If you are using one of these type air cleaner bases - stop, and throw it away

Don't forget - if you run a holley - keep the gap more than 3/4" between the vents and the lid.

 

Where does the Star Wars air cleaner fall into this scenario? I've read that it increases airflow and the fins inside straightens the airstream out before entering the carb. I've also read where people say it restricts airflow and hurts HP, anyone have any true factual information about it?

 

Watch project farm re best air filter brands... interesting

 

I can tell you years and years ago......when we first started racing we used one of those edlebrock filters. Had a carb leak and was thrashing between. Rounds to replace the accelerator pump.....barely got it fixed, rushed up without the filter......car went almost 2 tenths faster.

Came back the next day open to do A-B testing several times, with always lost.

Years later we had put a stage 2 scoop on a lark hood and just had a tall air filter basically filling clear to the top......it ran the same with or without filter.......untill I made a seal plate under the air cleaner....that also cost several tenths and was quickly trash canned.

We now have a glass cowl hood......so I tried 1 more time......we mad a pan from the allstar stepped pan kit........bolted it to the bottom of my K&N flow control air filter kit........this time no et change can be seen from no filter, just filter, or filter with pan.

Bottom line air flow is picky

We did have a positive result with air flow in the 12s after the edelbrock filter.....we used a postons spoiler with 2 ram air hose built in......this did work to gain et, but the damn hoses were always in the way.....we used dryer hose and they either kept tearing or melting so they were almost more trouble than worth......but spoiler is still on the car today

 

I like the PRP. Similar to the https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-141-691 , but a much better price. I assume this is for a 14" diameter filter?

 

I run both of those bases. The chrome one and the Corvette one. It’s not so much the fault of the base though. You need a filter with a decent height to give you at least 1 1/4” from the underside of the lid to the first obstacle on the carburetor,which is usually the choke horn. If the lid is down to close to that,it won’t really matter what everything else is. I did this same thing about 20 years ago,when I started running the drop bases. At first,I thought I could remedy it with a filter top. It did help some,but the lid was still too close to the horn. I put a taller filter on it,leaving everything else the same and bingo.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if they made 3-1/2" tall filters....4's are just cutting it too close on hood clearance.

 

No surprise. Airflow hates changing direction. Years back when i was running an open element cleaner I found the aftermarket stuff I bought wouldn't fit over the Q-jet airhorn. I bought a junker OEM cleaner base and snipped the bottom out of it to use instead of the aftermarket rubbish. I figured at the time that the nicely radiused base would likely out perform the rubbish.

 

A 14" diameter 3.5" paper filter is available. All Star Performance makes a 5", 4", 3.5", and 3" tall 14" round filters.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all26021
Jeg's has them as well.
K&N makes that size but I'm not a fan of those types of filters

 

^^ Thanks for the info!
Might be just the ticket & worth trying. It'll give me 1/2" more room from the underside of lid to the L88 drop base curvature. Sneak a bit more air flow in.
An extra Christmas gift for myself.
Amazon Prime has them for $18.68

 

Just note that the stock fuel filter will not fit. You'll have to make the fuel line go right to the carb.. That Amazon price seems too good to be true. The GM part is a really nice piece and fits snuggly around the carb. I'm looking at installing it right now, trying to figure out what to do with the breather tube.

 

For the three times where those hp and torque cross, I'll keep what I have. The idea of not using an air filter because of of a tiny loss/gain, loss/gain, and yet another, I''ll take that $5o and buy my wife some flowers.

 

No problem for my Holley / L88 setup. I fit a hose inside back breather hole, ran it to valve cover. Had to break the L tube loose and plug the hole. It was interfering with my fuel line.

 

WIth a 3-1/2 "tall air filter, the clearance is about 1-1/2" to quadrajet choke horn. The L88 breather tube is a nice and big 1 inch diameter. I would like to use it. Plenty of room behind the Quadrajet. I think I'll rotate the tube to point it towards the driver side and make something 1" diameter fit into the stock value cover hole. I hope a 1" ID breather tube is big enough for my new ~500hp 482.

 

I’d be curious to see the difference at the the track. With the car moving down the track it may not be as bad as a stationary Dyno test

 

Your filter looks smaller than 14", is it? The one I ordered is supposed to be 14" and black.

 

It is an old fram 3 inch, measuring for a motor replacement and gathering parts, good eye! I started with the crappy base that started this thread. By adding the L88 Base it dropped down 1/2 inch.

 

Whew, if the one I ordered came in at 13" & orange, it's going back...

 

Yea that is an ugly 13 inch filter. Let me know what you think of your new filter when it arrives. I haven't ordered mine yet.

 

I have the 3 1/2" filter mentioned above coming in on the 28th from Amazon.