I'm really sorry to post this when there are so many Open Element FAQ's, but seriously i looked through and couldn't find these answers. I searched for open elements on summit but didn't really find anything.

How much does it cost to get an open element, and where can i get/order one from (give me a link if you can).

Also, is this a better mod than just slapping on a regular K&N air filter??? All i plan to do to my car is exhaust and i WAS going to just throw a new air filter in, but if this is around the same price and BETTER, then i'll definately do that instead.

Thanks- Any input would be greatly appricaited. And sorry again for not being able 2 figure this out on my own haha.

 

Any auto parts store carries them (ie Autozone, Advanced, Pep Boys. The basic ones are made by Mr. Gasket, but you could also opt for one by K&N or Edelbrock.

The 14x3 or 14x2 K&N air filters run about $35, and the chrome housing runs about $20 or so.

 

You can buy one at any local auto parts store for around $20. You can buy a K&N but they are more for looks than anything. Summit and Jegs also sell them under the air cleaners section. You want to look for a 14"x3" size. They don't describe them as open elements per se but insted round air cleaners.

EDIT: Gunny beat me to it!

 

So its pretty safe to say that putting an open element in is a much better mod than just a regular air filter??

 

Yes, our stock air cleaner housings suck major ***.

 

I've got a K&N but have been reading this forum for quite a while and am coming to dislike it. Sure, it looks great but I have a collar on top of a collar to be able to provide enough height/clearance for the bottom of the element to clear the distributor cap. It's a drop base too. Remember 90RS305's problem!!!

Anyway, would I be able to find an element and housing that sits directly on the throttle body itself without a collar so I could reap the benefits of having an unobstructed air passage on the sides of the TB? Is that still the 14X3? Does that make sense?

(edited to reflect the member who had the OE short on the dist.)

 

Sounds to me like you want a 14x2 with a non-drop based housing.

 

Hmm... Is what Cadillac talking about a good idea?

I'm really new to this stuff and it doesn't make much sense. I just want something that will improve sound and add alittle more power, without looking all butched up and without causing any potential problems.

Is K&N the best open element to get, or is there a better one??

 

So the base of the 14X2 sits right on the top part of the TBI unit? is that what I am reading? No problems with clearance over/near the distributor?

Thanks Gunny.

'a mack6', take it from me... keep this one simple. I guarantee if you remove the stock air cleaner the sound will be there. If you are sucessful in keeping the air passages clear (yet filtered) your improvement will be limited to that success. Here is a pic of my current configuration:

All that is missing now is the strut tower brace.

 

For even more flow you can get the K&N "X-treme Flo" top.

 

Yes and no. Because our hood sits so low, I doubt there's a whole lot of air making it over the air cleaner housing. I say the difference would be minimal.

 

Ok so i guess im going to go the 'open element route' with this. Now i seriously don't even know what i'm looking for on Summit. I found this K&N filtercharger air filter thats 14x3 (product # KNN-E-3737) but i'm not sure if thats what you guys were talking about. Also, what would i search under to get the chrome housing.

Sorry about all these questions, but there is sooo much stuff on Summitracing.com and it all looks the same to me?!?!

 

You can get that part# filter that you listed. Then go to Summit and get this base: SUM-G3000B that's a flat base. Then just get any kind of 14" diameter lid you want and you're all set.

 

Alrite, great--now i actually know what the hell i have to get!!

The only other questions i have are:

Should i go with the 14x2 that was recommended to Cadillac, or just get the 14x3.

And where do i get the actual chrome 'housing' i guess that goes around the air filter? And how much does that cost???

And thanks alot so far, you guys have already made me understand this alot better.

 

Yeah, it can be confusing but my experience is that you can make almost any 14X3 inch element work provided you have the spacers or adaptors. My goal at this point it to provide the best fitting element (no gaps between the element and the spacers -- no spacers at all ideally) and make sure there is no contact between the element and the distributor.

Here are the Summit part numbers I am considering:

SUM-G3000B
SUM-G3001K

And then find a filter to fit inside (if not the one I have already).

 

What do you mean spacers? i read the installation instructions from that one link in the Open Element FAQ and i dont think it mentioned anything about spacers? Do i need these with the set-up i think im gonna go with??

-the 14x3 K&N filter
-SUM-G3000B (base)
-SUM-G3001K (cover/housing/or whatever its called)

 

That's all you need. It doesn't have a "housing" that's why it's an OPEN element. The filter element is open to the air. You need that base I posted. If you have a stock engine get a 14x3 filter, you don't even need a K&N, I just use a standard paper element. Then get any cover, like the one listed and you're done. That's it, slap it on there and go.

 

There's a little gold looking (probably black and brown by now) spacer ring on our stock setup. It sits between the throttle body and the stock air cleaner housing. Some people use it and others don't.

 

Ok good i think i got it all now... My dad knows exactly how to do it (hes worked at pontiac and chevy in the 80's so he knows how to work on 3rd gens blindfolded), but i want to learn how to do this stuff too so thats why i was askin all the questions and figuring out what an open element actually does--instead of just having him do everything.

The only other question i have is...

