I give up!!

[viperct2001]

I removed my stock smooth tubes but can't seem to wiggle on my new chrome smooth tubes.

it's too tight...

They came with those Matrix rubber connectors (red in color)

This was my first attempt to work on my car, be my own mechanic, and install a cool upgrade. I failed miserably.

Fortunately, I have an oil change/service appointment in 2 weeks with Chuck Tator (aka the Wizard).

Guess installing chrome smooth tubes is best left off to the professionals...

But can I wait that long? It seems such a simple job...

Anyone have suggestions. i.e. do you put the rubber ends on the chrome piece first, then try and put it on the car. Do you put only one rubber end on the chrome and the other on the car? which end goes on first? The chrome is angled/curved, so which end goes which way? I assume the "higher" end is closer to the back of the car.

Maybe I need to push the rubber pieces further down the ends of the chrome to make more room?

I even tried just putting ONE rubber piece on, and then sliding it onto the plastic hole towards the front of the car (airbox?). The other end of the chrome (no rubber) just barely touches the edge of the metallic hole (engine). I couldn't even push it down into hole with just one piece of rubber on... Maybe I'm being too delicate, but didn't want to crack the plastic on the other end by pushing down too hard.

 

[ViperGTS]

Chuck will solve ALL your problems!
2 weeks should be NO problem to wait for the Wizard doing the magic things again

 

[Vipersrule]

I removed my stock smooth tubes but can't seem to wiggle on my new chrome smooth tubes.

it's too tight...

Did you unscrew the airduct at the front. I had to completely undo the airduct (Three finger screws). There is also a black tube running from the airduct to the block (for some reason) - I undid this one as well. That let me pull the filter box away, situate the chrome tubes (I put the rubber sleeves on both ends first), and then slide the filter box back in place.

I don't think I could have done it without undoing the filter box.

 

[Tomer]

You might want to do some more searching. I recall some brand of chrome tube (course, can't recall the brand) had their jig
somehow drift to the point that they were making the tubes ~ 1.5 inches longer that they wanted to...You may want to look
into this. In the case I read, the manufacturer quickly trimmed a pair of tubes for the customer and shipped em out pronto!

Also, the air box is easily removable, at least on my Gen I. You should check into that, as it will alleviate many issues.

I even removed my airbox to install all rubber smooooooooth tubes, which are more forgiving than your set up!

Tomer
PS Good luck, and all else fails, the Wizard will fix your troubles...

 

[viperct2001]

>>Did you unscrew the airduct at the front.

Ahhh.. Didn't realize I had to unscrew (& move back) the airbox/airduct in order to put on the chrome smooth tubes.

The airbox looked to me to be a pretty "immovable" object in the car, I didn't realize I could easily loosen it.

I'll give that a shot.

thanks for the help fellas.

 

[viperct2001]

d-mn! so close, yet so far. I moved the airduct and was minutes away from having the chrome tubs away when I realized....

The jig cut my chrome tubes too long by 1.5" or so. Even with the rubber inserts pushed way down it's still 1.5" longer than the stock tubes (When standing on a table and comparing the two)

they're not even the same size... one is 1/4" shorter.

don't you hate it when that happens? It's like getting a toy for Xmas and they forgot to include batteries...

 

[Viper Wizard]

d-mn! so close, yet so far.

viperct,
Call me and maybe I can walk you through it. [Put your hands free phone on, you'll need two hands. ]

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

[Put your hands free phone on, you'll need two hands. ]

LOL Gawd, I hope it's a push button.