K&N Blackhawk CAI Install Problem

Hey guys I can use some help with this. So I was installing the Blackhawk K&N CAI for my 17’ 3.5L. Took everything apart and was trying to install these 3 screws with rubber in them into the engine bay frame. Each one I barely got to bite but these just bit to get started and wouldn’t screw in further. Since they all have rubber around them I can get them in further. Any ideas? Here are a few pics of what I’m talking about. I did notice the frame where they screw in to had a little rust but not sure how to continue. Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

 

Are you limited by the rubber, or is it cross threading/wrong thread or size? Can you slide the bolt part out of the rubber to test the screw fitment? Maybe post a pic of the bolt. If rust is the issue, you can put in a little oil and grab a cheap tap and die set and run a tap through to clean out the threads (make sure to double check the tap). If the rubber is the issue, I would carefully cut 1/8 off with a razor knife. Like all things in life, make sure you are in the right hole first . Only other thought if the bolts are the issue is getting longer bolts the correct size/pitch and installing all the way through the new air box, then through the rubber grommit (bolt removed or buy a new rubber spacer) and into the hole.

 

Thanks for the reply. No at the time I couldn’t. I talked to the manufacture and they sent me out the three stud/screws I was having a problem with. So hopefully it was a fluke and I got wrong ones but I doubt it. Maybe with the old if they are in fact the same size I can get that rubber off and try to get them to bite more by using a wrench. I was really looking forward to this as I’ve had one in my last two vehicles and I really like them.

 

That’s odd my studs screwed right into the wheel well with no problem. Yeah maybe the thread pitch is off on the new studs.

 

Yeah it is weird, hopefully they work with these new ones. I’m going to attempt it this weekend. I compared them to the old, they look the same but who knows. They had to send me a new tube too because it was marred in one spot from something in shipping. I can only think a screw.

 

Hold the original bolts next the new studs and see if the threads match each other. Now that I think about it, I did have to use pair of pliers to tighten the new studs down. Just grab the rubber and give it a few turns. If you can feel it starting to cross thread then stop

 

Ok I’ll double check. I’m going to try to do the install again Saturday. It’s weird because I remember when I installed one in my 09’ it wasn’t an issue. The guy on the phone at K&N said possibly there was paint in the threads from when the truck was manufactured. I did not see that.

I did order on Amazon, being the one tube had scratches I wonder if they had a return from someone that failed the install? And slightly offset the threads? And amazon repackaged? I’m probably over thinking this lol.

Hopefully it’s not the actual locations where the studs/screws go into. I guess I’ll see Saturday. I will have to try the pliers with a bit more force this time. I did try that but was worried I would damage the screw and rubber.

 

Yeah your just probably overthinking that first part hahaha, but yeah I mean it’s just a rubber bushing for the shied it won’t really matter if you clamp down on it a bit.

 

Well I got it in. The new studs/screws were the same, difficult to get in. But I soaked the holes in wd40 and was able to get the two almost screwed to the bottom. The last I had a bolt that was same size as other stud/screw and cranked that down. Then i screwed the stud by hand as far as I could then used a pair of channel locks to get it down as far as I could. Probably a quarter of an inch or less from the bottom but it was snug. So after that all was completed super easy! I love it and it turned out great. Man what a pain in the butt for such and easy install! Here’s the pics! Thanks guys!

I know that engine bay is filthy, one day I’ll get to cleaning it!