air cleaner faq's

[GUITAR1989]

Hey guys my air cleaner is filthy and needs to be replaced. I was looking around and noticed theres a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Im wondering how the size and shape effect my engines performance. Is there a company thats air cleaners blow away the competitors. If you guys would enlighten me id really appreciate it
heres a picture of one type that really throws me off. Its just a foam filter inside and im wondering how that holds up compared to the other types of filters

[Captkaos]

That filter is crap.  Get a normal round element filter with a filter housing.

[TexasRed]

That filter usually lasts just long enough to break apart and go into your engine. I cannot believe they still make those. Yeah, the normal 14" round aircleaner is probably best.

[Grim 82]

Another vote for the 14" round filter

[GUITAR1989]

ha ha and I thought those little things looked so cool 
so what about tall vs short with the 14" filter? would a taller filter make me up my carbs richness and give me worse mpg's? also what about the air boxes that companies like Spectre make would the colder air give me more hp and better fuel economy like they say or is that a bunch of bull?

[jaredts]

I think the more square inches of filter, the better (taller is better).  Cold air intakes aren't bogus, but don't expect to be blown away by the difference.

[TexasRed]

The problem with cold air intakes on carbs is that there's no computer in order to compensate for the colder air like on fuel injection so you'd lose consistency. Taller filters are better but don't get carried away.

[78 Chevyrado]

To get the better mileage when going from a stock restrictive air cleaner to a big open filter element, you will have to re-tune the carb, with the air filter in place.  A more free flowing filter element will lean the mixture.   The leaner mixture will most likely be fine for the cruising circuits since that's what you want, its the secondaries you have to check.  lean at light throttle isnt always bad, but lean at full throttle can burn the valves.   Larger filters will flow a little more and they also last longer before they get dirty enough to change.  Any cold air kit you put on your truck will help.  I got better mileage in my 77 with a 350, using the stock air cleaner setup with the accordian tube than i did with a 14"x3" open element sucking hot air.  it was about 1 to 2MPG.   On these trucks with all that space under the hood, I always put a 3" element  just because i can.  I don't ever want less than 2" though.   I have an 8"  I think and 3" tall filter on mine...  you have to watch some of the 14" air cleaners won't clear the HEI distributor.  don't get a drop base air cleaner, as you want it above the distributor.  Ask the guys at the parts store, sometimes they will let you take a new base outside and fit it for clearance before you buy it....  or just buy it and then return it right there if it don't work.

[GUITAR1989]

Thaks for the replies I might get this little beauty when i get some extra spending money...

one last question x) What air clearer manufacturer would u guys recommend? im gonna get a
14"-3" tall one but im just wondering if its worth it to fork out the cash for a high tech one opposed to a cheap one...

[Layne]

I'm a huge fan of K&N's

[78 Chevyrado]

I'd get either a K&N-reusable  or purolator-cheapie.   I have a purolator on mine now, never a problem they seem to be high quality.

Just to make the hunt easier, how about some of you guys that have 14x3 filters put your brand and PN up for him?  I cant help as I have an 8x3 filter

[Grim 82]

I might get this little beauty when i get some extra spending money...

Where did you find this setup? It looks nice.
I think my filter is actually a 14x4. I had a Microguard brand from O'reilly's but they discontinued the part number or something and they couldn't match anything up. Now I am using the NAPA Gold of the same size. I'll see if I can find a part number for it. The Napa filter was about $20, so I'm thinking that when it's time to replace it I will probably get a K&N.

[GUITAR1989]

I found that intake on the Spectre website. They make kits that are supposed to fit right into our trucks and the intake pipes go onto the circle air vents on the sides of our radiators. Im thinking of just having someone bend me the pipes though to cut down some of the cost. they have another kit that uses one of the smaller filters and 1 pipe with a heat shield like u see on newer tuner cars. But im guessing the 2 pipes leading to the circular air vents by the rad would work better since it would actually force air up those pipes. just a heads up though ive never used this kit or talked to anybody who has so i dont know if its a perfect fit. im guessing it will bolt right up though since the kit is for 73-87 chevy trucks like ours
Heres a link for you...http://www.powerflowracing.com/main/appsearch2.asp
oh yeah also i just went to my napa and got a k&n. I dont know what brand air cleaner i had before but looks and quality wise the k&n looks lightyears ahead.