K&N Air Filter

I just recently purchased a K&N Air Fiilter for my 2002 Trans Am (5.7L V8). When placed in the housing, I can't get the clamps to snap shut properly; when compared to the stock filter, the K&N upper lip is much thinner and doesn't take up enough space for the casing to close right. Has anyone else had this problem? It has to be the correct part, because I've checked about six different places online and they all give the same part number for my car. :banghead:

i had an adhesive backing come with mine. you got one of those?

Don't the K&N filters also come with a gasket in order to set it right? I got a Holley Poweshot filter, no gasket, and no problems seating the lid correctly back down on it...

A gasket did come with the filter, but it is VERY thin. I took the paper off of the adhesive side of the gasket, and placed it up underneath the lid where it's supposed to go. If I were to get it to fit properly, I'd probably need at least five to six more of these gaskets to put in place. If this is the correct part for my car, I don't understand why it wouldn't fit in the first place... should I look into getting a larger (wider) gasket, to allow it to fit the way it's supposed to? :banghead:

U have something wrong then cuz my friend has an 02 and we put his in easy as pie. Took old one out, put new one in, put gasket on lid, snaped it down, badabing badaboom..... Take a closer look at it there has to be something you missed. Your not trying to put the filter in upside down are you?...lol...jk

Nope; followed instructions perfectly. I'm at a complete loss.

is it a circular filter if so just take some tape and wrap a couple layers around it till its the right thickness

if its a square one i have no clue

Nope, not circular. It's rectangular. It just seems to me the gasket they give you with the filter is too thin. When you line up the K&N w/ the stock filter, the top ridge of the K&N is much thinner than the stock. If I had a thicker gasket to apply to the lid, that may work...

why dont you just try some tape anyway?

I'm not sure what to tell you. Is there any way you could post pictures so that we could diagnose from there?

If I get a chance to stop by the garage where my car is stored right now (I have to rent out a garage since there is none at my apartment), I'll take some pics and post 'em. There's a big difference in the size (height) between the K&N and the stock, but apparently it is the right part, because I've tried about a dozen websites that sell them.

Go into an actual parts store. Advanced Auto or something in your area. See if they can figure out what's wrong with it. They'll also tell you if you got the correct part or not

That's not a bad idea... I don't think those types of stores (e.g., AutoZone and Advanced) carry K&N products but even if they don't, they may be able to tell what's wrong. In the meantime, I'm looking for a few extra gaskets or something else I could put on the lid to take up enough space to make everything fit like a glove. The car's being put away very soon for winter, so I have plenty of time to figure this out.

I wish I was fortunate enough to do that with my F-body. Hopefully within the next couple of months I will be...

These cars were definitely not made to be driven in bad weather. My car absolutely does not see snow and I try keepin' her outta the rain as much as I can too. I can't even imagine trying to get around in snow with a V8 5.7L engine and RWD!! :grinno:

I did it last year, and I'll do it again this winter. Fortunately, I'm getting new tires in the very near future, otherwise it would be impossible since I have almost no tread left on the rear tires...

if you do find a store that carrys K&N filters take your stock one in and just try and find a K&N that is similar in size and height and such because they do have generic ones so look around

Got the filter on... I put two strips of double-sided molding tape on the gasket, and that took up enough space to make everything fit together like a glove.

advanced auto didn't have the part. but they gave me the part number for it, and the best place to order it. didn't charge me a dime. they were actually quite helpful.

Advanced Auto = Good
RKSport = Bad

RK still hasn't given me my money back!! grrr

yeah, Advanced is pretty helpful. I stopped in and asked about the filter I ordered online and they told me it was the right part. I bought the molding tape there, and they GAVE me another gasket to see if that would work... the two gaskets took up too much space so I couldn't close the lid. I tried one gasket and two strips of tape... budda bing, budda boom! Just increased my HPs a little! Autozone is usually pretty cool too...