1992 Eagle Talon:
Installation of a K & N Fuel Injection Performance Kit (Air Filter)
Installation Procedure:
The K&N FIPK is very easy to install. The highly simplified procedure is as follows: disconnect the intake pipe, disconnect the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor from the air can, remove the existing filter, remove the air can, install the mounting bracket for the K&N filter, attach the K&N filter to the lid of the stock air can, reattach the intake pipe to the K&N/air can lid assembly and secure the intake pipe to the new mounting bracket.
In my case, I also replaced the intake pipe due to damage to my stock air pipe. Although I added the new pipe a few weeks after I added the new air filter, I will describe the procedure for both installations here, as if they were occurring at the same time.
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First, pop the hood and remove the stock intake pipe. If I recall correctly, the stock pipe uses a phillips head screw to tighten the hose clamps, so find your phillips head screwdriver, loosen the hose clamps and pull the pipe loose from the throttle body and the air can. You will also need to remove the hose from the crank case breather, as well.
pics coming soon -
Remove the MAF sensor wire harness from the air can lid.
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There are three bolts holding the air can to the frame of the car--two towards the front of the car, at the bottom of the air can, and one on the right (passenger side) rear of the air can. I believe these are all 12mm bolts, but don't quote me on that.
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After removing these three bolts, lift the air can out of the engine compartment. There will be a snorkel underneath the air can that feeds air into the can. Remove this snorkel as well (just lift it straight up).
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Now we get to start installing replacement parts. First, the K&N mounting bracket. This is a two-piece affair--the first piece is a "U"-shaped metal strap that cradles the intake pipe, and the second piece is an arm to position the strap as needed. The arm is mounted with two bolts, one 12mm and one 14mm, one of which fits in the same bolt-hole that the stock air can used (the other bolt-hole is already in place, but wasn't used with the stock intake--turbo, perhaps?) Don't tighten the bolt that attaches the strap to the arm yet--you'll almost certainly need to adjust it when you position the intake pipe.
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Sorry about the poor lighting in the picture--it was as good as I could get... -
Oil the K&N filter with the supplied servicing oil, but make sure you don't use too much. The instructions in the FIPK say to let the filter sit for 20 minutes before starting your car. I think longer is better.
I don't have proof, but I discussed a problem I had with my MAF sensor after installing the FIPK with a friend, who also has an FIPK on his car. Both of us oiled our filters heavily and had our MAF sensors fail shortly afterwards. The theory is that if you put too much oil on your filter, air flowing into the engine pulls some of this oil into your MAF sensor, which then gets gummed up by the oil, and can no longer measure the air flow accurately. For those of you wondering, the MAF sensor on a 1992 non-turbo Eagle Talon is $235 from Schuck's Automotive...
Take my advice--apply only enough oil to cover the filter, then let it sit a while before you install it. - The K&N filter fits over the stock MAF sensor and attaches to the stock air can lid with the same clips used to hold the lid to the air can. K&N includes a metal ring that fits over the filter, and the stock clips latch onto the ring. It's hard to describe in words, but you can see the basic idea here, here and here.
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Once the filter assembly has been...er, assembled...it's time to install the intake pipe. In my case, I added an aluminum intake pipe that I bought on E-Bay. If you are using the stock intake pipe, then simply reattach the air filter end of the pipe to the filter, just the same way you did with the stock air can--the only difference is that you'll need to align the "U"-shaped strap so that the intake pipe fits properly (you don't want the edges of the strap digging in to your intake pipe).
However, if you are adding a third-party intake pipe, then you'll need to install silicone couplers to connect the pipe to the air filter and to the throttle body. I used a 2 3/4 inch coupler to connect the pipe to the throttle body, and the reducer that came with the pipe (3 inch to 2 3/4, I believe) to connect the pipe to the air filter. I recommend that you use 2 3/4 inch to 3 inch on both sides. Here's how my installation looks at the throttle body and at the air filter. - Tighten the hose clamps--one on each side of the silicone reducers, and one over the silicon reducer on the filter side to hold the intake pipe to the mounting bracket...
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...then cut the crankcase breather line to fit between the engine and the intake pipe, slip two small hose clamps over the breather line, slip one end over the crankcase breather outlet, slip the other end over the crankcase breather inlet on the intake pipe and tighten these hose clamps...
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...and you're done!
The completed installation looks like this and this.
Post-Installation Notes:
The K&N FIPK is a really cool addition to a non-turbo car. It totally changes the sound from mild mannered to aggressive. While you probably won't notice much change at the bottom end, there is definitely more pull starting at 4500--5000 RPM. In short, I highly recommend this mod!
