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Air filter too small?

Mark1972

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In my 1970 Plymouth Satellite, I've got the 440 with the Performer RPM intake and an AVS2 800. With the stock Satellite hood, I could never have fit a full size 14"X3" air filter. I have to run a 14"X2", which just fits with the air cleaner stud poking slightly in to the hood insulation. The question is, am I starving my engine of air, and therefore power by running this 14"X2"? Aside from a chassis dyno with both sizes of filter, how would you determine this? If it is too restrictive, my assumption is the only answer would be a new hood with a scoop on it. Am I worrying about nothing or should I be digging further in to this to get the answer?

IMG_20200701_071937.jpg
 
In my opinion you're fine.
I might have gone to a drop base, kept the lid you like, and used a 14x3.
If you can get it, check out engine master air cleaner test.
 
Good mention @33 IMP A lot depends on the HP level and the stroke of air cleaner housing in use. I’d use the EM show as a guide to what you have.
 
The Edelbrock air filter in this photo is the drop base unit, about 1" or 1.25", something like that.
 
Get a drop base filter base housing, Then use the tallest filter that fits. You can pick from lots of filter heights if you look.
 
According to this calculator, I'm losing approximately 4hp with the 14x2 at 4000rpm, as opposed to 1hp with a 14x3. That's a very cool calculator. I was secretly hoping it was costing me more because an A12 hood would look wicked, lol.
Stroke that puppy if you need an excuse for that hood!
Mike
 
Get a drop base filter base housing, Then use the tallest filter that fits. You can pick from lots of filter heights if you look.
Yes sir. It's already a drop base unit just to fit the 2" tall air filter.
 
They make bases that drop more than what you have. I can still see your carburetor in the photo.
 
It’s also height above the carb/choke tower. IMO, more the merry but have at least 2-1/2 inches if possible. A drop base air cleaner is fine for more filtration area but w does nothing for increased breathing as the rpm goes up.

Remember this, air is heavy and doesn’t like to make turns. So, the more area above the carb the better. If the air has to turn, air doesn’t seem to like to bend to much to fast. In cylinder head porting, 15*’s is the magic amount not to exceed. Apply this to the air cleaner.

K&N has a filter top. One for there filters, one for everyone else’s filter. The size of the filter top gets smaller with the one size fits all while the K&N filter is thinner allowing more filter area on the filter top.

This allows the air to come in straight downwards which is a big help.

image.jpg
 
Since you have a drop base on there now and only 2 inches of filter, THAT is enough reason to do something about it.
 
Has anyone watched S2 E27 of Engine Masters where they test a bunch of different air cleaner & filter styles?
Interesting results and food for thought.
 
They make bases that drop more than what you have. I can still see your carburetor in the photo.
It's been a couple of years, but I believe that is the maximum drop I could go with the electric choke. I could be wrong though.
 
I used that same intake on a 69 Charger a few years ago. Ended up with a 1.25" drop base, I believe a 2 5/16" filter, and the open K&N top as shown in a previous post. Also removed the hood insulation. Look close at how much restriction there is with a 2 inch filter and a drop base. That is why I went with the open top.
 
Has anyone watched S2 E27 of Engine Masters where they test a bunch of different air cleaner & filter styles?
Interesting results and food for thought.
Oh yeah! I have 45 EM's on dvr, but not that one. Probably the best EM ever.
On that test, the top filter made more power, than a top filter/2"standard filter combo. They taped off the standard filter and it made more power.
HOWEVER, I think that was with a carb with no choke tower. Results with a choke might be different. Bottom line of that test: airflow Direction is important..
The filter top would probably help the OP..... but I wouldn't run it with the hood pad.
 
Yes sir. It's already a drop base unit just to fit the 2" tall air filter.
my apologies, missed the 1st few posts. Still hard to believe a 3" filter doesn't fit under the stock hood. But the solution is to put a hood scoop on it.
 
.... and I have a beautiful spun aluminum air filter housing with about 2" of drop, and a slick reverse velocity stack top. Nice piece, been sitting on a shelf for years. It's got SO MUCH drop, it fits nothing, no carb I have ever tried it on. Everything interferes, fuel line, choke linkage if it's there, throttle linkage.
It's wall art. Buyer beware.
 
Yes sir. It's already a drop base unit just to fit the 2" tall air filter.

Recently I was running a "flat" base on my air cleaner and the 3" is too tall, had to drop down to a 2". Reasoning was to clear the AN fittings for my FP gauge.

Decided to ditch the underhood gauge, so have put the drop base and my 3" back on.

Your base doesn't drop much, have to agree with others that you can still see the carb. Here is my "drop" base.

IMG_0543.jpg IMG_0544.jpg
 
As usual, you guys have given me some options. I looked at my drop base again and I'm literally touching my electric choke, and only 3/8" of clearance to the throttle linkage. So whatever the reason, I'm not likely to drop any more. Removing the hood insulation, and going with an open top air cleaner is another option. Then of course there is the hood option. I would not cut this hood, I would likely buy a fiberglass hood and install pins, but that's a bloody expensive option. I just finished installing a Flowkooler water pump and Robert Shaw stat, so now I can start looking at air filter options. I won't be driving the car for a few weeks as the pot hole situation here is a nightmare. Hopefully June 1st. Thanks again all.
 
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