Comptech shipped everything in a box with this pretty cool molded foam packing...arrived in perfect condition, about 2 weeks before I expected it...I guess they found an ITR intake in stock!
First order of business is to jack up the front of the car and put it on stands.
Take off the center splash guard by removing the 5 plastic bolt-clips (2 on passenger side, 3 on drivers side) and the 3 metal bolts in the center of the car (all 10mm bolts).
Since I already had the short-ram in place, I removed the filter bracket from that assembly and took out the filter to open up the space where the box will be going. The Icebox will also work with the stock plastic tube, but requires the Comptech filter.
We need to put the lower mounting bracket in place, so we remove the 14mm bolt on the right shown here...
and put it back on with the aluminum bracket in place.
Now we go back to the engine bay and start puting in the two box-mounting brackets. There's a long one and a short one (short one shown), put the small aluminum spacers as shown...
...and put the tall one in the hole labeled here...
...to get something that looks like this. Now we're ready to manuver the box in.
Situate the box sideways, and slide it down as far as you can logically do (it might help to get under the car and see that it clears all the various mounts and such...
...then rotate the box into place and fasten it to the tall mount with the bolt-spacer-washer-locking nut assembly. The washers and locking nuts go on the inside.
Put the shorter mount in it's obvious place, and secure it to the other side of the box...voila, the icebox has a home.
Now we go back under the car, and it's a good idea to undo the passenger-side wheelwell shield to give the best access (2 screws on chin spoiler edge, 2 plastic quick-fastners, and one screw underneath car) You can see where the lower hose part of the Icebox is, relative to the aluminum bracket we put on earlier.
Put the intake tube in place, aiming it directly forward, and secure it to the hose coming off the icebox with the hose-clamp (making sure that the bracket is under the clamp as well, to secure it)
Here's a closeup of the clamped bracket. Don't forget to tighten down that tow-hook bolt. Now you can put your splashguards back on.
Now it's time to start bringing things together...your experience may vary depending on your setup, since I already had the short-ram in place, here's what I did. Loosen all the hose clamps, not alot, but enough to move stuff around. Seperate the filter duct from the foam filter, and put the filter away for a while. Take the filter duct, and manuver it into place, the Icebox will hug the larger-diameter portion of the duct as shown here.
Here's a closeup of the filter duct as it mates to the metal intake tube, a very smooth piece.
Now, take the smurfy filter and put it into the box nose-first (putting the little nub projection into the hole at the front of the icebox). Then, negotiate the filter into the rubber elbow-type piece (don't forget to put all the hose clamps where they'll need to be). Make sure the fit looks good, and that nothing is rubbing in bad ways. Tighten down all of the hose clamps.
Now just snap on the top of the icebox, (it's cozy next to the ABS line bracket, but should fit without too much trouble). Here's a pic of where the metal tube mounts to the closed icebox.
Here's what the engine bay will look like when you're done...
And here's what the intake looks like behind the corner lens.
That's It! Not that hard an install, everything goes where it should without improvisation, and quality seems very good...here are my intial impressions:
I was pleased with the quality of the pieces, especially the brackets. The plastic doesn't feel quite as good as OEM, but it may have properties that the sense of touch can't appreciate as far as heat and durability are concerned. Install was very logical, I was a little concerned at first with how the icebox and metal tube were lining up, but once I had readjusted everything for the new system I was very impressed how nicely everything fit. Driving impressions so far have been brief, the car is a great deal quieter with the icebox in place (almost as quiet as stock), and feels like it has gained low-end power, which is exactly what I've read will happen with the box (and was hoping for). VTEC engagement is less pronounced (most of this is due to the reduction of the insane VTEC sonic boom you get from a short-ram). It's nice to know that the box will not suck up water (as can happen, however rarely, with the long-tube filter-on-a-stick AEM design. There's alot of debate about which intake is "best" for the Type R...I chose the Comptech over the AEM for the quality and design, and I'll be happy if I gain any amount of power. I will dyno the setup in short-ram and sealed-icebox configurations as soon as I can get out to Speed Nation. So far, I'm pleased as punch, and would recommend the Icebox/Comptech Filter setup to anyone looking for a Cold-Air Intake that isn't a filter-on-a-stick.