How much better is an open element than just putting in a K&N air filter??? I know that is a broad question but answer it the best you guys can.

 

I should make you "search" for this answer, but I won't. The stock housing sucks ***. It tries to suck in all the air through that snorkel with is like 1"x4". That's hardly enough to feed a 4 banger, let alone our cars.

Yes it brings in some hot air, but anything is better than stock.

 

Alrite thanks for answering that.

Right now i have about $330. I was going to get a Dynomax exhaust with that--but i wasn't sure if i was going to get the $240 Super Turbo catback or the $360 Ultra Flo catback. I know this isnt the exhaust section, but if you guys have any reccommendations on whether i should get the Super turbo or the ultra flo, please let me know (no one in the exhaust section will get back to me, and i searched endlessly to find peoples thoughts on the ultra flo vs. the super turbo and sound clips but it was all to no avail.) I want something my exhaust to be louder and better sounding that stock, but not raspy or annoyingly loud. I'm leaning towards the Ultra Flo but i havent heard anything about it and i'm concerned that it might be TOO loud as opposed to the super turbo. let me know...

Again, sorry to post stuff about exhaust in this topic, but it does kinda relate to the open element because if i get the Super turbo exhaust i can get the open element right away, but if i go with the Ultra Flo i'll have to wait until i can get the money.

 

I have the Super Turbo on mine and love it. It's quiet, but deep sounding at idle, and you can tell it's not stock when I get on it, but it's not as loud as a Flowmaster either. I did the loud exhaust thing on my last 2 cars, and I finally got tired of it. I also like the fact that it looks stock. . . no crome tips or anything like that.

Sorry, can't comment of the SuperFlo.

 

WOW! finally someone can tell me about the Super Turbo. If you have any sound clips that would be great, but if not, thats fine too.

If the difference between the Ultra flow and SUper turbo is neglidible(sp?), i might as well go with the super turbo (and then have enough money to do the open element. BTW, Is the super turbo quieter than stock???

The only other catback system im considering is the edelbrock RPM series (mainly because it has 3 inch intermediate piping), but i don't know if its any better than the dynomax set-ups and if the 3 in. piping will even make a difference on my car. The only mods i plan to do to my car is exhaust and open element. Maybe headers and a chip down the road.

 

The damn thing is pretty quiet and I like it alot.

As far as mods, at the bare minimum, here's my list:

open element
MSD type tuneup
full exhaust
posi and gears
chip tuning

Those mods can make the car respectable on the street. I opted to go further as you can see in my sig.

 

Well i mean is it quieter than stock at idle? And do you think that it added some more power, or simply made the car sound alittle better. I mean im not expecting a catback system to add 30 HP to my car, but i would hope that it would add alittle (5-10 maybe?).

and Doesn't the open element make the car sound alittle better too?

 

Can't really say about picking up HP.

I dynoed my car after the MDS tuneup, dynomax cat-back, open element mod and advanced the timing, and I picked up 13hp if I remember correctly.

Not a whole lot, but idle quality was better, and throttle response was WAY better.

 

Alrite, thats acceptable. Like i said, im not expecting big gains at all.

The only question that remains unanswered about the Super Turbo exhaust is whether its louder than stock at idle. (i assume so, but hell i mgiht as well ask before i go out and buy it!)

 

Don't count on any aftermarket exhaust to be quieter than stock. Even if you used a stock muffler it will be louder based on the increased pipe size alone. I think you will like it. At idle it will sound near stock and when you get on it you will be able to tell that it is not stock

 

Shifty, what exhaust do you think i'd like? the Super turbo??

 

Do you want it to be quiet? I would go with 3" piping no matter what you get. Get 3" catback then down the line get headers with 3" collectors and y-pipe and a 3" cat. Full 3" exhaust has shown big gains for many TBI cars, in the range of 30hp maybe a little less.

 

well i dont nessacarily want my car quiet, but i dont want it too loud either. I'd like to find a nice median between the too. Dynomax Super turbos sound good by Gunny's description, but i still have yet to hear about the Ultra flos.

Out of the 3 catback systems that i was thinking of getting, only the edelbrock one had 3 in. intermediate piping... Is this a good system, and how does it sound? (i'd post this in exhaust but i already do have a topic in there about which exhaust and no one will freaking respond to me!!).

I'm not going to buy an exhaust system blindly...i mean unless i get some info & sound clips on the edelbrock (which has the 3 in. piping) i'll probably end up getting the dynomax super turbo setup and then i can do the open element right away.

 

I think if I were to do it again I'd get the Hooker catback. I have a Flowmaster with 80 Series, not too loud, sounds nice and mean.

 

With the stock manifold and cat the 3" hooker cat-back is quite tame. It was quiet at idle yet really sounded nice when you stood on it. It wasn't overly loud but it didn't sound stock. I really liked the way it sounded. I actually thought it sounded worse when I added headers. That is mainly due to the 170hp monster that I had between the fenders though.

 

Hmm. Hooker, i'll have to check into their cat backs...

On a similar note, do any of you guys know who on this board has the dynomax ultra flow cat back. I really wana get some feedback about them before i choose what exhaust im going to get.

