How to Install a Short Ram Air Intake System Heat Shield

Installing a heat shield on a vehicle's intake air intake chamber (also called an airbox) helps keep it cooler. It also reduces the temperature difference between the motor and the airbox. A cooler intake airbox, in turn, generates more power. A 5-degree temperature drop can result in a 1 percent gain.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Torque wrench
• 10 mm (0.4 inches) socket ratchet with 3-inch extension
• Pliers or needle-nose for hose clamp

1. Do the installation when the vehicle is cold. If it has been running, wait for at least an hour until the engine cools to prevent burns. After it's cool, open the hood and remove the lid of the stock airbox.

2. Loosen the bolt that holds the harness on the VTEC solenoid assembly. Use the 10 mm socket to access that bolt. Don't lose it; you need to put it back later.

3. Use the 10 mm driver to remove the two bolts that the shield will replace. Set them aside and make sure not to lose them.

4. Test fit the heat shield. Try to fit the new bolt through the new washer, through the bottom hole of the bracket and finally through the plastic spacer.

5. Line up the shield and start threading the bolt through the bottom hole of the VTEC solenoid. Keep it parallel with the face of the airbox. Use the coolant line between it and the motor to ensure that it stays parallel.

6. Twist the top bolt through the washer, bracket and spacer as you did with the bottom one in Step 2. Torque both bolts slowly to 10 ft-lbs. Make sure to leave a clearance of at least 1/16 of an inch between the shield and the pulleys or belt. If it's less, torque the bolts more. If this fails, loosen the bolts and realign the shield. If that doesn't work, bend the bracket into place.

7. Ensure that the connector harness is firm and that you've replaced the two bolts and the top of the airbox.

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