Jake_92RS

So a while back I had purchased an open element air cleaner with a 1.5" dropped base for my 92 Camaro RS with the LO3 V8 engine and TBI unit. It was a 14x3" air cleaner. It was kind of a double edged sword. When you put the air cleaner on the TBI spacer ring (stock) the bottom of the air cleaner would sit on top of the ignition coil wires. Then if you put a spacer on top of the already in place spacer ring around the tbi, the lid to the cleaner would sit too high, and the hood would touch. (the lid was the cone shaped lid like most air cleaners). So I started thinking about possible solutions. Maybe if I purchased a 14x2" filter to replace the 3" filter that came with the cleaner, maybe that would solve the problem. My second proposal (noticeably more expensive) was to buy an edelbrock air cleaner with a billet top and flat lid and hope that it cleared the hood. What do you think? Please post your own solutions if you had a problem like mine. Thanks! Here are links to the air cleaners....

Current Air Cleaner:http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-141-752
New Air Cleaner:http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-4224/overview/

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

IMO the solution would be to put your stock base and can back on; then look for ways to fab up a CLEAN cold-air intake that goes above the headlights, like the L69 cars have.

The stock lid is not your restriction.

The stock can is not your restriction.

The stock element is not your restriction.

You will not go any faster messing with things that are not your restriction.

The stock single snorkel IS your restriction.

Guess where you'll get the most results by improving.

Jake_92RS

Wouldn't I be improving by replacing a single snorkel with an open element?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Not if it doesn't fit.

Not if it sucks in hot air instead of cold.

Even if it's an "improvement", wouldn't you rather have THE MOST improvement possible, for the LEAST COST possible?

(in case you can't tell, I'm not too much into krome, and fancy signatures, and billet aluminum things up on top, and shiny things in general out in the open where all the 8-yr-olds can oooooh and aaaaaaah over em.... I like to GO FAST)

novaderrik

i had a drop base open element air cleaner on the TBI 350 that i swapped into an 88 S10 4X4.. it was a 92 Caprice engine, so some thing might have been a little different, but it all fit like it was built that way once i relocated the MAP sensor and maybe the ignition coil... i don't know how the hood clearance on a V8 swapped S10 compares to an F body, but it had just under an inch of hood clearance with a 3" element on it... i later put the stock 4.3 air cleaner and associated ductwork on it and it didn't seem to lose any power compared to the open air cleaner, but it did look like it was a factory installation..

FRMULA88

quality of air versus quantity of air.

Personally I like the "look" of an open element filter it does not have to be chrome. mine is black. I also have a 6" outlaw cowl hood so plenty of outside air to feed my machine. but I also have a 950 CFM carb and need all the air I can get...


A stock 305 does not really need an open element filter, but it does look nice.


A better choice would be a dual snorkel stock air filter... you used to find them at the boneyard for cheap... try ebay..

FRMULA88

otherwise just "massage" the sheet metal where the open element base contacts the ignition coil wires. if not you have the potential for a nasty short that will burn the fusible links at the starter....

Don't ask how I know, I was there in 1994


If you noticed the stock air filter housing has a "recess" in this area to clear the coil for a reason.

NagleMac

iTrader: (1)

Like sofa said, fabbing something from the stock air cleaner will net the best results, mainly for the fact that youre getting the same amount of air as an open element, but its cold air. The open element looks good, works well, and is a cheap and easy bolt on, but it will by no means give you more performance than a well made cold air intake will.

Ron U.S.M.C.

Jake_92RS

What size spacer are you using? 1/2 in tall? If the bottom plate is seated properly on the TBI unit but is barely touching the coil wires than use a thin piece of rubber taped to the bottom of the plate so the wires arnt touching metal and you will be fine.