do I need to take it back off for the third time and try to tweak the way it is set up? Attached Images

03-07-2013, 09:05 PM	#2
Jeff_SS "Cam Only" Drives: 2013 Camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,709 View My Garage	My lid was the same way when I installed mine a week or so ago. It's a snug fit. Mine: __________________ 2013 AGM Camaro 2SS/RS M6 \| LSA Blower, 2.5" pulley, 10% lower, FIC1000's, Fore Innovations Twin Pump fuel system w/ Flex Fuel, CMS Custom Grind Cam, Kooks 1 7/8" headers w/ catless off-road pipes, NPP Exhaust, 3.91's, JLT ZL1 Intake, Prospeed Heat Exchanger \| Pfadt Suspension, 1LE Sway Bars \| DSS 1000hp axles \| Tuned by Ryne @ CMS E85: 734rwhp/636rwtq (mustang dyno)

03-07-2013, 09:09 PM	#3
rberns Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: US Posts: 3,291 View My Garage	Everything looks right there. Its supposed to have a snug fit. __________________ 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS, Circle D 3200, ADM Transmission Cooler, BTR Valvetrain, Cam Motion .621 .595 228/244 113+4, ARH 1 7/8 full exhaust, Cold Air Inductions, Katech C5R TC, Melling HV, BTR SLR lifters, Trunion Upgrade, LS2 Dampner, LS9 head gaskets, Bo White PTB, MM can, GFX, Subs, B&M Deep transmission pan, Holley fuel rail, Proform valve covers, relocated coil packs

03-07-2013, 10:33 PM	#7
SSGUNNER Chu no guat a hasa is? Drives: 14 Jeep G Cherokee Overland HEMI Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Some where in So Cal Posts: 4,273	Nice congrats OP. I get mine tomorrow. Messed up and will get delivered at work and its my day off so wont get it till Monday Wont install until next week though. __________________ 11 2SS/RSL99No Longer Stock (Sold) 6/19/14:AAC Plasma DRL's \| Plug n play harness \| Elite CC \| Tint: 35% & 5% \| LED Dome light \| Show-N-Go Plate Holder \| Flowmaster AT \| C.A.I. Intake \| VMAX CNC Spiral Ported TB \| Husky Splash Guards

03-08-2013, 12:56 AM	#9
GMTool MY SS is SOLD Drives: AGM 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Southwest Illinois Posts: 1,838	I remember that I put a little silicone grease on the rubber of the outbd edge of the lid where it fits in between the two lips of the fender. Slid in and fit real easy then. __________________ CAI, Dynatech Headers, HF Cats, JRE Tuned, Corsa Cat Back, Strut Tower Brace.

03-07-2013, 09:40 PM	#5
slim-n-none Drives: 2013 AGM 2SS RS M6 (sold) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: 29 33 35.6 N, 95 18 33.57 W W Posts: 107	Thanks y'all, I figured it was a tight fit, just wasn't sure if I missed something down low that was forcing the front edge up. Profanity shouldn't be an issue for the folks living around me. My neighbors have learned new words every time I have worked on either my camaro, or the c10 in the background of my pic. the worst episode was when I was doing the body work and welding on rusted out bed panels to fill holes. Hahaha Your pic looks almost identical to mine Jeff, they must be twins...

03-07-2013, 10:18 PM	#6
Juiced1 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 2SS CAMARO 45th Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 18,663	Sounds like you got it. Looks good, and congrats on the intake!

03-08-2013, 05:47 AM	#11
MrGs SS Drives: 2013 Black SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 126	I took the lid back off.. did a bit of tweaking on the box to make sure it was nice and square and put some silicone spray on the rubber hood gasket. Much easier to get on and off, but it could be easier. Overall I really like the looks and performance of the CAI. I am going to put a light smoke tint on the inside of the lexan window as well, just to be a bit different. I am also going to do the scoop and washer bottle relocate soon, that will cut down on the need to pop the lid off unless I am servicing the filter. __________________ 2013 2SS Black~ L99 Performance Mods-CAI intake, APEX washer bottle relocate and scoop, Ported TB. SLP 160 degree stat, Norris Catch-can, Pfadt Tri-Y headers, BMR F/R sway bars and Arms, Corsa cat back exhaust. Appearance Mods-Blackout kit (markers, tail lights), black tail light bezels, black chrome trunk lettering, LSR billet engine dress-up kit, sub box. Billet tensioner pulley and thermostat housing (Billetcustom), Heritage grille. Tuned by Matt @ Florida Speed and Power 379/388 Mustang dyno Last edited by MrGs SS; 03-08-2013 at 05:49 AM. Reason: no apparent reason.....

03-08-2013, 10:45 AM	#12
Sales @ CAI Inc Drives: 2010 SS/RS Supercharged 427 Build Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 5,504	Thanks for choosing Cold Air Inductions Inc.! The install looks great, I can't wait to hear your input after taking it for a spin! PLEASE READ As for the lid fitment, the box and lid are designed to fit tight for a good seal and a professional finish. Remember that the box and lid are attached to eachother when you receive them, so the 2 pieces obviously fit together just fine. Our CAI's are made exactly the same, some fit tighter than others jsut because movements in your car are going to vary vehicle to vehicle. The best thing to do if you are having trouble aligning the lid is to keep the box loose with the lid installed, move it all into position while they are together, remove the lid and tighten down the box, and then put the lid back on. You do not want to bend, muscle, tweak, cut or try modifying anything with the CAI since you know they fit together since they are already together right out of the box. Sometimes the trim on the engine bay needs to be moved a little, sometimes the installer is not aligning the lid where it needs to go inside the flange on the inner fender well, but the box and ild always fit together. As soon as you try and muscle things or force them they can bend making it that much harder to install. Remember that we are always available for technical support!

03-08-2013, 11:33 AM	#14
RatedZ Drives: Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Overthere Posts: 527	I saw a video where they installed the box first then installed the intake pipe. The comment was it will allow everything to fit better.