C43 Air Box Connection
 

Hey all, I'm new to the board and recently acquired a 98 C43. While taking off the filter housing to replace the air filters, I noticed that the housing rests on top of the intake (manifold?) leaving a gap for unfiltered debris to enter. Shouldn't the air filter housing be "hard piped" to this inlet? Am I missing something?Thanks for your help.

The air box rests on 4 clips which hold it down and there is a rubber gasket which slides over the mass air flow sensor in back, the whole assembly shouldbe air tight or something is wrong with the installation.