Air cleaner options

[klogsdonjr]

after upgrading to a Holly 600 carb, where a small plate had to be added, the clearance for an air cleaner reduced the number of options. after riding with a too small 9inch round cleaner for a year i needed to replace the filter. i knew that 2inch tall would be fine, but wasnt sure what was going to fit. So i ordered a 14x2 round from amazon (knowing that i could return it if it didnt fit right). It was fine front to back but hit the hood on the sides. SO i went looking for a 12x2 round and found they dont make them. the next size down is 10" but that wasnt much bigger than my 9in. So i started to look at ovals thinking i would look for a 14inch oval since it would fit front to back - but they dont make those either.

So i ended up with a 12x2 oval and found a style that has nice retro fins (i def am not wanting it too look like a hotrod). With a little vinyl stripe i like the way it came out.

[Rusty57]

I really like the complimentary look with the valve covers. This proves there can be tasteful modifications to these cars.

[55blacktie]

The OEM air cleaners have a drop base; oval air cleaners do not. I bought a 14" x 2" Billet Industries oval air cleaner. It will clear my 55 hood, if I use only paper gaskets; there isn't enough clearance for even a 3/8" carb spacer/insulator. I have a 57 manifold/w Holley 4150 Street Avenger 570 carburetor. If my memory serves me, just about all modern 4-bbl. carburetors are 3 1/4" tall from the carburetor base to the air horn/air-cleaner base.

Summit has a 14" round air cleaner/w drop base and 3" open element, which provides enough clearance for a 1/2" spacer. I tried a 2 1/2" tall element, hoping to use a 1" carb spacer, but that put the lid too close to the carburetor bowl vents. The Summit air cleaner is chrome-plated sheet metal/w no name/logo and cost less than $30.

If I ever want to show my car, I might install the oval air cleaner, leaving the carb spacer in place and the hood open. Hopefully, I won't forget to put the Summit air cleaner back on before attempting to close the hood.

[ranchbird]

I really like the look of the air cleaner it goes good with the valve covers, for some reason I couldn't get one to work on mine, I do have an aluminum intake with a Edelbrock carb. So, i ended up using a drop base 14" bottom with a 2" element and a rounded top. but know that I see yours I might try to make an oval one work again.

[klogsdonjr]

The nice thing about the oval is that I have easy clearance on both sides to check float, adjust curb idle and fuel mixes without having to remove the cleaner.

[55blacktie]

Ranchbird, what aluminum intake do you have? Mummert's Tbird intake is a bit taller than the OEM 57 intake. Even if you use paper gaskets/w no spacer, it might be too tall. I don't know about others.

[ranchbird]

Yes, it's a Mummert intake, it's the one for the T-bird it supposed to be lower than the one he makes for the full-size ford.

[55blacktie]

Yes, but still a bit taller than stock 57 intake. How much taller?

[ranchbird]

I don't really have a of measuring it on the car or a stock one to compare it to.

[55blacktie]

ford-y-block.com (Mummert's site) says it's 0.180" taller than stock.

[ranchbird]

I guess that explains it, it's just enough that it hits.

[55blacktie]

ranchbird, if you're willing to remove and reinstall your intake manifold, you probably could have the carburetor mounting surface milled 0.180 (or more). Considering Mummert offers an intake specifically for Tbirds, I can't help but wonder why the manufacturer/Mummert doesn't do it. Mummert's aluminum heads were/are cast by Edelbrock, so they probably cast the manifolds as well.

[MarkR]

Like Blacktie, On my 55 I’m running a 4150 Holley Street Avenger 570 with a stock ‘57 intake from Mummert. Paper gasket. I’m using the stock ‘57 air cleaner. I had to slightly modify the bottom by drilling a hole aft and front for clearance on the secondary and primary lock screw heads. No hood clearance or other issues since 2005.

[ranchbird]

I think I will leave well enough a lone , seeing the oval air cleaner just got me thinking again. I'm definitely not pulling the intake off, I'm happy with the way it looks. I also installed one of his aluminum valley covers.

[55blacktie]

ranchbird, it looks great to me.

There were several reasons why I chose not to use an OEM-type air cleaner: My 55 oil-bath air cleaner had been damaged by someone who had installed a pcv valve in the lid, thereby compromising the wire gauze filter. I was afraid it could be sucked into the engine. Sometime during its life, a 57 distributor was installed, but the original 55 Teapot carburetor remained. Following Gil Baumgartner's advice, I kept the 57 distributor and installed a 57 intake manifold and new Holley carburetor. The OEM/reproduction air cleaners are expensive, and far too common.

There are too many 55-57 Tbirds left for them to all be carbon copies of each other. I like what ranchbird has done to his.