Volant Cai Installation Tips On 1998 Silverado

[nubuilder]

Well, I finally got it installed.

It took me 3 hours. It should have taken 1.5 hours, but I had to find all the tools and clean out the throttle body.

The hardest part about taking the only intake out was getting the MAF sensor separated from the rubber ring that seals it to the elbow that goes into the airbox.

The MAF sensor has a ring that the rubber ring seats against and is a pain to get the rubber over the ring.

Getting the Air Temperature Sensor out was much easier. All you have to do is pull and twist it out like a screw.

 

Here's a few tips for anyone looking to do this:

1) Disconnect the battery

- it's just a good idea to be safe

2) Find yourself a 3/16 flat screwdriver

- this will help tremendously when prying the rubber off the MAF sensor

3) You really can't break the MAF sensor housing

- it's made of metal but the wires inside are fragile; don't drop it

4) Be careful with the MAF sensor

- there are 6 thin wires that run through it that have resistors connecting them in pairs that look very easy to snap

5) Once you get the MAF sensor separated set it up on the A/C canister (silver can right next to the coolant overflow jug) or lay it down resting on the inner fender and A/C lines running forward to the condenser

- setting it on the inner fender is much safer and you can't drop it as easily but it will stay in both locations

6) Drill out the 2 plugs on the inner fender (not sure if you'll have to do this or not; the guy that had the truck before me had a K&N system in it)

- there are 2 metal plug-like things that are in the existing 2 holes on the inner fender; step your way up to a 1/4 inch bit; then take a socket and ratchet and the heads should snap off

7) The rubber seal seats against the fender of the new air box

- don't try to smooch it into the hole, it doesn't fit

8) Use 1 washer on the hole farthest from the engine and 2 on the hole closest to the engine

- on the inner fender for mounting

9) Flatten one side of the washer for the bolt closest to the windshield that bolts to the intake manifold

- there is not enough room for the washer to fit round; one side must be almost completely ground away and even then it doesn't sit very flat

10) The valve cover breather hose is a stretch

- the factory one has to stretch to reach the new location; I haven't looked for a longer one or a way to modify it yet but I will be

11) Unplug the Air Temperature Sensor from the wiring harness and install in new plastic tube outside of the vehicle

- it's just a lot easier; install it by applying pressure and twisting in like a screw

12) Put the Volant in in this order

- 1) Bonnet (what bolts to the throttle body)

- 2) Filter box

- 3) Rubber boot from bonnet to MAF sensor

- 4) MAF sensor (make sure the arrows point the right way for airflow)

- 5) Place the filter and corresponding clamp in the box

- 6) Plastic tube into filter through opening in box

---- Make sure the Air Temperature Sensor is pointing towards the firewall so the plug will reach

- 7) Rubber boot from plastic tube to MAF sensor

- 8) Connect Filter/Plastic Tube/Rubber Boot to MAF sensor

 

If you follow these tips, things might go a little better for you.

 

If anyone else has done this install, let me know if I forgot anything and I'll change it.

 

-----------I'll post an update when I get a few tanks run through. It'll probably be a couple of week though.-----------

[SeirraRR]

Nice to hear you got it installed. Got any pics? Little of topic but did you see Jennabear anwsered your question about the tune?

[700 sportsman]

Post some pics of the finished project, I'd like to see some, I'm thinking about getting one in the future

[nubuilder]

Here are some pics.

 

If anyone wants any other pictures (I'm not taking anything out), let me know.

[SeirraRR]

Looks good. Hopefully I will get to see it this spring at the tune meet.

[nubuilder]

I hope to see you there too. Will you be there on Sunday or the entire weekend?

[SeirraRR]

I hope to see you there too. Will you be there on Sunday or the entire weekend?

 

I will be there the entre weekend off and on. Meeting everyone and all that good stuff.

[desrtrat]

i have a Volant on my 03 and what i found that helps alot, is on the rubber boots i spray the insides with some HD silicone spray. it will make it slid easer to install the parts. also helps when you remove them to clean your MAF. don't need a hole lot, just a lite coat..

 

good write up..

 

[dwhults]

I had to buy longer bolts for my Volant. Other than that it was a smooth install.

[nubuilder]

I know what you mean. It was kind of a stretch even with the supplied couplers. It seemed to tighten down good though.

 

 

I do need to add one thing to the original post.

 

The intake tube DOES NOT seal around the intake box. I have picked up some 5/8in thick home pipe insulation that is as close to the rubber used to seal against the fender as I can find for a reasonable price. I'm going to try to squeeze it around the plastic section of tube that sticks into the box to seal it off from the engine heat in the summer. Volant really needs to include a rubber O-ring or something else in the kit to do the job.