i just installed my summit open element air cleaner yesterday, i ust wanted to say, this thing is fing nice!
although i had to retain the tbi spacer, to clear the throttle linkage assembly (thats what my brother said ti was atleast) had to custom bend the air cleaner bolt, and the wingnut still poped thru the hood insulation, atleast not the hood... but when i had the hood open i could hear it suckin up the air before it started throttling, and then when i was in gear, it makes a mean ol sound, anyone know why the noise is different? also, the breather tube that has a place in the stock air cleaner, anyone know where you get an aftermarket breather? and why? whats that thing do? thanks guys, this air cleaner is really cool!

 

For a breather go to carparts or a local parts store and just plug it in. It looks like a little air filter for your valve covers. It vents the nasty fumes from the crank.
As for the sound, it's basically the intake valves closing and the air velocity. Ever hear those imports after a huge intake. They are more noticable because they have only 4 intake valves. A v6 will sound similar under heavy load and low rpms. The v8 has an awesome rumble down low but they don't "scream" because of the nice smooth 8.
It's all about sound frequency dynamics, temp, size of tube, material and all that good stuff which I hope to learn about.
The two coolest intake sounds is a v8 blipping the throttle and a turbo woosh

 

so it is a valve cover breather? thanks for the info, i was wondering if it was a bad thing or good...since in all my attempts at learning about the open element i only heard the sound vaguely mentioned, although its one of the noticable changes ive seen. but im really impressed, it runs probably 15-20 degrees hotter, but it never reaches 120, i think thats it, so back to the covers... whats the gain in valve covers? do they just look pretty, because i just kind of uhm...left my breather tube standing open with the filter holster and filter of course, just standing freely, is that ok? or should i get a better cover for it?

 

The valve cover breather was like 1.99 at a store for me. just get one that fites your car, i didnt and in a fit of rage just put a small thing of create-a-gasket to keep it on. As for valve covers, they just make the car look better. Those were the first things i did on mine and they look slick. Did you do something about your IAT sensor with the air cleaner and plug up the vacuum line hole????

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91 Firebird .. 305 TBI .. 5 speed
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Check out my car please, I want her to be noticed on how nice she is...
http://members.aol.com/deadtrend1/index.html

 

i plugged up the vacum hose, although im looking for a way to get it plugged better, and for the iat sensor i put it under a bunch of rubber tubing (not really under buy kind of wove it through, out of the way of burning metal) and its resting kind of against the crankcase breather tube, i just talked to a guy at summit, first thing he said is i couldnt get it on, then i told him i have it on, then he said in a week my car is going to get a check engine light, and that its going to be getting too much air. ive never heard of too much air...the tubes its around are on the passenger side, their semi-adjustable, all connected to some metal doohicky right before the accesory belt. ive had no problems, i think it was the same guy who told me i couldnt get the cleaner on there period when i called, although 2 other guys front summit told me that i would have NO problems, im just curiose if they have a bad apple or somethin over there, from the volume of people ive seen say they have had success with the o/e ac, i think its very dooable, especially because if i were to go out side and pop my hood, ITS DONE, heh, anyways, so its a good thing to get one of those kn crankcase breather valves? because im just afraid the little filter thingy is gonna fall out or something and let gooey nasty stuff all over the place.