[WLJohnson05]

AIRAID AIR INTAKE KIT UPGRADE

Ok folks, I have recently had the chance to install one of Airaid’s air intake kits on a 2002 Mustang GT.

According to Airraid's website, the air intake system should add 11 horsepower and 10ft/lbs of torque which can be seen here:
Dyno Results Page

The system being used in this install can be purchased right from Airaid here:
Airaid - Air Intake Kit

Tools Needed For this Install
-Flathead Screwdriver
-Ratchet and extension
-5/16" socket or Screwdriver with 5/16" head
-10mm socket
-7/8" wrench
-5/32" allen wrench

Removing the Stock Intake System

So this is what we start with:


Removing the stock intake is pretty straightforward. The idea is just to loosen everything up and pull it all out. There isn’t a specific order to the steps for removing the stock intake from the car, so I will just tell you the way that I did it.

Begin by taking your flat head screwdriver or 5/16 socket and loosen up the screw clamp that connects the stock intake to the throttle body.


Then, you are going to want to pull out the two lines coming into the stock intake hose (The two lines are the PCV breather line and the Idle air bypass line).


Next, loosen up the clamp further down the line that connects the hose to the MAF housing and unplug the MAF connector.


After that, I went ahead and pulled the hose out of the car and unhooked the clamp on the stock air box and pulled out the MAF housing and stock filter.




Then loosen up the bolt that holds the air box in and just wiggle that until it all slides out.


Now that we have an empty engine bay, it’s time to replace it will the goods.

[WLJohnson05]

Installing the AIRAID air intake kit

First things first, the box that the kit showed up in was bigger than I thought it would be. The reason for this was because it was actually packaged up better than you will ever see any “ebay” kits. Opening the box you see everything was bubble wrapped to make sure nothing got messed up during delivery.






Ok, now you will need to remove the MAF housing from the stock setup by removing the four bolts that hold it on there.

Once it is removed you will see this screen stuck to it.
This will need to be pulled off for it to fit up right with the new gasket.


The next thing I did was to put on the rubber couplers, the plug on the new pipe setup. There are two couplers on the pipe. The side that connects to the throttle body will have the reducer coupler along with the screw clamps that fit the ends. For the throttle body side you will use the smallest clamp. On the other end of the tube you will use the other coupler that is included in the kit. For this coupler make sure you do not slide it all the way on the pipe or you will have fitment issues later on. It should only slide into the coupler up to the little “bubble” in the coupler. Make sure you put the clamp closest to the pipe on the coupler before sliding it on the pipe or the bubble will make it too big for it to fit.
Once you have the couplers on, you can screw in the barbed fittings to the intake pipe using the 7/8” wrench. Make sure you put the right fitting in the spot. The 5/8” fitting (the smaller one) screws into the hole closest to the throttle body side of the pipe, and the ¾” fitting goes in the other. Then you will need to slide the little hose provided in the kit over the 5/8” barb. Lastly on the pipe you will need to put the plug in if your car doesn’t have the separate IAT sensor.
The final pipe setup will look like this (except for the barbs, I had them mixed up because I didn’t use the directions, so make sure you put the right ones in the right spot):


Next thing to work on is attaching the MAF housing to the air filter housing and filter. For this you need to take the MAF housing, the four bolts provided, the two gaskets provided, and the ring for the inside part of the filter housing. You need to first setup your gasket on the MAF housing and push the bolts through it then through the back of the filter housing. Then screw it all into the the ring that goes on the inside of the filter housing. After that, slide the filter onto the ring and tighten down the clamp for it.
Once you have that setup, you can drop it in the car


Next you can put the pipe assembly in, connecting the MAF side first, then the throttle body side. Once you get both couplers in place then you can tighten all the clamps and put the bolt and washer in that secures the filter housing in place. Then you will want to plug in the MAF and put the PCV breather tube and the idle air control back onto the pipe.
The last thing you will need to do is put the weather stripping on which can be somewhat difficult, but you just have to take your time and slide it on a smaller piece at a time.


Once you finish everything go back and double check to make sure you have tightened everything and check for leaks with the car on.


