I finally go around to installing the HPX today after having it for at least 4 months. I have to say that if I would have known how much difference it would make, I would have put it on immediately and probably ordered it a couple years ago. I was having "crackling" issues at idle and especially when pulling out and hen some going up hills at lower RPM's. I guess I may not have noticed it so much before I got the exhaust manifold bolts fixed and the ticking noise went away. Anyway, the engine now purrs like a kitten and I have not experienced any crackling noises since.

The install was pretty straight forward and took about 1.5 hours. I could probably do it again in a half hour though. Passenger side is a piece of cake with the only issue being the IC pipe but not too much in he way. Drivers side I advice removing the air intake (if you want to do the CCV, that is the time to do it). I have the hard line version and it went in without any problems and the tightening down (a little more that the instructions) has not had a leak yet.

Putting it all back together, I had a oil mist blowing and I thought I missed tightening a IC boot (didn't need to remove it, but did that before the air box). Turns out the CCV hose came off the air box, even though I only moved it a little bit. Had to take it off again and make sure the hose was on, then back together. Like I said, it would probably take around a half hour to do this one again and it is well worth the effort IMHO.

 

Good job Dave. The more you do things under the hood, the easer it gets.

 

Just need more time to do it. Took a vacation day since I will lose what I have left from last year at the end of the month. Still two more days left.