Drop base for oval air cleaner???

bermblaster41 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 09:40 AM

I am in the same boat as a lot of cobra owners are in. I have 351 block [408]using victor jr intake with 850 doublepumper . After machining down the base of filter housing and drilling for float adj. the thickest filter I can use is 2". I know I am sufficating my motor. I did a search on this sight... most of the threads are fairly old and was wondering if anyone has found a drop base for oval filters or any other recomendations. I know I can use this filter for show and a different filter for performance. My hood opening is 11" wide so I can't use a 14" round. I have herd conflicting arguments on edelbrock triangle filter and not a big fan of them but I want the performance that my eng. is capable of. Any options or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Bermblaster

Lew Ledyard · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 09:59 AM

I used one of these and had the base machined slightly to fit under my hood.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

RedBarchetta · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 10:03 AM

Berm, I did the same mods as you on my 12" oval and am getting ready to do the same to my 15". The SPFs might have a little more clearance, as I'm running a 2.5" filter and still had some clearance. There is another SPF owner running a stout BB that used an 1/8" end mill to cut the base. He then welded in 3/4" alum strip stock to drop it. Now runs a larger filter without any clearance issues and it looks great. I may do the same in good time, but for now just eliminating that 3/4" 'collar' and drilling clearance holes for the float adj. nuts. is a great mod and it actually looks cleaner, too.

For those considering this, Pep Boys sells a valve cover grommet set from Spectrum (Spectre?). It has two 1.25" grommets, one for use with a PCV valve and the other for a breather. Buy two and use the PCV grommets. Use a 1.25" hole saw and some cutting oil. Measure three times and cut once.

-Dean

thudmaster · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 10:57 AM

I found my dropped air cleaner at my friends machine shop. He is a circle track racer. Most of them have have the kind of air cleaner you are looking for.

Frank Messina · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 01:46 PM

I can't even count the number of combinations I've tried, and filters I've wrecked trying to get something that fits and flows. I even went so far as to pitch the idea of a drop base oval to one of the aftermarket companies I'm close to but no dice. Anyway I finally wound up with a 14" Moroso drop base, 14" X 2.25" K & N element and a plain chrome lid from Ford Racing. This is the only setup that will work on my car. I originally had a 3" element in there but wore a spot through the paint where the scoop blends into the hood when the engine torqued over (Energy Susp motor mounts). Like I said this works for me as I have a Holley HP carb, but I'm not too sure how it would be with a carb that has a choke tower. I really wanted a cool oval like Dean has, and in fact bought one, but the hood wouldn't close so that dream ended quick. I still think a mid size drop base oval with a 2.5" - 3" filter element would be the hot setup for a single carb. Maybe if we got a show of hands we could get somebody to build one.
Frank

Randy Rosenberg · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 02:05 PM

I've got one of these and I like it! They are available from http://www.universalspinners.com/autoparts.html

Murphy · #7 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 02:07 PM

He came up with a novel cure. Looks like very similar setup to yours.

pmfranke · #8 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 02:44 PM

I have a edelbrock FI. on my 351(402)B&B cobra.It has the triangular edelbrock filter turned sideways .It works but I hate the way it looks.I really like the summit air cleaner but even if i cut the 1/2 inch off the bottom i'm still 1/4 too tall.I 'm thinking of just getting a 1/2" taller hood scoop and the summit oval air cleaner.That is when i can find 400 more clams.

RedBarchetta · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy

He (Ital-Cobra) came up with a novel cure.

His was for EFI. Different but clean looking.

I got more out of his 'other' pics though.

Madmiles442 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Messina

......... Maybe if we got a show of hands we could get somebody to build one.
Frank

I'd be in for a drop base on the standard finned Cobra air cleaner!
Just tell me where to send the check!

bermblaster41 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 04:57 AM

I want to thank everyone for their input. I am going to try and fab a drop base out of sheet metal. I will post pics of my progres and how much of a gain I can come up with. Thanks again!!! Berm

Cashburn · #12 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 06:12 AM

We've started this project in the past. The real limitation starts to become the linkage on the carb. With a round drop base you can get around this, but an oval is close to the carb on the sides (where the linkages are) and far on the ends (where nothing is).

We have trimmed the lip on the bases and also dimpled for the top bolts of the carbs with limited success in getting some more room.

JRoss · #13 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 07:14 AM

Berm,

Here is an example of what you are looking for. A buddy of mine made it and before you ask I have tried and cant get him to make any more. The carb linkage did need to be trimmed to fit.

good luck making yours.

John

JBCOBRA · #14 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 07:25 AM

That is similar to what I did. I used 2 filter bases for the top and carb base, from Cobranda. Mine doesn't drop much, but fits (just barely) under the hood.

Jon Miller · #15 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 08:42 AM

What does the low air cleaner top do to airflow?? Any dyno results with, and without the dropped filter??

-Jon

bermblaster41 · #16 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 08:47 AM

John that is very similar to what I had in mind. I am not set up to tig weld so I will attempt with some mild steel sheetmetal that can easily be mig welded. Thanks a million for the pic. It sure looks like you gained a whole inch with the drop. Are you able to get a 3" element to fit? Thanks again!!!! Berm

JRoss · #17 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 10:35 AM

Yep gained 1 1/4 inch and the 3 inch K&N filter fits great under the hood

John

bermblaster41 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 10:42 AM

good news. I will post progress later. Thanks

Wayne Maybury · #19 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 11:27 AM

I have to also do this (make a dropped bottom oval filter). I presently have one of those small chrome S & H filters on mine and while it was not dynoed, my friend did put it on the flow bench. I can't remember the exact results (they are posted somewhere here on CC) but the filter reduced the flow of my 750 Holley by 30 to 40%.

Wayne

RedBarchetta · #20 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Maybury

one of those small chrome S & H filters

Period correct but flow poorly.

I'm going to experiment with my 12" oval air cleaner and if I can do a clean drop on the circumference, then I might attempt it on the 15" oval unit that I just purchased and dropped off at the machinist yesterday (to mill off the carb riser).

There is a market for this sort of thing, but it's limited and you really need to have a carb in which the complete air horn has been milled flat (to keep the air flow). Having a choke tower in the way will only hurt performance.

-Dean