SWThomas

I got the Chickenears Cool-Aid Stage III Kit today and immediately went to installing it. Here is a step-by-step of how I installed it...

Here are some pics of everything that came in my kit. I opted for the polished tube and Tim engraved "Chickenears" on it. I also got the polished lid for the filter box and the Air Force One Power Tube. I chose to go with the 12" S&B Filter instead of the True-Flow Foam Filter.
















The first thing I had to do was remove the old K&N FIPK.


Here's what it looked like with the K&N removed.


Next, I located these two bolts on the front of the engine. They're the ones on the drivers side between the cam cover and the power steering pump.


Then I install the supplied aluminum brackets with the supplied 13MM locking nuts. The slightly angled bracket goes on the bottom. I left them loose so I could make adjustments later if needed.




Then I went to installing the ram-air tubing. I installed the long flex-tubing section and the short one to the polished metal tube prior to installing it to help ease the installation. I used the supplied worm-gear clamps to install the flex-tubing on the metal tube.




Next, I used two more of the supplied clamps to attach the tubing to the aluminum brackets I installed earlier. Once again, I left them slightly loose so I could adjust them for fitment later.


Then I went to installing the ram-air scoop. This was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. First, I laid out the scoop and the brackets.


Then I located the two lower/inner bumper mounting bolts (they're right next to the heat exchanger). I remove these two bolts and installed the two brackets for the scoop. Once again, leaving them slightly loose to adjust the height of the scoop once I have it installed. This is the drivers side with bolt removed...


This is the passenger side with the bolt still in...


And after the brackets were installed...




Then I attached the scoop with the supplied nylon threaded nuts and the supplied washers. This took a little pushing and pulling, but it went right on. Once I had the scoop installed, I lined everything up, snugged it up against the bumper as far as I could, and tightened the two bumber bolts and the four bolts that hold the scoop to the brackets. These are pics of it installed...






Then I attached the flex-tubing to the scoop with another supplied clamp...


At this time, I attached the other end of the tubing to the filter box and clamped it. Once that was accomplished, I went ahead and adjusted the tubing for clearance and tightened down the bracket nuts and the clamps. I had to fiddle with it a bit to get clearance away from the lower pulley (8# lower). In the instructions it has a picture of the tubing going under the power steering line, but I had to go over it to get clearance. I ended up with about 1 1/2" of clearance from the lower pulley...




Once that was done I went to work on the filter box. First I installed the MAF using the billet MAF adapter supplied with the kit. I followed the instructions and "sandwiched" the filter box between the MAF and adapter. I used my old MAF gasket on the outside where the MAF contacted the box. The supplied MAF bolts were too short, so I just re-used my old ones. I also installed the IAT sensor in the hole in the bottom corner of the box...






Then I installed the 12" S&B Filter and clamped it on...


Then I installed the plastic ring and foam ring at the head of the filter to make a tube to the hole in the fender. This filter does have an opening at the end...




Then I installed the Air Force One Power Tube to complete the set-up. Here's everything installed before I put the cover on. The only thing I really didn't care much for was that the MAF is now located on top. I believe I will have to have my tune tweaked a bit because of the new MAF location...






And here's everything installed including the polished cover for the box...






























And the aftermath...


I haven't had a chance to drive the L yet, but I'm pretty satisfied with this kit. I am more than satisfied with the "Deal of the Day" that Tim @ Chickenears made me. This kit definitely added a lot of flare to the engine bay and I must say that I had to stand there and stare at it for a while...

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Gus00SVTL

Excellent How-To! Thank you! I'm going to be getting this kit soon for my Lightning and I will definately use this to help me with the installation of it.

trickie

Really good photos and instructions.
I'm doing a simular system to my own design by replacing foglights with air intakes. Will post pics when ready

Skoalman

+1!

I have one of these kits, would have been nice to have seen this write up before installing mine.

Twinturbo Ranger

Thanks for posting. I've been wanting to build a setup exactly like this for my truck. Thanks to your post all the work has already been done. Now I just need to find the funds

If you don't mind post up your MAF results once you get it tuned. I'd like to to know if they had to modify the MAFtransfer function.

Thanks Mike

AlanSVT

Nice How TO.

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2001 Ford Lightning Gone but not forgotten.
2010 Ford Shelby GT500.

LexLightning

nice writeup but where did you get the front panel from with your name buildate and such i really like it

SWThomas

EBay.

LexLightning

REALLY got a link ??

SWThomas

No, I don't know if he sells them on EBay anymore. It's been quite a while since I got these. There are a couple threads about him somewhere on here. If you search around I'm sure you can find them...