Broken Airbox Strap..Help
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 1
From: Paris Illinois
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Broken Airbox Strap..Help
One of the spring steel straps that seals the filter into my OEM airbox is either not attached at the bottom or broken. I can't see down there and can't reach anything from below. It can be pulled up and has a bent area on it at the bottom. Is there a way to re-install it without taking the airbox out? TIA.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,240
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From: Cedar Rapids Iowa
No, but taking the airbox out is simple. Just loosen the hose clamp that attach the airbox to the MAF sensor, lift the snorkel slightly, and pull the MAF sensor away from the airbox. You can then just pull the airbox out. It is only being held in place by 2 studs on the front of the car. Should take about 5 minutes to get it out.
Team Owner
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Tech Contributor
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Originally Posted by slwhite
No, but taking the airbox out is simple. Just loosen the hose clamp that attach the airbox to the MAF sensor, lift the snorkel slightly, and pull the MAF sensor away from the airbox. You can then just pull the airbox out. It is only being held in place by 2 studs on the front of the car. Should take about 5 minutes to get it out.
Here is a tech tip for a Blackwing air filter install. It contains some pretty good pictures to help illustrate what I'm talking about.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=76&TopicID=1
Paul
Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Once you get over the fear of removing the entire air box assembly, you will kick your self in the A$$ for not doing it earlier! 
I spent hours doing the same repair as you. Once the entire air box assembly was out, it was fixed in 3 min!
Remove the MAF wireing harness, remove the air pump inlet hose remove the clamp from the throttle body, Pop it off the two studs on the front frame header and pull the entire assembly out. Its that simple! While it is out throw in a K&N or Air Hog filter!
BC
I spent hours doing the same repair as you. Once the entire air box assembly was out, it was fixed in 3 min!
Remove the MAF wireing harness, remove the air pump inlet hose remove the clamp from the throttle body, Pop it off the two studs on the front frame header and pull the entire assembly out. Its that simple! While it is out throw in a K&N or Air Hog filter!
BC
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,010
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From: SE Idaho
St. Jude Contributor
The pins holding the MAF sensor to the air bridge are easy to remove. Just use a small screwdriver, pry up the pin inside the rubber grommet, and remove. Then pull the MAF/Air bridge assembly upward and off the radiator support. This is after you have remove the clamp on the bridge to the throttle body, and disconnected the MAF sensor connector, and don't forget the air pump hose on the left (driver side).
Then from the front of the car, push rearward on the bottom of the air housing assembly to push the assembly off the two lower pins.
The straps are bent at the bottom to connect over a bottom lip of the housing. My straps kept popping off, so I pulled the assembly off, then wrapped two large (one for each side) black tie straps over the straps once they were back in place. This prevented the straps from ever coming loose again.
When reinstalling, I suggest using some lube on those two bottom pins to allow the assembly to slide on, and off in the future.
Then from the front of the car, push rearward on the bottom of the air housing assembly to push the assembly off the two lower pins.
The straps are bent at the bottom to connect over a bottom lip of the housing. My straps kept popping off, so I pulled the assembly off, then wrapped two large (one for each side) black tie straps over the straps once they were back in place. This prevented the straps from ever coming loose again.
When reinstalling, I suggest using some lube on those two bottom pins to allow the assembly to slide on, and off in the future.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I just remove the hole damn thing from the throttle body to the air box! Much easier! That way I can inspect the entire assembly and make sure that all of the connections are tight and leak free!
Safety Car
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From: Vette-hid.com Lost in DFW texas
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Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
I just remove the hole damn thing from the throttle body to the air box! Much easier! That way I can inspect the entire assembly and make sure that all of the connections are tight and leak free!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by WhiteC5Vette
The pins holding the MAF sensor to the air bridge are easy to remove.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Paris Illinois
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Thanks to all for the tips. You have given me the confidence to do this. May just have to get that Blackwing. "Dear, the experts said I need to get a Blackwing. How about for a Christmas present?" Sounds good...I'll try it. 
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Originally Posted by RedWolf
Thanks to all for the tips. You have given me the confidence to do this. May just have to get that Blackwing. "Dear, the experts said I need to get a Blackwing. How about for a Christmas present?" Sounds good...I'll try it.
Just let her ask us, we'll back you up. Blackwing owner here and very happy with it.Paul
