It wasn't too long ago that Editor Bob got his hands on a K&N Fuel-Injection Performance Kits (FIPK) for his pewter C5 coupe. As we'd heard, the FIPK dramatically reduces intake restriction as it smoothes and straightens airflow, which allows for a larger volume of air to enter your engine than through the highly restrictive factory airbox. Of course, more air means more power and torque, and Team VETTE is always ready to try out anything that allows for more of that. On top of that, the FIPK filter elements are washable, reusable, and backed by K&N's 10-year, million-mile limited warranty.
With the FIPK and Bob's still-unnamed '00 sitting in the Primedia Tech Center, we took an hour out of our day to observe technician Jason Scudellari slip the system under the hood. The increase was immediate, and the very next day Bob took it on a little road test from our offices in California to Effingham, Illinois, for the annual Mid America FunFest.
We were hoping to have more to offer than an installation "how-to," but due to scheduling conflicts and an intermittent and unrelated check-engine light, we were unable to run post-installation dyno tests in time for this issue. Look for these results in the Currents section within the next month or two. Bob did tell us that there was a noticeable improvement in throttle response, and that the coupe's LS1 seemed to rev a little more freely. He said that there was more induction noise ("a mild roar") with the hood open but that he didn't hear it while driving.
Meanwhile, here's how the installation went.
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 We got started in the Primedia...  We got started in the Primedia Tech Center by unhooking the sensors and the stock air filter from the car. |
 With everything out of Editor...  With everything out of Editor Bob's '00, the next step was to remove the mass airflow sensor. |
 We also went ahead and removed...  We also went ahead and removed this screen from inside the MAF to squeeze out a few more horsepower. If you choose to do so, be careful not to remove more than the mesh by accident. |
 Next, the replacement K&N...  Next, the replacement K&N inlet tube is assembled... |
 ...followed by the FIPK f...  ...followed by the FIPK filter. |
 The MAF, of course, fits between...  The MAF, of course, fits between the filter and the inlet tube. |
 After that, the rubber grommets...  After that, the rubber grommets get moved from the original piece to the new part. |
 The same goes for the pieces...  The same goes for the pieces on the filters... |
 ...followed by the retaining...  ...followed by the retaining bar installation. |
 Next, we pre-fit the finished...  Next, we pre-fit the finished FIPK assembly and marked the areas of the radiator shroud we needed to cut with blue tape... |
 ...followed by careful cu...  ...followed by careful cutting... |
 ...which was followed by the...  ...which was followed by the installation of the these brackets that help hold the plastic away from the filter. |
 The final fit, and everything...  The final fit, and everything looks great. |
 All that's left to do is to...  All that's left to do is to hook the sensors back up and run a few dyno tests. Check back next month in our Currents section to see our results. |