Hey chgolatin.
I came across your post regarding the Evo intake install,and although i'm a newby to the forum,and have never posted before,i had to chime in.
When your shop told you they had to drop the motor for this install,did they do it with a straight face?
Thats one of the most ridiculous things i've read on the site.
I personally just installed an Evo intake one of my personal cars ( 2000 'S' ) this past thursday.Although i do own a shop here in Atlanta,and have access to my own lifts and such,i can assure you,one does not need to drop the motor for this.
I will confirm that it IS a knuckle buster of an install.To be blunt,a real pain in the A_ _!
You will have to loosen the driver's side intake manifold,and loosen the throttle body to make things a little easier.It'll help if you have an extra pair of hands helping.One pulling on the intake manifold torwards the passenger side,while the other is manuvering the air box up and out.This is the most difficult portion of the install.There are 2- 10mm nuts at the bottom of the air box that are pretty hard to see,let alone get to.You will need to reuse these to fasten the EVO heat sheild back to the chassis.If you remove the access panel at the firewall,you'll have a better view of them.You may need to get from underneath the car.Both are pretty difficult to re-install,so be patient.
The kit should come with pretty clear cut instructions,and pics.Also,as in my case,the band clamp that holds the throttle body intake boot to the MAF housing,bottomed out before i got a secure bite on the new metal intake pipe that Evo supplies.I recommend you have an extra hose clamp standing by roughly 3-3.5" diameter..
I wouldn't blame them charging 2-3 hrs for an install,but a motor drop? c'mon.
As far as performance.It definatley adds to the throttle response,and could feel a little more pull at higher speeds.I installed it knowing that i was loading up some new GIAC software the next day.The intake is highly recommended when flash tuning it.
I have baseline dyno pulls,and will redyno in about a week,when in know the ecu has adapted to the mappings.I'll be glad to forward my results to anyone interested.
I would also budget for a new MAF shortly after the install if its the original MAF.Mine just took a crap on me.We have a 2000 996 3.4,and it did the same thing about a week after i chipped/intaked it.That new maf has been on for almsot 2 years with an EVO blower on said car.
I hope this helps.