Detailed Volant CAI Install With Pictures

[Seattle09GT]

Big thanks goes to 08G8V8 (Jeff) for the use of his garage and a second set of hands.

To help speed up the install you'll need the following:

1) Socket wrench set with at least a 10 MM deep socket in addition to the standard metric sockets
2) Wrench, 10 MM - small (short handled)
3) Torx set - T-25 or T-27 (we didn't note this in the install, another poster told me it was a T-27)
4) Flathead screwdriver
5) Phillips head screwdriver
6) Recommend something to protect the fender - or make sure that you aren't wearing pants with rivets, metal belt buckle, etc. etc.

Allocated 45 to 60 minutes for install time. These instructions were based on the install of a 2009 G8 GT, 9L1 car. Directions can vary slightly depending on the production date of your G8.

STEP 1:

The first step is to separate the upper and lower sections fo the factory cold air intake.



This is accomplished by opening up five clips located on the stock airbox. These clips allow easy access to the stock air filter for inspection and replacement. The next two pictures show two of them, after the clips have been released. There are four visible clips, that are opened simply by pressing on them with your thumb. The fifth can't be seen. It is located under the Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) - which is the long black tube coming out of your airbox toward the engine. Feel under the MAF along the airbox and you'll find the fifth clip. You have now freed the top section from the bottom section.





You can see the air filter exposed in this picture. Lift the top part of the factory cold air intake up just enough to remove the filter, set aside.

STEP 2:

Next, you're going to disconnect the MAF wiring harness. This is done simply by squeezing the harness at its base, may take a bit of wiggling, squeezing, to find the right spot.





STEP 3:

Next, you're going to disconnect the factory breather hose from both the factory cold air intake and the engine. This is a plastic tube located close to the intake on the engine. This is removed by rotating the outer ring attached to the tubing. Again, may take a bit of turning, wiggling to get it right for someone doing a first time install.





Once you've disconnected the breather hose from the factory cold air intake, follow the hose back to the engine. It ultimate connects to the PCV under the heater hoses that run on top of the engine. The connection is covered with a piece of brownish insulation. Simply grab the base of the connection, insulation and all and pull with a firm steady pressure until it slips off.



CONTINUED IN NEXT POST...

[Seattle09GT]

STEP 4:

Now all you need to do to is pull the cold air intake off from the throttle body on the top of the engine. Simply loosen the factory bracket and it should just pull right off. Be careful through the rest of the install to not let anything fall through the throttle body into the engine. Congrats! You've removed the top half of the factory cold air intake.



Set aside, as you're going to have to remove the MAF from the upper part of the factory cold air intake, along with a grommet and clamp to install your Volant.

STEP 5:

Next you're going to remove the lower part of the factory cold air instake. There are two 10 MM volts and one T-20/25 (not sure which size sorry) torx holding it in place.

Using a deep socket set, remove the two 10 MM bolts as show in the pictures. Set aside the nuts as you will reuse one of them when you install the Volant. The two bolts are shown in the next two images.





The torx screw is located in the bottom of the airbox. The screw will not "come out" as you turn it, it will reach a point where continued rotation is not needed.



Once you've removed the two nuts and freed the torx, the stock lower air box and snorkle will come right out. The factory snorkle extends forward, slightly below the headlamp. When you lift out the airbox you will need to lift it up, back and then out. Set it aside, you will not need it for the rest of the install.



STEP 6:

Next you're going to relocate the stock lid for the washer fluid filler neck. If you open up the filler lid you'll see that the cover is held in place simply by a plastic ring. This is easily removed off of the filler neck. Remove the cover, turn it 90 degrees, so that the "hinge" faces toward the driver side fender, and reapply to the neck. Close the lid, to prevent anything from falling down into the reservoir by accident.







CONTINUED IN NEXT POST...

[Seattle09GT]

STEP 7:

Take your Volant airbox that has been shipped assembled. Using a Phillips head screw driver remove the aluminum cover from the stock airbox. Next, using a socket wrench, remove the bolts that hold the Powercore air filter in place. Set the aluminum cover and filter aside in a safe place. Be careful not to scratch the filter and do not remove the protective plastic sheeting from it yet. This is all very straight forward, so no pictures taken.

STEP 8:

You are going to need the MAF, the clamp closest to the factory air box, and the grommet from that clamp. (see the below picture). Simply loosen the clamps on both sides of the MAF and the assembly will just come right out from the factory cold air intake assembly. The grommet and clamp closest to the airbox is "keyed" and will come out as one assembly.