 

Alrite i really want to do the open element with the exhaust at the same time... I can get a super turbo system from Jegs for like $170 shipped. And i can get a Edelbrock RPM series catback from Jegs at like $283 shipped. If i get either one of those exhaust systems i can afford to do the open element right off the bat. On the other hand, i'm still looking into the ultra flo cat back (and with practically no info on it either), but the cheapest i can get that is for about $360 (meaning i can't do the open element right away).

Any ideas??? I'm driving myself completely insane trying to pick out an exhaust, and the people on the exhaust board haven't replied to my topic at all in about 2 days.

PS: if anyone knows anything about the edelbrock system please let me know as well- i searched and no one on this board seems to have it... I'm wondering if thats because its not that good???

 

Looks like the super turbo is only 2.5" piping which I wouldn't get. The Edelbrock looks good with 3" piping. The Hooker also looks good, its on Jegs for 270 as well. Just make sure you get the 350 TPI catback for any catback, because that will have the big piping.

The ultra flo can't be that great, worth the extra money. It's probably more because the whole setup is maybe stainless steel or something? Material is probably the only reason for the price hike. I wouldn't pay 360 when I could get one that's known to be good for 270. My $.02

 

Like i said, i know this isnt the exhaust section so sorry for askin some of these questions...but how does the edelbrock cat back sound?? I can't find anyone who has it?! I dont think i'd get a system that i know nothing about.

And the Ultra flo only has a stainless muffler. When i said it's 360, that is through A & A autoparts. Its like 290 at summit but its got like 75$ shipping--and i can't seem to find anywhere else that sells it. i'd like to find somewhere that sells it for 280-290.

 

Ok i was looking through my friends summit catolog today and found this... (summit # EDL-1207)...It's an edelbrock kit that looks like it would have everything to do the open element mod. My question is 1- does it really have everything i need to do the open element mod? and 2- if so, is it a good kit?? Because it is only $25 and thats a realllly good price so i figure somethings gotta be up...its either missing a piece i need or the quality isnt good? i dont know, let me know the scoop!!

 

i just went to autozone, got the edelbrock one they sell there, ive never been to an autozone that didnt have one, got the K&N, if you keep the TBI spacer ring, you can use a 14X3 drop base and it works fine, comes close to the coil, but mine doesnt touch... i put some electrical tape on the bottom of the drop base though just to make sure. Also, im running 3" exhaust to a flowmaster 80 and it sounds great, its not very loud, but it has a nice bite to it when you get on it... im still using stock manifolds and stock T-pipe (since the GM gods felt the need to create an in-effecient Y-pipe) i like it... but also, i have 45 more cubes.. haha

 

Ok i just got the edelbrock air cleaner (and a K&N air filter to go along with it)...am i wondering if its all going to fit under the hood. That is all that i have---The edelbrock air cleaner(summit # EDL-1207) and the K&N air filter...is this going to fit under my hood???????????

 

non-drop base + 3" filter = no (must remove gold spacer, but will run into problems with clearance with ignition)

non-drop base + 2" filter = yes

drop base + 3" filter = yes

 

Yep, it'll fit no problem .

 

Ok, i know Benm said yes it will fit...but Gunny does my air cleaner (The edelbrock one) come with the drop base????

 

The Edelbrock 1207 is a drop-base.

 

Dang, why didn't I catch this sooner? I've got ALL KINDS of opinions I can throw out to this one! Fortunatly MOST of everything that I would have said has been covered here by all the TBI guru's, so I don't have to write an essay. Quick question though, have you read ALL the way through my Open Element FAQ? Many of the questions that you have asked were answered in that thread. I know it's leangthy, but its GREAT info. SchwarzCamaroRS hit one huge issue you are going to have to deal with on the head. Your Coil. If you look at the back of the stock intake housing, there is a "dent" in the back to make room for the coil wires coming out the top of the coil, which lead back to the distributor. As Cadillac said, I hit worse-case-senario when my coil grounded out on my Open Element. Fried all my fusibly links (thank goodness GM thought of something smart for once) and it was a pain in the butt to fix. What I ended up doing was SUPER insulating each individual wire coming off the top of the coil with electrical tape, then putting about a 1/8" layer of electrical tape on the bottom of my Edelbrock air cleaner where it hovered over the coil. So far...so good. IMO going with an Open Element is one of the best and most fun mods to start out with on these cars, but it is in no way/shape/form without it's risks. Good luck with that thing, and make sure to snap some pics when you are done!!!


Bruce (90RS305)

 

Ok, took you a couple pics to help ya see what I was talking about, and don't mind the 1" thick layer of dust/dirt on the engine

 

And also, I know there are a few different options, but this is how I solved the Breather issue...

 

Slacker!

 

Heh, if you are refering to the breather, it actually works out REALLY well. The way that the tube is designed it keeps strong pressure right up against the filter, and seeing as how it was up against the air filter inside the intake to begin with, it just makes sense. On top of that, if you were to look at it in person, you'd think it was designed that way...

 

I agree here. I put 3" on my '92 and have tremendous power and pickup as opposed to before with stock stuff on my car. The bigger the better.