This is probably simple for others, but....
I decided I'd check my air filter on my recently purchased 2002 Z06. Simple enough, but my attempts to put it back in are failing. It's a stock unit. I don't see anything in the bottom that's causing the filter to not go down enough to get the metal band clamp to stick. Any hints would be appreciated.

Mike Rees - First timer!

 

Keep wiggling! If you want, you could do away with the lid altogether, and gain a few hp! Put the filter into the frame housing that holds it, and zip tie that frame into the base housing at the bottom and top - bingo - more airflow! Beware - you have to put a seal at the base of the hood if you do this mod, or rain will drip onto the filter.

 

DDSLT5, Thanks. I don't think that would work. This is a daily driver near Seattle (I know some people would cringe at that, but I'd rather drive a vette in the rain, and even in the snow, than some pos!). Though this winter has been relatively rain free, water is something I'll have to deal with!

Thanks for the advice though, I was so frustrated yesterday that I decided I'd wait a day. I'm about to start wiggling again!

 

Hi Mikers -

I think it's easier to remove the whole unit and assemble it on the workbench - then you just put the whole unit back in in one piece and pop it on those two little tubular extentions that the airbox cover grommets slide onto.

best regards -

mqqn

 

The stock air filter does not drop into a recess in the air box. It fits more like a sandwich. The edge of the filter will be flush with the edges of the filter box. You gotta get the bottom of the filter in there first.

Hope that helps.

 

If you still have trouble, look at someones elses car. If possible.

FWIW, I had the same problem, the first time i changed my filter.

 

Thanks to all for the hints. Now I am sure that the filter and the box are in properly, but the clamps won't stay closed. I guess, in retrospect that means the filter isn't in properly, but I've measured it, and it's in as far as it can be. So, Now I guess I need to take one of your advice, and remove it, and then install the whole thing. Trouble is, I can't seem to see where it is actually connected and thus can't remove it. Guidance would be appreciated. I'm usually not a total dork at cars, but this one is like no car I've ever had.

Update, Can someone please take a close up picture of theirs and send it to me? A close up focusing on one of the two clamps? I think the filter is as far in as it's going to get. I've put the original filter back and tried again. This is taking so long I'm losing my 'waxing time' and it's killin me!

 

Not only is my wife the best in the whole world. She not only didn't have a problem with me buying a Z06, she actually encouraged it! PLUS, she just figured out why I'm a dork and why the filter didn't fit properly (the same answer, I'm a dork). So, thanks to all for the advice!

 

I find it easier to take the whole intake out of the car to change the filter than mess with what you are trying to do.
Here is a rough guide:
- Disconnect electric connection to MAF.
- Unscrew clamp at end of intake at throttle body (the last one on the way to the throttle)
- unclip the hose on the driver's side of the filter and pull it off
- pop the two grommets hold the airbridge to the radiator shroud
- go to the front of the car with the hood open, slide your hands down into the gap between the bumper and the filter housing and push rearward - there are two gromment on the rear of the bumper that hold the filter housing to the car.
- At this point the entire intake should be disconnected and still one piece and you can lift it out of the car and change the filter.

Install opposite. Took longer to type than to do.

 

I had the same problem when I changed from stock to a K&N filter. At first I thought it was just the K&N, but it wasn't. I had the same problem you did with the clamps not staying down, one side more than the other. My advice is take your time and make sure that the edge of the clamps don't contact the edge of the filter. It will go in, and it's really not that hard. Like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it gets.

Rick

 

with Subdriver - good instructions .

I would add that the small electrical connection has a little locking device - look at the back of the male end of the plug as it is assembled - there is a darker (maybe black) colored piece that is the lock, pull this out first - this will enable the connection to be removed - look for a slider/tab to pull outward on.

I also put one of my cotton towels down to protect the edge of the hood when I go in from the front of the car -

best regards -

mqqn

 

Subdriver, thanks for the great instructions. Next time, I'm definitely going to take the whole thing apart. I'm gonna do that in a week. I noticed oil in the filter, and some oil in the intake in the grooves right before the throttle body. I hope it's nothing, but I'm gonna keep checking just in case.

Thanks again to all for the advice!

 

Mike,
You're welcome. Mqqn is correct, there is a little locking tab on the back of the electrical connection. It is pretty obvious. Just slides out to "unlock" the connection.

Oil in the intake is very common on a C5/Z06. It comes from two sources, the pcv line which comes off the valley cover, and a vent line coming off the passenger side valve cover. If you look at the passenger side of the throttle body/intake you can see these two rubber/plastic lines.

There is a TSB out for 01 and 02 Z06s for excessive oil consumption. For the 02s (and maybe the 01s I'm not sure), the first thing it says to replace is the valley cover. There is a seal on the bottom of the valley cover that doesn't mate well with the aluminum and which can allow more oil than normal to get sucked into the pcv line. For the valve cover, many guys pull that line and route it to a catch can, or put a filter in the line to catch the oil.

I have a brand new 04 crate motor in my car right now and my intake still has oil in it from one or both of these sources.

If you think you have excessive oil consumption and your car is still under warranty (nearing the end for the 02s), you may want to get it looked at for the valley cover replacement as part of the oil consumption TSB. That may help some, or it may not.

If I didn't have to keep my motor bone stock for SCCA T1, I'd do the catch can mod on the line coming from the right valve cover.