The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

I see lots of threads with people asking what air cleaner to use to get just that little bit of extra room so they can close the hood without having interference problems because of their air cleaner or because the intake is too tall.

Problem solved - with pics!

Most generic parts store 14x3 chrome air cleaners have a base with a drop something between 0" - 1.25". There are a rare few out there with a 1-3/8" drop. If you're like me, this isn't enough, even though it is close. Here's the solution:

This air cleaner I bought is a reproduction part for:

-1970-72 LT1 Corvette/Camaro
-1969 Camaro Z/28 (302ci)
-1966-69 Corvette 427ci 1x4bbl (L88)

This air cleaner will work with a dual-feed Holley carb, like a double pumper, because it was designed by GM to work with the above engines, which did come from the factory with dual-feed Holley carbs. It has a HUGE 2.00" drop! It has a large breather tube welded onto it, so you can use a crank-case vent setup similar to what your stock 3rdgen 4bbl or TBI air cleaner had, instead of resorting to breather caps that make a mess. It could also be blocked off. The base has no sharp bends in the stamping, its all fairly smooth curves, so air should flow fairly well over it, compared to alot of aftermarket drop-base air cleaners.

This one came from 'Corvette Central' and cost me about $110 + the ride. It came with a new base, chrome lid, wingnut, and 14x3 AC Delco air filter element. Even though its listed in their catalog as 'foreign made' all of these parts are very high quality. I was quite impressed with what I got, and I'm picky with this stuff.

Here are some pics I took when I got it today, so you can see for yourself how this air cleaner fits on a generic Holley carb (will also work with Quadrajets and Edelbrocks). VERY nice piece IMO... might even be able to use my Holley 300-36 intake with this.

Here are the pics:

https://img31.imageshack.us/img31/18...aircleaner.jpg

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

Looks like a great solution for me, but what are you doing for the tranny and throttle cable? Looks like there may be a problem there?

Edit, is this the correct one?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...er-_-41255-_-X

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

Doesn't look to me like there should be any problems with the throttle cable, looks like there should be enough room under the base. I don't know about the TV cable though, I have a manual trans.

And yes, that base looks like its the same as mine. I got the whole air cleaner, that one is just the base, but any 14x3 filter and lid should work with it.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

Thanks, How long of a stud for the carb did they give you? I dont want to get one that is too long and cut it down after throwing it through my hood.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

How much gap is there betweet the lid and the top of the carb? It looks like it is really a close fit? Is there enough gap to get enough airflow at high RPM? I have seen this happen a couple times when there is not enough area between the lid and the carb and it starves for air at high RPM.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

can you please take a pic of the other side where the linkage mounts.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

Depends on the lid you use (the base is available on its own)... the lid I got came with the whole kit, and its probably got something around 1/4" above the tip of the vent tubes. So probably around 3/8" or so above the choke horn at the tightest point.

As for the carb stud, they didn't send one, as this air cleaner works on all common 4bbl carbs, but the stud I'd need for my lid would only probably need about an inch of exposed threads for the wingnut. The center of my lid drops down really low right there, so the whole wingnut is under the level of the highest point of the lid. The really low drop doesnt look like impedes flow around it much though, as its also very narrow.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

I'll try to get you one tomorrow.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

how much for the jelly beans?

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

I ended up buying this for a stud.
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1182

My total with ecklers was about 70 after shipping.
I ended up buying an air filter assembly from summit for $20 after shipping
so all in all $90 and hope that it works!!!!

:thanks:

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

This is the base that F-Bird'88 has touted in the past. He makes a few comments that may be generally helpful:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...an-i-find.html

JamesC

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

That stud looks about right for the lid I have... it would use a very very short one like that. But the lid they sent me has the wingun center 'dip' much lower than most aftermarket lids I've seen. If you are using a Holley 4160/4150 with a working choke, it looks like a 3" element is the minimum without the choke horn hitting the lid. The base does drop VERY low.

Here are the throttle lever pics that were asked for.. one is kinda blurry, but you can still sorta see. Lots of room in there. The stud poking out the side of the lever is for the throttle cable.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

... Just wanted to add this to the thread - I installed my new intake today (a GIANT Holley 300-36, which is a good half inch taller than an Edelbrock RPM) with the carb and air cleaner in the pics, and I still have 1/4-3/8" hood clearance above the highest part of the air cleaner.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

Couldn't you use a K&N filter lid to avoid air starvation issues at high rpm? Just a thought.

If the lid didn't sit in the hood blanket, yes, it would help.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

I also want to add that I just recieved my base from Ecklers.
I had to do some cutting to get it to fit with my CSR throttle bracket. Also had to trim the back of it to fit with my large cap HEI.
On my Victor Jr Headed 388 I have a super victor intake manifold. This thing is SUPER high...
I have a Firebird Formula and I also had to trim under my hood, I trimmed up all the framework to the left of the bulge. I ALSO had to drill 2 holes in the top of the lid for the tubes that come out of the holley carb. (I have no choke) I probably should have bought the lid that Ecklers sold but I just dont have the spare cash right now. That might have solved the problem with 2 holes in the top of the lid...???

All in all the LEAST amount of space I have is about a little more than 1/8th inch after all the trimming. It sure beats getting a new hood then getting it painted...

If anyone needs pics of any of the modifications please let me know.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

I have an MSD distributor, which is about the same size as the small-cap distributors the later cars came with, so I didn't need to clearance anything for that. My stock throttle bracket also worked just fine. Lots of room there. No cutting needed on the lid for the vent tubes either, and they are unmodified.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

Yah, people with a coil-in-cap HEI unit will need to slightly modify the drop base, but the filter itself didnt need to be cut.
I spent alot of money on my CSR bracket with tranny cable so I really didnt want to have to get a new bracket, it was just easier to modify the base. I have to get the correct lid now...
:thanks:

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

Do you think this base would fit a 4" element under my stock hood with an RPM intake?

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

I think it will be tight. I have an RPM Air Gap, 1.5" spacer and a 3" element with this drop base and it clears my stock IROC hood, but just barely. The plus side is that the 3" element seems to be plenty for my 11 second car.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

OK. I just want to be sure there is enough clearance between the lid and choke horn if I use just a regular edelbrock lid.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

Guys, please remember that you need at least an inch of free height above the top of the choke horn (minimum) for the carb to meter fuel correctly. Having a big air cleaner is good, but you still need room for the air to "staighten out" before turning and flowing into the carb. If space gets too tight you can pick up weird bogs and stumbles that simply can't be tuned out.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

my lid sits very close to the vent tubes. It may be about 1" clearance to the top of the carb body. Remember, GM engineered this lid (I am sure this wasn't attemp #1)... I haven't seen any loss of power on my car which runs 11.80's.

Re: The ULTIMATE Drop-Base Air Cleaner! (*sticky?*)
 

i have a 1.5" drop base in the car and it hits the spectre throttle cable bracket. im sure the 2" would be impossible to use with it. i dunno about stock throttle cables. i had an rpm air gap, a holley, and a 3" filter and the 1.5" drop base and it all fit under the stock hood.