[DeTomaso] Air Cleaner (long)

JDeRyke at aol.com JDeRyke at aol.com
Fri Mar 23 13:44:10 EDT 2007


In a message dated 3/23/07 5:29:34 AM, rickrows at hotmail.com writes:
<< What would work would be about a 14" diameter air cleaner.  What is 
available and known to work? >>

14" is almost a standard filter diameter nowadays, will fit most cars and 
such filters, bases and tops are available everywhere in 2-1/2", 3" and 4" high. 
Round aftermarket air cleaners come in two styles for solving fit problems: 
type one is a 'drop-center' which is a 3" high air cleaner filter that actually 
only sticks up about 1-1/2" due to the outer ring being 'dropped' around the 
carb. Such may clear the std engine screen- or maybe not depending on the 
thickness of the filter you choose & the actual drop provided. Not all are 
identical. On some Panteras with a shifted-to-the-rear powertrain, a 14" air cleaner 
will not only run into the screen, the edge may run into the leading edge of 
the deck lid. 
The other is an 'offset' base which does not center the element above the 
carb but offsets its center 1-1/2" in order to clear oversized distributors on 
either end of an engine (and the mentioned decklid interference). These cannot 
be drop-base since the carb itself will be in the way of any 'drop' so filters 
stick up their full height. 
Finally, air cleaner bases & tops can be aluminum or chrome-plated steel. 
I've found that a black top distracts the driver much less than a shiny one, by 
removing the flickers of reflection from the inside rear view mirror (which 
affects your peripheral vision). The newest style top is one in which the top 
actually becomes a filter too. These are dull-colored and should not affect your 
peripheral vision much more than a std black top. But they will also need very 
frequent cleaning since the bulk of the air going into the engine will come 
thru the porous top. Check your hot-rod catalogues- there are many many pgs of 
air cleaners! 
One last note: the threaded steel center-stud that holds the air cleaner 
assembly together needs a jam-nut AND Lock-tite to retain it in the threaded boss 
of an alloy carb throat. Otherwise, you risk heat & vibration loosening the 
whole assembly and parts falling into your engine- with expensive, noisy & 
predictable results. This has happened to more than one Pantera owner.  I use an 
aircraft wing-nut up on top; these wing-nuts have an elastic locking ring just 
like a hex lock-nut but need no wrench to tighten/loosen, and are totally 
vibration-proof. Good luck- J DeRyke
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