1- like changing a tire
10- like installing a supercharger or some ridiculous thing that you need to know heck of alot to do

 

lol...i thought you actually made a poll. i would give it along the lines of a 6 (by looking at the instructions....ive never done it)

 

i watched an install its pretty involved be prepared to make multiple trips to autozone for hoses

 

if you get the install kit, you just need a little more hose, and the right tools and you are all set its not THAT bad

 

#5

It's a relatively easy job, but you do need to have complete understanding about what you're doing and how you're going to do it. You definately need to have a good set of tools like a full set of metric sockets, rachet, torque wrench, Chiltons/Haynes/FSM to know torque numbers, good lighting, magnetic pickup, needle nose pliers, open ended metric wrenches, antiseize compound, and screw drivers. First thing is to start the install when the engine is COLD. Working on a hot engine increases your chances of snapping a bolt. When you take things off, put them in labeled bags. Take your time and never force anything. Be very careful moving electrical harnesses. It took me 6 hours start to finish which included wiring everything up.


Dave

 

It all depends on how long you have for the job...In my case I had a down time on my car and did it over about a weeks time...alittle here and alittle there...ran into a few minor problems but nothing bad...Id give it a 4.5

-matt

 

about 4-5 and touching 6

 

i watched KVI Maxima install mine, it seems like a lot of work. I would say its on the same level as installing an underdrive pulley but with more things to mess up. Definitely need directions and definitely need a quick contact when u run into a problem...

 

I say 4.

You don't need "special tools". Just a normal socket set (hell, just 10 and 12mm sockets), and a set of needle-nose vice grips. They make all those clamps really easy.

Once you know where the bolts on the back of the manifold are (or leave them out like me ), it becomes really, really easy.

 

here is a tip for you. when installing the MEVI don't use the two bolts in the back of the manifold. Not the EGR bolts just the two that attach the two brackets. This is really overkill and will help out greatly if you ever need to remove the upper.

 

So you dont need the brackets to support the manifold? I'm installing the 2000 manifold in a few weeks i guess i'll just leave the supports off the back if you guys think it will be fine.
Can you guys answer this ? for me . Will the 2000 manifold be wired up with a rpm switch the same way a MEVI is? Is it easier or harder. I dont have the VIAS control box yet its in the mail so i dont know what it looks like.

 

Don't forget to use Loctite on the butterfly screws...

 

Thanks for the good advice- It looks like I will get my nerve up and try to get this done myself as my next (and possibly last?? Is that possible???) power mod.

 

It's not difficult to do it's just hard getting to some of the bolts especially the EGR sensor bolts in the back. The breakdown of my install was like this:

Day 1: Took about 3 hours installing the manifold itself. No wiring or vacuum installation. I am a skinny guy and it was still hard to get my hands back in there to undo some of the bolts. I borrowed one of my sister's little makeup flippy mirror things so that I could use it to see what the hell I was getting at. That made things much easier back there where you cant see what you are doing.

Day 2: Did the vacuum system, another 3 hours or so because I wasn't sure that my check valve was working so it was alot of testing involved in that 3 hours also.
Day 3: About another 4-5 hours wiring, testing, rewiring, testing. The wiring was by far the most aggrevating part of the install because my brain doesn't work well with things I can't visualize, and wiring/switches/relays have always been a problem for me. Finally someone explained to me what a relay actually does, and then it made sense and I was able to wire it up. I've since removed the relay as it's not needed and causes extra complication.

I repeated the entire job which took me 10-11 hours in about 3 hours on a friends car. Once you know what you are doing the hardest part is just getting the manifold off and bolting the new manifold up.

 

absolutely the most important step! As far as the two rear bolts, they are not so hard (compared to the egr because of the gasket) i would put them on for good measure. You wouldn't want that puppy to shift off the lower plenum.. but that's me.

 

Do it yourself, no it's not hard just time consuming. Allow yourself to be without your car for a couple days incase you run into problems. As for as your poll, I would say it's a 5. Lucky there you always have the org for help.

 

I did mine in about 2.5 hours 45 minutes for installing the plenunm and the rest for wiring the RPM switch, LED, and vaccum connections.

 

Make sure and use new gaskets for the throttle body, EGR, and IACV. If you reuse the EGR gasket, mostly likely it will leak. The other two should be replaced just as safe measure. Even a small vacuum leak will cause a loss of power and MPG even though the car may appear to drive fine.


Dave