Air Cleaner flow

[prg machine]

I have read of some testing of different air filter flow capabilities....... and the plain old stock housing with it's air horn is realy kinda hard to beat...............anyone else here have knowledge of this????

[suville]

Not sure about the stock air cleaner, but I did read of an independant test and surprising the AC Delco paper air filter from GM did as well as any of them and definately better than a K&N which is very hyped and overated. Not my opinion but the research group that did the test. And seeing as how they spent several thousands of $'s to do the test I'd be very inclined to go along with that! GM spends millions of $'s in research and while theres trade offs to performance for the average masses it only makes sence to do a bit of research to determine your parameters. I have a friend a Father and Son o

[suville]

Well dont know what happened here but......... anyway. I know of a dyno shop that can show comparisons for the open element and hi-performance housings and it very interesting the hi-perf option has better #'s and smoother operation and the carb dont ice up as with the open element. Now in higher temp lower humidity climates open elements seem to work ok. The dyno shop was in Mount Vernon, Wash.

[dznucks]

when i was in engineering school, i worked in the engines lab and we did a study/experiment of this very same thing. the stock air horn type cleaner housing dyno'd with more torque. the only reason it is better is because the snout will pick up cooler air from the front of the engine bay. the flow restriction is negligible when compared to an open aftermarket style.

[hyarbour]

That's actually very interesting. Those K&N filters are expensive.

[dznucks]

i have never seen a K&N do anything for a carb'd chevy engine. i have seen a honda accord pick up alittle more power with one. i guess they work best on the closed intake systems of a fuel injection system.

[suville]

Yea! serious gearheads will not argue with Dynos ,flow benches etc. just look at nascar engine building and the depth that they get into things many capable mechanics dont even know about or understand! Even the Popular Hot Rodding mag engine builders shoot out.... Potter Aumotive spent BIG $'s and around 1200 hours on the Cad 500 they entered. Luv that TORQUE !

[WorkinLonghorn]

I brought this subject up once over in the Engine and Powertrain forum and it seems that the open air-filter set-up is partly for the sound it allows. Apparently they look cool too,but if you actually want to go faster,cool air is the ticket IMO.

[jbarron]

This chart was posted in Doug Roe's Rochester book. It referenced a Holly test from '71

Cleaner type -------------------------------------------- CFM(WOT)
None --------------------------------------------------- 713
Chev 396 closed element with single snorkle --------------- 480
Chev 396 closed element single snorkle cut off at housing -- 515
Same as above but with two elements -------------------- 690
Chev high perf open element ----------------------------- 675
Same as above but two elements ------------------------ 713
14" open element accessory type air cleaner ------------- 675
Chev truck type tall element used with accessory type
base and lid ------------------------------------------ 713
Foam type cleaner(doomed flat funnel type) -------------- 675

This test was done with paper type elements in all test except the last one.

Personally I don't have an original air cleaner on anything I own. When I did run originals I always flipped the lid and put the tall filter in.

[prg machine]

Now I hear that the oil used on the K&Ns can foul up a fuel injection system

???????????????????

[chevguy7]

Originally Posted by prg machine

Now I hear that the oil used on the K&Ns can foul up a fuel injection system

???????????????????

I had one in my Regal for a while and the dealership said that the oil can mess up the mass air flow sensor. Not sure if this is true or not but they threw away the K&N I had in there.

[Longhorn Man]

yes, if over oiled, it can damage the MAF sensor

[tompotts]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

yes, if over oiled, it can damage the MAF sensor

I have read this as well. The post I read also said that to clean the MAF to only use brake parts cleaner because it leave no residue?????

Just my 2 cents

[raoul.duke]

I had a K&N foul my MAF too. Million miles my a$$. I gave it a ride about 15 miles to the dump.

They make MAF sensor cleaner; I found some at Advance Auto Parts.

[piecesparts]

I have been running K&N filters on my vehicles for years. The 1988 Nissan (fuel injected 2.8 engine), 2 Luminas (1991 & 1998--both fuel injected), and the 95 Impalla SS (fuel injected with a K&N FIPK) have had no problem with the sensors. The vehicles all run great and I have had no issue with them for many years and many miles. Everyone to their own taste. The carbs and the TBI units are clean. On my 383 stroker motor, I run a K&N Extreme filter top and that opened up the air flow from the cowl hood scoop to the carb.

By the way, if the dealership threw the K&N away, they owe you for it. It was not theirs to do that with.

[highrpm]

I did a dyno test a few years back with a K&N vs a dirty Fram filter and a new Fram filter, the engine was a healthy 350 and I used the stock filter housing from my 85 Blazer. The K&N beat the dirty Fram by 5HP and the clean Fram by only 2. Some tests I have seen claim the K&N dosent filter as well but its done fine in my 97 Pontiac with 188000 miles

[prg machine]

am using the stock element in my own custom creation ................... I promise to post a picture of that item shortly as soon as it is painted.... and i will give a tech instruction for doing your own..........low-buck and extremely motor-head engineering to the max!!!!!!!
Hey I might patent the thing!!!!!

Okay .....pictures soon!! In the meantime this pic should hold ya all over....

Aerostotle settin there on my right shoulder is one Bad Boy!!!!

The other bird is my day job!!!!

[DavesRide]

Originally Posted by prg machine

am using the stock element in my own custom creation ................... I promise to post a picture of that item shortly as soon as it is painted.... and i will give a tech instruction for doing your own..........low-buck and extremely motor-head engineering to the max!!!!!!!
Hey I might patent the thing!!!!!

Okay .....pictures soon!! In the meantime this pic should hold ya all over....

Aerostotle settin there on my right shoulder is one Bad Boy!!!!

The other bird is my day job!!!!

THAT IS COCK MY FRIEND

[DavesRide]

I have seen a lot of unregular guys run just "cool Lookin" stacks. I guess the question is where and when and how much do you drive it. $20 for every 20k miles? I replace my house filter all the time and don't feel the least mad about it. I like your bird by the way. David

[prg machine]

well here it is in it's prototype stage.........I am not sure if i am staying with the orange or not. The POR 15 Chevy orange doesn't paint well on smooth surfaces.............................kinda like a krinkle finish.. i also thought about flat black and the orange......not sure yet.
so what you see is the snout removed from a stock housing then a template cut from that opening and then cutting out an total of 5 "windows" around the lower housing....

Roswell anyone??

[prg machine]

okay here are the pics...................sorry i missed them above

[basketcase]

I saw a test once where a new paper filter was slightly better than a K&N but as they got dirty the paper went away faster.


As for open element filters Hot Rod did a test some time back showing a hp and torque increase with a raised base over a low base like you would need for hood clearance.

Tom

[prg machine]

black is better!