OK, the stock airbridge is of a lower profile than the Halltech airbridge. If you look at the stock airbridge, especially when off the car, you can see the it's very thin in height and is shaped to "wrap" tightly to the radiator shroud, dipping downward as it goes from the throttle body toward the front of the car.

The Halltech, on the other hand is slightly taller, and slopes just a bit less as it goes toward the front. You can see a slight gap between the airbridge and the radiator shroud on the down slope AFTER the initial bend downward. This appears to be why it leaves an impression on the hoodliner. I can now see why it's possible it might press against someone's hood. If the tolerance of the placement of the radiator shroud is slightly higher in another person's car than mine, it might put pressure on the hood. But, if it does, you could use the stock airbridge, but still use the Halltech warhead filter, and presumably the Halltech coupler. I heard of some people using the filter with the stock airbridge before for some reason, but I'm not sure about the coupler.

For what it's worth, although the Halltech airbridge is also wider, it doesn't necessarily mean it's better than the stock one, because I think a smaller airbridge reduces the "width" of the airflow, and thereby could possibly provide more velocity into the throttle body since the warhead allows more air in. Hmmmm....now that I think about, I just might try the warhead filter with the stock airbridge to see if there is any performance difference with that combo.

 

Oh, great. :-( Thanks for the heads up, Dave. I only used the stuff once. I sprayed around the coupler at the throttle body, around the coupler at the airbridge, just to be sure I didn't have any airl leaks. Do you think that one spray with the stuff did any harm? It doesn't look like it. You have the same unit...what do you think? Hopefully the silicone coupler will survive.

You know, without thinking, I also sprayed where the air filter meets the MAF. Heck even if there was a leak BEFORE the MAF, I'm not so sure it would've made any difference. So, I ended up dousing the plastic MAF housing and connectors, too.

For future reference, isn't starting fluid pretty much the same as the carb cleaner, or is it less harmful?

 

Generally speaking most plastics that are used in the engine bay are resistant to oils and in some cases, gasoline. However, without knowing what material was used in the making of the airbridge, I can't predict whether damage will result after spraying it with a solvent. I would check the sprayed components periodically with a flashlight, just to be sure. The TB coupler, if made of silicone, is pretty darn resistant to solvents.

I wouldn't use starter fluid, but rather, a light oil if anything. (but not before the MAF).

My guess is that you won't have any problems.