Is the air filter really that hard to change?

[twinmill28]

First, my air filter was beyond disgusting---I've driven the deuce just over 52K miles and wheeled a fair bit. Bad mistake not looking at this much sooner. I feel really bad for what I've done to the engine.
But in trying to put the lid back on, I just couldn't see a way to do it without moving the windshield squirter bottle. This entailed removing the bracket that's just over the top of the squirter bottle to get to the bottle screws and also pop that corner of the air cleaner lid back on. This also allowed me to identify that the windshield guys broke the plastic cowl pins, just the same as they did with my 3.
So what I'm asking, is the air cleaner really that much of a pain in the ass to put back together or did I just not force it enough? Seemed faster to take it apart vs. continuing to try cramming it on.

[HummerJim]

Yes, it's a pain to put back on - you are not alone. In a post from years ago it was recommended putting petroleum jelly on the black part that rubs on the brace although, like you I didn't want to break something by giving the top a hefty push. Undoing the three screws that hold the air cleaner base to the body makes it a much easier job, although it takes longer.

[LoJac963]

^everything this guy has to say.

I'm the type of OCD person who cleans the air filter at every oil change (like you should) but also want to look at my air filter anytime I have the hood open just to make sure its good.

I got so fed up with the POS stock lid I yanked the stock crap out and put in a Volant air box/filter. I'm still running the stock tube so it took some garage engineering but it looks great. The lid I can remove with 4 screws and take a peek while at the same time it draws air from the stock fender location.

The Volant filters are much thicker than K&N which I liked but I also run the Volant pre-filter just in case.

[glennf1]

Just take a long screwdriver to bend the plastic into place and it'll go right back on.

[Cesardajr]

Originally Posted by glennf1

Just take a long screwdriver to bend the plastic into place and it'll go right back on.

X2

[wasp1971]

I think if you stick out your tongue while doing it it goes right in:P

[twinmill28]

Holy smokes Wasp----you live right up the road from me!
I'm over in Bluewater Bay and always looking for other deuces. I rarely ever head out that direction though. Do you do any wheeling?

[wasp1971]

Hey Twinmill. No, my(I mean my wife's H2) is just a gas guzzling kid hauling grocery getter. I wouldn't know where to wheel around our parts anyway. I guess the reservation but it's mostly sand which is harder to get out of the under carriage than mud.

[Rico001]

Originally Posted by wasp1971

Hey Twinmill. No, my(I mean my wife's H2) is just a gas guzzling kid hauling grocery getter. I wouldn't know where to wheel around our parts anyway. I guess the reservation but it's mostly sand which is harder to get out of the under carriage than mud.

There are trails on one of the Air Force Bases that are great to wheel in and have some good sized mud pits but I do not have any idea how you arrange to go on them.

I will look into and see if there is any info
~Richard

[slippy]

Originally Posted by LoJac963

^everything this guy has to say.

I'm the type of OCD person who cleans the air filter at every oil change (like you should) but also want to look at my air filter anytime I have the hood open just to make sure its good.

I got so fed up with the POS stock lid I yanked the stock crap out and put in a Volant air box/filter. I'm still running the stock tube so it took some garage engineering but it looks great. The lid I can remove with 4 screws and take a peek while at the same time it draws air from the stock fender location.

The Volant filters are much thicker than K&N which I liked but I also run the Volant pre-filter just in case.

any pics or more info on that garage engineering?

[LoJac963]

Let me snap a few pics and I'll post them here for you to see.

[LoJac963]

Here is the Volant box installed:



I added foam insulation to the fender to make sure the Volant box was sealed to the fender so it wouldn't suck in any hot air.

These are the couplers and my zip tie job. I had to use a HUGE 4.5" silicone reducer because the opening on the Volant box is big and the hard plastic "reducer" they include wouldn't work with my stock piping. Stainless T-clamps to hold everything together then I had to use zip ties to compress the accordion flex joint on the stock tube to shorten it. Eventually I will buy a AirDoc tube and do some trimming to that will work but its hard to justify $300 with shipping for an aluminum tube.



Let me know if you have any questions.

Edit: FYI I did contact Volant who sent me a new "reducer" however the reducers they include and the second one they sent me are hard plastic with cut outs-it flat out doesn't work. No possible way to get a good seal through the system so thats why I went the route I did.

[twinmill28]

Hey, thanks for posting up, especially with the pics. I'd love to get my hands on the Volant set-up with the new tube, but it's a bit pricey for me right now. I think upgrading to the Air Doc would be well worth it with a Volant box, even though it seems just to be an aluminum tube it's got to be better than the factory mess.

[LoJac963]

I definitely agree, and it will look a hell of a lot better thats for sure! I don't remember why specifically I didn't go with the full Volant intake. I think I remember reading people having some issues with fitment and other things. I researched like crazy before I decided on the Volant.

The Volant filters are thicker than K&N (which I have always used) so I am confident in their filters. I also bought the pre-filter just as an added layer of protection.

[Humdingah]

Originally Posted by twinmill28

Hey, thanks for posting up, especially with the pics. I'd love to get my hands on the Volant set-up with the new tube, but it's a bit pricey for me right now. I think upgrading to the Air Doc would be well worth it with a Volant box, even though it seems just to be an aluminum tube it's got to be better than the factory mess.

Why not use the Airaid Jr. tube...plastic and it's about $120 and works with the Volant box. I've got that combination on my truck right now and I assume transfers less engine bay heat than an aluminum tube would.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Airaid/028/200-983/10002/-1

[LoJac963]

I personally like the look of the AirDoc tube better but $120 is much easier to fork out....hmmmm

[wasp1971]

Twinmill, I'm retired Air Force so I guess I could get to the mud but I don't think my wife would let me take it out and tear it up. It's her main set of wheels now.

[twinmill28]

Wow---when we got our first HUMMER, it was a 3, I gave my wife a good rundown that I was going to use it for wheeling and that it was going to get scratched up.
Then we traded the 3 for the 2, and she already knew my intentions, but didn't really like that I'd take a truck that pretty wheeling. She did understand that it's built for it though, so she accepted it in her own way; especially after we did a trail run with the Canadian HUMMER Club and ran with an '06 Alpha who wasn't afraid to get it dirty.
If you're gonna drive a HUMMER, ya gotta drive it like a HUMMER! Not saying beat it to hell, but take it out and have some fun with it and try not to get too wrapped up if it gets scratched---all but the worst scratches buff out.

[Humdingah]

How is the AirDoc tube $300? It's listed here at $179.99...

http://airdocintakes.com/product_four.htm