oval air cleaner

kmarccoco · #1 (**permalink**) 04-02-2006, 02:30 PM

hi, just wondering if the big oval black cobra air cleaners fit under the era hood. my 428 is about to be installed and we were wondering about clearance....thanks...

d_ford · #2 (**permalink**) 04-02-2006, 04:27 PM

My ERA had the oval air filter on it when I got it but it rubbed the underside of the hood in the back so I switched to stellings/hellings. It didn't rub bad but I didn't like it.

strictlypersonl · #3 (**permalink**) 04-02-2006, 04:33 PM

The oval air cleaner fits with the low and mid-riser intake manifolds. You might have to remove the lip that rests on the carburetor and cut holes so that the float adjuster nuts can stick through.

CobERA · #4 (**permalink**) 04-02-2006, 04:35 PM

I installed an oval air cleaner on my ERA. I also have a 428. It takes a little work, but it is not hard.

First you must cut out a portion of the underside lip on the hood. There is a diagram in the ERA manual. I was skeptical about cutting the hood, but it wasn't hard.

I also bought a blank steel bottom plate from Tony Branda. The usual aluminum bottom plate was just a little too thick, and caused the top to rub on the hood.

The blank steel plate is very thin. I cut out the opening to fit on top of the carb and two holes to allow the float bowl adjusting screws to protrude through the base.

I also fashioned my own hold down bracket using strap iron and some bolts.

If you are interested I'll take some pictures and post them.

kmarccoco · #5 (**permalink**) 04-02-2006, 06:33 PM

cobera, pictures would be really helpfull. we are going to tackle this tomorrow, or tuesday. so cutting the hood is the only option??.

thanks bob, where is the page to the manual with cut??? it has a dual plane intake.

thanks all

decooney · #6 (**permalink**) 04-02-2006, 07:31 PM

Ken,
When I was at Tom's yesterday, I showed him where to cut/radius at the back of the hood. Also, he can trim a bit off the bottom plate on the air cleaner and cut holes at the float boal screws as Bob has suggested above will work. My thought is to not cut anything on the hood until after the motor is mounted first with the carb and all on there again, so you can see exactly where to trim on the hood and how far to cut the aircleaner base.

Checked your 351 sidepipes too while I was there. My FE pipes are expanded out at the ends to fit over the header downtubes. I noticed yours were not expanded. You may need to take a look at it more closely with Tom and maybe consider building a new set of sidepipes, with those new mufflers, and sell your old ones in tact as a complete set rather than tearing them apart and trying to stretch the ends. When you get the new header pipes, you'll see the need for the expanded ends; or stop by and I'll show you mine. D

kmarccoco · #7 (**permalink**) 04-02-2006, 07:58 PM

thanks duane.. so the headers won't fit into the slip fit pipes i have now?

decooney · #8 (**permalink**) 04-02-2006, 10:47 PM

Ken,
I'm thinking not. The tubes on your sidepipes would need to be expanded out at the ends, or a new set made IF the new headers are the same size as what ERA uses stock. You'll have to see when you get the new headers and match them up to know for sure.