HELP! Air cleaner 351W Need Pics!

[FIA-ERA]

Hey guy's, I've taken the turkey pan off and stellings air cleaner off and now I'm trying to get a regular round air cleaner that will work. I have a 351W with an air gap rpm intake. To make matters harder my carbs have the LeMans bowls too. Most of the assemblies I've found either hit the carbs bowls or are flat bottoms and then hit the hood. I need a drop bottom but all the ones I've found are for cathedral bowls and hit the LeMans bowls. The 14" are really too wide but can't seem to find too many choices else where. Any suggestions or pics would be great!! Thanks! Matt

[289ERAkit]

Do search on .. "Drop Base Bernica".

I am with 351W and AirGap also...but the engine is not it yet.. Will be watching how you end up. mike

[Rick Parker]

The Lemans bowls will preclude a drop base fitting. Been there....

[FIA-ERA]

Rick, Gottcha!! You know most people look at the carb and just sit there for a second and either say what is that or just politely wonder what they are? I really love the look, the performance isn't bad, but putting the Stellings stuff back just kills the motor I think. The 351W doesn't help any with the height! A original HiPo air cleaner would look great put it's just a little too tall! Might have to make it work! Thanks, I've always loved your car Rick!! Matt

[jmimac351]

Not sure if this helps... I had this cleaner and then switched to the thin, oval black air cleaner. Both fit.

[timsullivan]

Here's mine an yeah I've read the info about less horsepower with smaller air cleaner elements but for me loosing a few horsepower when I already have more then I can ever use safely is a small price to pay for better looks and what I consider to be more period correct. Just one man's opinion.

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by FIA-ERA

Hey guy's, I've taken the turkey pan off and stellings air cleaner off and now I'm trying to get a regular round air cleaner that will work. I have a 351W with an air gap rpm intake.

While not the period correct look (sometimes desirable when sitting still with the hood open), I really like my 9" K&N X-Stream FilterCharger (it has the filter top). By milling a bit off the base ring where it contacts the carb's air cleaner flange, I managed to get mine to fit up into the hood scoop just like this:



The factory air cleaner assembly includes a 2 3/4" high K&N air filter, but K&N makes 9" OD filters in a variety of heights (and thicknesses).

IIRC, Bernica eventually came up with a flat base, not a dropped base, and if notched correctly it would clear the float adjustment for a center-hung Holley with both front and rear metering blocks (I sincerely doubt that a Holley with a rear metering plate would work).

K&N also makes the X-Stream assemblies in an 11" OD (and a 14" OD, of course).

Here's a link, perhaps you can mix and match to fit your need:

http://www.knfilters.com/universal/X-stream.htm

To search for 9" or 11" OD circular air filters (or, even 14" OD, of course), use this:

http://www.knfilters.com/search/univ2.aspx?ID=S0001

Keep the OD constant, vary the ID search dimension to get the different thicknesses. Of course, the height dimension may well be the most critical factor for you.

Cheers and good luck!

Dugly

[Zoom This]

This was my solution to a high Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake on my 418W. It's a K&N 9 incher.

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...3/ppuser/18567

[Clutt gt]

I was in the same boat. With the RPM air gap intake.
I really wanted to go with the oval air cleaner. No way it was going under the original style scoop.


May be a lil over kill and far from the original look but it clears the filter and looks kinda mean.



Just an idea

[YerDugliness]

It's got that SuperSnake sorta look about it!

Cheers from Dugly

[YerDugliness]

Here's some more ideas:

I've heard that 289 motor mounts lower a motor about an inch, no verification, though.

I've heard that motor mounts for a Mustang 5.0 convertible lower the motor about 3/4 inch....verified by members of the Mustang forum. You'd have to lower the transmission a like amount to not end up with mismatched pinion angles, but perhaps a convertible transmission mount might lower that item a like amount.

Motor mount bolt holes can be slotted to provide a bit more "lowering"--I did this once when shoehorning a 351C into a Ford Maverick.

The only problem I foresee regarding lowering the engine is that it may cause the sidepipes to ride a bit low. If yours are slip-fit style, then lopping a bit off at the union might just cure that.

The carb mounting pad on the intake manifold can be milled to give even more space for an acceptable air cleaner.....probably a good option on a high rise single plane manifold or an Air-Gap manifold.

I can see lowering the engine might not be a popular option on an already nicely completed ERA.......but, it might work if it is the only option.

Cheers from Dugly

[209]

Clutt, I kinda like it! Gotta do whatcha gotta do. 209