STEP 9:

You're now ready to install the replacement snorkle and airbox for your Volant. Take the airbox and snorkle. You are going to carefully route it under the front headlamp, in a very similar location to where the factory airbox was located. When you removed the two 10 MM bolts, the Volant will install onto the post closest to the front of the car and the driver side fender. You may have to reach into the airbox to align it as you slide it into place. Also, we found that we weren't clearing one of the factory clamps, that we had to turn about 45 degrees on its hose for better placement. Just be patient, honestly, this is probably the hardest part of the whole install, and it really isn't all that hard. Once you've got everything aligned, and you've checked for proper clearance around the airbox, put your hand in the bottom of it. With steady pressure, push down about as hard with the flat of your hand as if you were giving someone CPR, don't do compressions, just push and hold. The lower airbox will make a pretty loud, "SNAP," as it locks into place.

Using one of the 10 MM nuts that held down the factory airbox, torque it down on the exposed post inside the airbox to secure it down.



STEP 10:

Reinstall the Powercore air filter into the Volant airbox. Pretty straight forward, no pics taken. Do NOT install the aluminum cover.

STEP 11:

The next step is more easily accomplished before you install the MAF onto the Volant airbox. Take the MAF and the smaller 56 clamp provided with the Volant. Then take the reducer. Slide the 56 clamp onto the MAF first, then squeeze the smaller side of the reducer onto the left side (the side the arrow on the MAF points to) of the MAF. Proper installation of the MAF, with the air pointing toward the engine is critical.

Next, take the factory clamp and grommet you removed earlier and slide it into/on to the Volant airbox you installed in Step 9. The picture below shows the factory clamp and grommet installed. Place the clamp so that you have easy access to the bolt so you can torque it down after install is complete.



The next image shows MAF placement, however the reducer has not been installed in this photo. It will be much easier for you if you install the reducer before connecting the MAF to the Volant airbox.



Tighten the clamps enough so that the reducer and/or MAF won't fall off with gentle pressure or pulling, but not so tight that you can move things around to finish the install.

STEP 12:

You are now almost done. Take two of the 64 clamps and slide it onto the main intake tube provided with the Volant, one on each end. Next, take the hump hose and install it on the end that will go to the throttle body on the engine. Next, install the end that goes to the MAF and reducer, be patient as you get the reducer over the intake. Now install the hump hose onto the throttle body. Be sure that the hump hose is pushed all the way up to the lip on the throttle body, all 360 degrees (over and under). Start to tighten the clamps, but again, not so tight that you can't move things around.



STEP 13:

Now you're going to connect the 21" breather hose that came with the Volant kit. Take the hose and slide it onto the location where it use to connect to the PCV on the engine.



Next, you will route the hose over the engine, following roughly where the existing hoses/harnesses travel across the front of the engine, and connect to the breather nipple on the Volant air intake.



Push the hose all the way down onto the breather nipple to assure proper placement, and that it won't separate.

STEP 14:

Check all clamps and bolts. Torque the clamp that connects the MAF to the airbox first. Then torque the clamp that holds the hump hose to the throttle body on the engine. Then torque the inner clamps. Be sure to make sure the hump hose or reducer doesn't shift while you torque down the clamps. Do not over torque and crack the MAF or Volant air intake hoses.

Plug the MAF wiring harness back into the MAF sensor. Make sure that the wiring harness does not hang down and is too close to the belts in the engine.

Remove the plastic protection sheet off of the aluminum cover on your Volant air box cover, and replace the cover.



STEP 15:

After driving for 10 to 30 miles, check your clamps and connections one more time to make sure nothing shifted as the engine warmed up (or cooled if you did a hot install). In my case I found the hump hose had moved about 1/8" and needed to be relocated and tightened again.



ENJOY the fruits of your labor!

[G8GTlawride]

Very nice. I looked into Volant when I first began looking for a CAI but they weren't making them yet.

[grandmacpubah]

how are the power gains, are you happy?

[Seattle09GT]

I just did the install on Sunday and did the Superchips 87 Octane Volant tune this afternoon. I've driven less than 10 miles total but so far the butt dyno likes it. The real proof will come with 91 Octane gas and tune, and next spring at Pacific Raceway!

[XXFire]

LOVE my Volant... Sounds great and Can feel the diff.

[cwhite]

I just can't get past the cheesy looking lid...

Glad you're feeling the performance gains. Really nice write up.

[mark]

I just can't get past the cheesy looking lid...

Glad you're feeling the performance gains. Really nice write up.

You can always paint it. I prepped and painted mine MGM to match my car, radiator cover, and engine cover. I didn't really mind the cover before, but when I was painting everything I decided to paint the volant cover too.

[GTeve]

Excellent write up for an excellent product!