My Summary

Overall the install was really easy. It only took about 30 minutes to do the install, and can be done by anyone who has ever picked up a screwdriver. Only thing I wish was a little different about the kit was that they provided a bit to take the MAF sensor out of its housing (which I never did because it really isn’t needed), and they didn’t provide the allen wrench to screw in the bolt that secures the filter box to the car. My recommendation would be to provide the allen wrench instead of the torx security bit or change the bolt to the same head as the stock bolt. Besides that little issue, the kit has perfect fitment and goes into the car very easily.



Before:

After:

[MikeJones]

We should have a Install sticky page, then have links to the real page. Just a suggestion.

Nice write up anyways.

[GTermi]

cool and all, but sticky worthy? i dont think so.

[asiansensation78]

Good writeup, I think it's sticky worthy. Wouldn't have known how to do this when I first got my car. Good idea on the Install stickies links page though. They have a good setup like that on MF

[rthouck]

nice write up - but why is this a sticky - are the instructions included with the kit no good?

assuming one would need instructions for this....

[Ke^in]

How good is that CAI compared to others?

[DevanMustang01SVT]

cool

[Smoothgrandmama]

Its not going to perform better than a jlt fenderwell intake on a bolt on car.


And a sticky write up for a cai? Lol

Johnson is this what you really think of it your 2v brethern?

[black$nake]

Pretty Basic stuff but it's where most people start so...right on! Still havent figured out what a "sticky" is yet, but im new...

And Smoothgrandmama...I agree on the gov paying for your car!

[WLJohnson05]

Originally Posted by Smoothgrandmama Its not going to perform better than a jlt fenderwell intake on a bolt on car. And a sticky write up for a cai? Lol Johnson is this what you really think of it your 2v brethern?

it was written for the company as a sponsor for this forum

[David@AIRAID]

Originally Posted by Ke^in How good is that CAI compared to others?

Hello Ke^in,

The Overall Quality of Components, Fit & Finish, and Performance of the AIRAID are 2nd To None!

All AIRAID Intakes are Made in the USA and feature our Lifetime “No-Hassle” Warranty!



Thanks,
David

[Huxley]

Why is this more expensive than the K&N brand?

[David@AIRAID]

Originally Posted by Huxley Why is this more expensive than the K&N brand?

Hello Huxley,

There are a couple of differences between the two brands.

1. Quality. The Overall Quality of components including the one-piece Roto-Molded Airbox, X-link Polyethylene Intake Tube,100% Stainless hose clamps, and our Blade style weather strip are far superior quality.
2. The Air Filter. The Airaid premium filter offers very similar air flow, but our filter offers far superior filtration due to our unique filtration technology. The AIRAID Premium filter offers the best combination of air flow and filtration for a street driven vehicle.
3. Warranty – All AIRAID Components including the Air filter are backed by our industry best Lifetime “No-Hassle” Warranty.
4. Everything is sourced and Proudly Made in the USA!

If you had each of these systems on a bench and assembled them both, you would clearly know which system offered better quality components and which system you would want to run on your vehicle.


Any other questions, please let me know.

Thanks,
David

[Kingaustin3606]

whats sticky

[Mach1cz23]

nice, I'll pick one up

[black02pony]

i could use one of those

[BML99]

good lord that is pricey! Looks good though

[I8ACMRO]

I'm still not sold on it. Looks just like K&N, has a lifetime warranty like K&N, made in the USA like K&N, and unique air filter. The only way I'd get one is with a hefty discount code, or a sponsorship.

[David@AIRAID]

Originally Posted by stangman32 I installed a air aid system I bought from airaid direct and it whistled badly. I didnt want to spend the money on a K&N Cold Air Intake. Now after I returned the other cheap airaid kit. I bought my K&n FIPK system at K&N Cold Air Intakes | Eibach Lowering Springs | Magnaflow Exhaust | Racing Seats | Bomz Racing Intakes | Tail Lights | Lift Kits 1998 Ford Mustang GT

Hello stangman32,

The “Whistle” is most likely the air flowing through the filter, which is a perfectly natural tone and all CAI will make a tone similar depending on the size of the element.

I would have to say based on your comments that are you confused as to what product you actually have. The AIRAID is far superior in quality and fit and finish, and if you had actually compared the 2 systems, your comments would be completely different.

With the quality of products, it always comes back to the same old saying, you get what you pay for and this example is no different.

Thanks,
David