Guys, my kit is all jacked up. I think I now have parts from all 3 versions of the new C38 kit, but no really good installation instructions for any of them. With the newest version with the two piece upper bracket, do you need to remove the intake manifold in order to remove the front stud? Looks like that bracket installs with a bolt that I don't have where that stud is currently located.

Thanks

 

Don't think so. The last iteration of the kit had a special bracket that required removing the VTEC bolted to the side of the engine. I did not install that piece. At no time did I have to remove the intake manifold or head to install the new kit. Good luck.

 

I have the bracket the moves the VTEC further to the passenger side installed. What I am trying to find out is where to bolt in Part 3 in the upgraded bracket drawing, which is supposed to be the latest and greatest from Kraftwerks. The bolt marked 5 states to re-use the hardware from the Kraftwerks kit. Well the problem is I don't have that bolt. This update has the 4 pulley system with 128mm crank pulley and 90mm S/C pulley. Anyone else out there have this for an AP2? If so, got any pics of the brackets mounted and what kind of HP are you seeing? I would attach the .PDF of the upgraded bracket kit if I could, or knew how.

 

Yeah, I don't have that two-page updated install instructions you are speaking of. Sorry.

 

It's completely indefensible that they still don't have this ironed out & clear in the instructions. I pointed this all out to them back in November when I got my kit, and was assured that it was "just becuase we rushed your kit out and were in the middle of the update." That's a story I saw on here they told to another guy recently.

You have to pull the stud out of the head (intake manifold stays attached), and replace it with a bolt they provide, that goes through one of their mounts. If they didn't supply the bolt, call them monday and have them next-day air mail it to you. Even though it's something you could likely source at a local hardware store - Eventually someone near the top of that company will start asking questions about all of the gratuitous shipping costs they have in their product support group, and they'll whip their warehouse packagers into shape. I was missing a pulley, missing instructions for the kit revisions as you were, got a civic ECU, had some extra parts from the previous revision that weren't used. They shipped two separate next day air packages to me to get the kit sorted out. There were other issues as well.

Once I got into contact with the right person at KW, things were ironed out fairly quickly. But for the cost of the kit, they could certainly spend that last couple hours getting a proper bill of materials and install instructions together. In the end, I'm exceedingly satisfied with the results. But there was too much frustration to get there.

 

I agree Habitforming. Joe at Group A has bent over backwards to get things right for me. I am just going to be very short on time to get this installed before spring though (daughter is a swimmer) and getting very frustrating. My problem stems from the fact that I didn't have the piece that attaches to the head at the intake manifold for the original kit, along with no instructions on the original kit to install. So therefore when I got the updated bracket I didn't know I was missing the bolt to mount it, let alone know for certain where it mounted.

Were you able to get a remover on that stud by just removing the bolt on the manifold?

 

OK, who in their right mind designs a system without enough clearance between the crank pulley and the steering rack to install the belt that drives the system?

 

I just used vise grips to remove the stud. Once you take the nut off of it, there's plenty of meat to grab to unscrew it. It threads in, just like a bolt with no head. It isn't a press fit.

It's a tight fit, but you CAN get it through there. I remember having that same feeling when I was installing mine!

Your post actually motivated me last night to finally get my install notes & photos posted. Have a look at this thread, I think you might find some helpful pics & info
https://www.s2ki.com/...c38-81-install/

 

Some might have different issues on the intake manifold stud. Mine was in deep and the intake manifold had to be removed to get a grip on it. Another issue I had was tightening the belt. It would be nice to have a measurement of some sort?

The write up HabitForming did is great. All of the main issues are in there.

 

I was able to find a jam nut to fit behind a regular nut to get enough bite to back it off. There was no way I could have double nutted it with two standard nut and back the stud out.