In the myriad of aftermarket parts it is easy to become confused as to where to start. It even gets more confusing when you have 20+ manufacturers marketing their own version of the same type of part. We wanted to improve the breathing capabilities of our resident SRT8 Challenger, & we wanted it done yesterday! We checked stock & happened to have a MAC Performance CAI on the shelf, so we decided to plop it on. Follow along as Eddy & I chronicle another chapter in this Challenger's performance book.
Start by unplugging the IAT sensor.
Then loosen the clamp & remove the inlet tube from the throttle body.
Remove the 10mm bolt retainong the air box to the core support.
Remove the breather hose connected to the valve cover.
Now you can simply pull up & remove the entire stock inlet system.
Remove the grommet from the stock air box. You will re-use it. I found it easier to remove by first pulling out the metal insert.
Now lay out your new MAC CAI.
Start the installation by attaching the filter adapter to the filter shield using the supplied 10mm bolts.
Now install the rubber grommet in to the filter sheild & then slide the metal insert back in to place.
Loosely install the billet stud with the supplied 10mm bolt.
Slide the filter sheild in to place bing sure to insert the billet stud in to the factory rubber grommet.
Get the filter shield aligned & tighten the 10mm bolt for the billet stud.
Then install & tighten the factory 10mm air box retaining bolt.
Remove the IAT sensor from the factory inlet tube & install it in the new inlet elbow.
Go ahead & assemble the new intake tube by sliding the elbow, tube & adapter together & loosely install the clamps. Drop the new tube in the car as an assembly & tighten the clamps.
With all the clamps tight, it is time to install the filter.
Connect the IAT sensor.
MAC includes a length of new breather hose to install between the inlet tube & the valve cover. It is a bit long, so measure out what is needed & trim to fit.
Double check all your clamps, then step back & admire your work.
Hop inside the car & start her up, you're done!
Now for the extra info. Our friends at Diablosport have found that installing a CAI (any manufacturer) on one of these cars has the tendancy to make it run a bit lean. Will it cause engine damge? We don't want to find out! To compensate for the added air Diablo added a selection in all their Challenger tuners for a CAI. Because we had installed a Diablo Predator on the car just a few hours earlier, we went ahead & toggled that option in the tune. After we had re-flashed the car, we went out for some "testing". We were rewarded with a 13.75 1/4 mile, which is .2 better than our previous run!
Now you have the 411 for better breathing on your Challenger!
