Intake Elbow Question

[95TransAm]

I love my cai, but it seems that ever since i put it on almost a year ago, my rubber 90 degree intake elbow just doesn't fit the same. My original one has long been destroyed, and the one i have now is starting to rip again.

I take it off quite a bit, and it's such a pain to get back on....it's always a couple inches off to the left, and i just have to force it. I'm skeptical about cutting it because i wasn't sure how the fit would be. So my questions are...

Where can i get a good replacement...whether it be rubber, polished, etc..?

Do the replacement elbows have the spots where you put in your sensor, and that blue tube thing that's close to the MAF?

And finally.....what exactly is that blue tube, and what is that sensor on the passenger side of the elbow?

Thanks guys

[95z28]

I have had the same problem, im going on my 3rd elbow since i got my cai. but it comes off alot because i like to tinker with it. try geting the vortech one thats what i orderd.

That blue tube is for the opti vent.

[Injuneer]

Are you sure you have the Moroso CAI installed correctly? I had the Callaway Honker, which is the same CAI as the Moroso, and it fit perfectly. If yours is "a couple inches off to the left" there's something wrong with the install, or you included the spacer that is intended for the 93 no-MAF setups.

[95TransAm]

To tell you the truth, the cai was installed by a buddy of mine about a year ago when i got the car. I did an oil change and replaced some light bulbs as he did the cai, so I'm not exactly sure if he put in the spacer or not. I was meaning to take it off soon and give it a nice clean. Looks like i might as well do that when i get home tonight, and while I'm at it, remove that spacer if it's there.

Thanks guys

[SteveH95Formula]

I take a wide regular screw driver and guide the bottom of the intake to slip over the bottom of the throttle body. Most times it hangs up there. The bottom of the rubber lip just needs to be pulled down a bit to slip on the TB all the way. The screw driver trick allways works with me.

[95TransAm]

I think I'm just going to get a new elbow and end my frustrations.

I'm looking at this one, question is...

It looks like there is a connection for my sensor in the picture, but what about my opti vent tube? I don't see a connection for it in the picture. If it isn't there, could I just drill a hole in there, or should I try and relocate my vent tube?

[Injuneer]

The thing I don't like about the Vortech elbow is the "divider plate" that runs the entire length of the inside. Trick Flow makes a similar aluminum elbow that doesn't have the divider plate and looks better. I think the Vortech has a threaded connection for the IAT sensor, because its intended for a blower application and you don't want the boost pressure to blow the sensor out. You would have to find a way to thread the stock sensor into the hole, which appears to be relatively easy. I think the Trick Flow may have the hole for the little blue elbow that connects the Opti air feed hose.

But, if you already have the elbow misaligned by 2" from the throttle body, using a rigid aluminum elbow is just going to make it harder to connect to the throttle body. Why not figure out what is wrong with the CAI install first? He might have put the "filler plate" backwards that blocks off the lower area of the fender from the engine compartment. That's where the other end of the big plastic tube connects. He might have included the filler piece for the MAF. He might not have pushed all the parts together correctly. Fix the problem, don't try to overpower it with a rigid elbow.

[95TransAm]

The thing I don't like about the Vortech elbow is the "divider plate" that runs the entire length of the inside. Trick Flow makes a similar aluminum elbow that doesn't have the divider plate and looks better. I think the Vortech has a threaded connection for the IAT sensor, because its intended for a blower application and you don't want the boost pressure to blow the sensor out. You would have to find a way to thread the stock sensor into the hole, which appears to be relatively easy. I think the Trick Flow may have the hole for the little blue elbow that connects the Opti air feed hose.

But, if you already have the elbow misaligned by 2" from the throttle body, using a rigid aluminum elbow is just going to make it harder to connect to the throttle body. Why not figure out what is wrong with the CAI install first? He might have put the "filler plate" backwards that blocks off the lower area of the fender from the engine compartment. That's where the other end of the big plastic tube connects. He might have included the filler piece for the MAF. He might not have pushed all the parts together correctly. Fix the problem, don't try to overpower it with a rigid elbow.

Actually, I too didn't like the divider plate in the vortech one, and came across the trick flow one at summit's website that I just ordered. It's black powdercoated, which I prefer, and says it comes with all connections for sensors.

When I get home I will fix the problem, it's just that my intake elbow is ripped to the point where my car died out a couple times. I had to jimmy rig it to get it to work. Also, I want a better way to eliminate my air silencer tube instead of the make-shift way i already have.

The blocking plate or the filler piece that you described are more likely than not the culprit for my problems. When I go home and clean my air filter, I'll check everything and fix what's wrong.

Appreciate your input guys...and thanks once again Fred. Your posts and answers to my questions have saved me from many headaches

[4THGEN Z]

I also have the Moroso CAI and I had to trim both ends of the tube to get it to fit right....as Fred suggested, check the length of the tube as well as the mounting plate at the air filter end.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

I had to cut an inch off the MAF sensor side of mine and I have the mounting plate for the filter as far to the outside of the car as I could monut it. I couldn't close the hood without cutting the pipe.