I bought a no-name drop base air cleaner with a 3" element like listed in the tech pages here on TGO. I tried installing it without the little spacer thing on the throttle body, and it was hitting everything. I tried installing it with the little spacer and it still wouldn't fit. Then I unbolted some kinda sensor/vaccum thing and moved it out of the way and still couldn't get it to fit. Then it dawned on me that coil (LO5) was about an inch taller than the old one, so I put the LO3 one back on but the filter still wouldn't sit flush.

By this point I decided I'd go just go back to the factory air cleaner, even though I didn't want to because last time I ran it before the engine swap it flooded out or something and there was like half a quart of gas/oil in the filter housing, and the filter was soaked in oil. So I got out the sawzall and cut the sides of the old air cleaner off, that way I'd still have the base and the sensors and stuff. I taped the edges because they're jagged, and with all the problems my car already has, I don't need grounded out wires adding to the list. I put the 3" filter in there and used the aftermarked lid upside down. I used the old stud that goes in the throttle body too, but for some reason it sits higher than the old one because it poked a hole in the hood insulation with the hood down. Right now I think the housing is flush against the throttle body, but the filter still sits all crooked and looks stupid, plus I don't know why the old bolt would be too tall now when it wasn't before.

If anyone knows if the LO5 throttle bodies are taller than LO3 throttle bodies, or can give me the part number to an air cleaner (a cheap one) that they know for sure fits without much modification it would be appreciated. I'm not into aesthetics too much, but I live next to a trucking company that stirs up alot of dust and there's still a small gap between the filter and lid. Also, does the hood insulation serve a purpose, or can I get away with ripping it out?

I did the exact same thing to my air cleanr that you have just done.There wasn't one i could find here in town so I made my own.what I did was get a lid from a tbi truck and used my old lid as a base because I didn't want a drop base I wanted a flat base cleaner.I took the old flat lid , flipped it over and used the gold spacer ring as a template to cut a hole.I after I cut the hole I ground down my throttle bracket a little for clearence because it would rub on the base.I then made a dimple were the bracket was in the base for more room for the throttle bracket.I will post up pics to give you an idea so you won't have to spend to much money I have all of ten dollars in my air cleaner so it's cheap and easy to do.

here are the pics I promised just so everyone has a clue.

last ones.

You guys must suck alot of hot air in.

i just got a new eldlerbrock open air breather it ...the base plate fits fine but what do i do with the the hose comming from the head cover and the plug of wire i disconected?