Installed my AFE intake this evening and wanted to document some of my findings.

First off, the replacement air box does NOT align correctly. I heard from at least two other members with the same issue. It has a bolt on each side and a rubber grommet on the side closer to the back side of the engine. You'd think you'd align it using the grommet plug then just thread the two bolts. Nope.... if you make the mistake of bolting in the side with the grommet first you will not be able to align the hold on the opposite side (closer to the front of the engine bay). Not to mention having only 2" of clearance due to the hood strut. It caused me to drop the 10mm nut twice requiring me to lift the car both times to reach under and retrieve it.

I finally got it to bolt on by aligning and bolting the 10mm bolt on side closer to the front of the engine. Keeping it 1/2 threaded and really tugging hard on the unit to get it to nudge over and align with the grommet and other bolt. The design is without a doubt off by several millimeters.

Additionally the placement of the MAFS it's a bit peculiar. It lines up directly with a vacuum line which requires you to bend it to the left or right of the MAF housing. Unless the current placement was the only spot they could place it to avoid metering issues- it seems logical to have designed it at least 1/2" closer to the filter box, clearing the vacuum line. Not the biggest deal admittedly but just makes you wonder why the little things like this weren't addressed.

Finally, the alignment of the inlet tube between the throttle body and air box is a little awkward. The inlet pipe seems to want to keep backing out of the airbox- however this is the clamp I'm missing- I hope I can press it firmly into the air box and tighten the crap out of the clamp so it holds.

The icing on the cake was right as I was finishing up the install I realized I was shorted t-clamp. I promptly called AFE explained the issue and they were willing to overnight me the missing clamp but only on my dime. They told me I should take it up with the company I purchased the intake from. I don't think the retailer should have to deal with this- it was obviously AFE's fault.

Standard ground shipping would take 4 days, and there was no way I wanted to go back to stock and re-do the install with all the alignment issues I had...nor did I want to have the car off the road due to this for 4 days. So I chalked over the money for them to ship me the clamps tomorrow.

Let's hope this was worth it. I'm sorry- i know this didn't need to be a novel....I just wanted to give others a heads up on what to look out for when starting this seemingly easy install. Now I'm petrified to install my Z06 grill- I keep hearing all the headlight clamp tales.

 

you might be a good candidate for paying labor charges.

 

 

That suck man. I ordered and installed mine around the same time as you did and I guess I got lucky that everything came with the box.

I have exact same issues ( except missing clamp)

-The MAF location put coolant vent line a little stress
-Even with both of the clamps tighten down, the filter or the tube goes to the filter wants to slide out a little. (But it's actually not going to slide out due to the way tube is binding in both end
-the new aFe airbox cause the hard coolant vent line raise some and I am sure that put some stress on it.

 

I had the exact same issues as the op. Seriously every single issue he stated I had, I was also missing of course a Tclamp it simply did not come in the box which sent me reeling to the local Home Depot to get another T clamp. I also hope its worth it took me about 3.5 hours with me running to the local hardware store. I did get it installed and it looks correct. I started the engine all seems well no check engine light just a little disappointed that it can't necessarily fit better as well as missing T clamp. I never bothered to call afe on the phone simply because I had parts all over my driveway and needed to get the car put back together.

 

I almost purchased one, but my club members suggested against it due to fitment issues. I'll wait for the C7 Vararam

 

I had to look it up; this is the same AFE that became a vendor on CF recently. I dunno, but with three of you having missing clamps, and ISSUES, why doesn't one of you write to them on here, and include a copy of the url for this thread?

I do understand you got it from another vendor, but it/this could go into the transactions forum and maybe it'll get some traction?

I mean, over in C6 this company, AFE, got publicity and mentioned because it announced late last year at SEMA that it was buying and re-producing Pfadt products....which some had questions about at the time.

Good luck.

 

No, he'd save money and heartburn just buying the Z06...


op good luck with the grill...you'll get more power out of it and it will fit better.

 

OP, what year is your car? I have a 14' Z51 M7. Air box lined up no problems. Vacuum line cleared the MAF with no problems. And I don't think there is any stress routing the coolant line over the box??? Love mine, definitely adds some performance and intake rush...

 

I elongated the misaligned hole with a round file to get the bolt in. Otherwise no problems.