Air cleaner tech. clearance

clev357

This one time in man camp...
Founding Member
Apr 12, 2001
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Roswell, GA
I have major clearance issues on my 351 cleveland. It's in a '69 Fastback. I'm using an edelbrock torker intake and 750 holley. I'm also using a 1in. carb spacer which I deem a nessesity. I now have very little room for an air cleaner without cutting the hood. The 13in. ford motorsport dropbase is about a 1/4 in. too tall. I found one that fit but I'm afraid it will limit the engines ability to breath. It's mr. gasket 6.5in dia. by 2in. tall. The part number is #1486. Any insight and your thoughts are appreciated.

Tim :nice:
 
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If the system is sealed you can place the air filter anywhere and just run a empty thin air cleaner housing on top of the motor to direct the flow.Could you place the filter outside the engine compartment and run a hose to the air cleaner housing?Your engine would be getting cooler air as well which would be better for performance.
 
why do you think a 1 inch spacer is a necesity? do you think it gives you better performance??? i mean why...unless you have n20 injection in the plate i cant think of a reason for NEEDing one. but if i were you and clearences fit i might think of an Oval aircleaner or maybe...14 Inch?in my 65 with a 289 i've clalculated i can put a little smaller than a 5" tall airfilter on and it will clear the hood just enough to close, that is with a aircleaner that has a drop base though, so if you dont have one of those get one ;D.
 
Spacers do help with performance. Open spacers help top-end power and the 4 hole design is to help with low-end. The plastic/phenolic ones are also supposed to help with heat soak/vapor lock.

Maybe try a 3/4" or a 1/2" spacer.
 
I deem it nessasary because the 4hole spacer I run, helps with off idle low-end power. More than that, the phenolic spacer insulates the carb from heat. I've been boiling fuel and fighting vapor lock lately. I am REALLY against cutting the hood. I've decided to buy a 1/2" 4-hole spacer to deal with the issue. I should then be able to put my 13" motorsport cleaner back on. Hopefully it will still work as well as the 1in unit I use now. The 1in. will end up on ebay. :flag:
 
Just a thought but if you are up to fabbing new engine mounts you could probably lower the motor at least 0.25 inch, even more if you are willing to solidify them. That would solve the hood clearance but also give you a lower center of gravity as a bonus! "D
 
Edbert said:
Just a thought but if you are up to fabbing new engine mounts you could probably lower the motor at least 0.25 inch, even more if you are willing to solidify them. That would solve the hood clearance but also give you a lower center of gravity as a bonus! "D

Not a terrible idea, however then I need to worry about my headers hitting EVERYTHING. Including the ground, more often. I know it's not mush but I think it would be a far bigger hassle. I'd probably cut the hood first. Good idea though. :nice: