I have searched this great site and online for the instructions on how to remove the Blacwing filter, but all the info I found shows the filter exposed. However, mine has a plastic "shroud" covering it which is fastened to the car by a plastic pin on either side. I can not see the filter at all.

I just purchased this 2000 coupe a few weeks ago and the filter was already installed by the previous owner.. he doesn't know either, someone installed it for him and since the car only had 23,000 miles on it he never checked it.

My question is, does anybody know how to safely remove the "shroud" without breaking the fastners and also, is there an advantage to having the "shroud" on...I don't see how its getting any air to it.

 

im not sure...my blackwing does not have a shroud...hopefully someone can chime in

 

blackwings do not have a shroud.

post a pick if you can.

to remove most any c5 filter you unscrew the clap by the throttle body and push forward then up to release the top and the pull up way down low in front to remove filter.

 

What you're describing is the "ice box" shroud for the BLACKWING. They're hard to come by now. It was an option when the BLACKWING originally came on the market. They were usually molded black ABS, but I've also seen them in carbon fiber. It's actually very desirable in terms of making your air intake a true cold air intake. It seals the hot engine compartment air from the filter, making the air intake cooler. That cooler air translates to more horsepower. Once you get the "ice box" cover off, you should see that there is an opening in the flat radiator shroud beneath it. It reduces the amount of dust that comes up from beneath the car. If you leave it off you will not benefit from the cooler air, you will get much more dust into the engine compartment, and the hole is more than likely not very attractive to look at beneath the filter.

Your shroud is more than likely attached with four typical GM push pin retainers. You only need to gently pry upwards on the head of the pin. You don't need to completely remove it. That releases pressure on the bottom of the fastener body which expands when the push in is fully inserted. It's re-usable. When you want to re-install the cover, simply push the pin down into the fastener body.

Yours should look similar to this...
http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/GM_...a_p/a13993.htm

 

Thanks Hotweels57...good to know...I will fiddle with it tonight. The indicator is green and according to many the filter probably doesn't need cleaning, but won't hurt to check.

 

I never paid any attention to the indicator. They're not that reliable. I removed it and plugged it off with a plastic plug. I cleaned my (now gone) BLACKWING with every other oil change. I've done the same on our GM daily drivers.

 

Why did you replace the Blackwing?

 

I'm at 5,200 ft altitude. With the BLACKWING and "ice box" cover, I got regular lean bank codes. I thought I had them cured when I found a pucker at the clamp on the rigid silicone coupler I was using between the throttle body and oem air bridge. Nope, still got them. Some people get the codes and lean surges while others don't.

To resolve it would have required me to drive 300 miles round trip to the nearest tuner to adjust the computer for the intake and my altitude. That would have cost more than the darn intake was worth to me.

So, I took it off and sold it. Instead, I chose to use my oem Z06 intake with a modification. It doesn't look as sexy, but it sounds the same as the BLACKWING, which is what most owners equate with more horsepower, anyway. I have never gotten any more codes.

This is the 110v version. I'm working on a 220v version which should yield another 10hp...

 

Me thinketh my leg is being pulled.