What's with the little aircleaner?

xcop · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011, 04:27 PM

Just bought an SPF and was going over things under the hood, and couldn't help but notice the small aircleaner. This thing has a 427 stroker supposedly rated at 525 to 550 hp, and it has approx. 8'" X 2" round aircleaner on it with the "turkey pan" on top of a Holley double pumper.
I suppose this is correct to the original, but I don't see how they make that much power through that small an airfilter.

TN Shelby Cobra · #2 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011, 04:50 PM

Works for me!! Also for my friends 427 side oiler! Mark

SPF1061 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TN Shelby Cobra

Works for me!! Also for my friends 427 side oiler! Mark

TN Shelby Cobra,
If you put your car on a chassis dyno and did a pull with that intake setup, followed by a pull with a big NASCAR style filter, you would see exactly how well it's working for you. Just sayin'.

TN Shelby Cobra · #4 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPF1061

TN Shelby Cobra,
If you put your car on a chassis dyno and did a pull with that intake setup, followed by a pull with a big NASCAR style filter, you would see exactly how well it's working for you. Just sayin'.

Don't really care! Fast enough like it is!

Tommy · #5 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TN Shelby Cobra

Don't really care! Fast enough like it is!

With no disrespect intended, I think that says more about the driver's expectations than the engine's performance.

mdross1 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-14-2011, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TN Shelby Cobra

Don't really care! Fast enough like it is!

The very reason why will all march to a different beat.Nothing wrong with anything we do to our cars afterall whose names are on the titles.My background is in racing been doing it most of my life so total performance drives me.These cars have it all know matter what they breath through.Gotta say I really hated to take the Stellings off the motor, hated even more to cut a perfectly good hood.

RET_COP · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2011, 06:03 PM

Chanmadd,real nice idea, mind if I borrow it

Hotfingers , the xtreme top, I can see where it would be good on a dyno with air going straight down on the air cleaner but in a driving situation with air going across the top, I have heard that it hurts flow. What do you think? Have you any data on that.
Lou

Cobra #3170 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcop

Just bought an SPF and was going over things under the hood, and couldn't help but notice the small aircleaner. This thing has a 427 stroker supposedly rated at 525 to 550 hp, and it has approx. 8'" X 2" round aircleaner on it with the "turkey pan" on top of a Holley double pumper.
I suppose this is correct to the original, but I don't see how they make that much power through that small an airfilter.

You are so right, it drives me nuts when I see a supposedly high performance engine with those little air cleaners. They would be lucky to make 350 HP with that set up. My first engine (a dual 4 medium riser) would not pull 4th past 5500, I had to install taller elements to get enough air to pull past 6000 in 4th. I think some of the guys ran without air cleaners when they raced the single four cars back in the day, but am not positive. Those cars were making in the neighborhood of only 480 HP so maybe they could run with a smaller air cleaner.

gsharapa · #9 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011, 05:36 PM

This works well.... 9 inch by 2.5 or 2.75 K & N, flat base and 9 inch Xtreme top!

Dwight · #10 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011, 05:53 PM

I have a B&B in my shop with a 8" S&H air cleaner on it. 351W with 400 hp. I did the calulation and it was losing 98 hp at 4000 rpms. It would not rev over 4300 in any gear. Changed the air cleaner and now it pulls to 6000 rpms.

Dwight

P.S. I have a S&H air cleaner for sale, make offer.

http://www.secondstrike.com/Technica...leanerHelp.pdf

xcop · #11 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011, 06:12 PM

Gary, can you tell me what kind of aircleaner you have?

RET_COP · #12 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011, 06:28 PM

Dwight, what did you replace it with?

mdross1 · #13 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcop

Just bought an SPF and was going over things under the hood, and couldn't help but notice the small aircleaner. This thing has a 427 stroker supposedly rated at 525 to 550 hp, and it has approx. 8'" X 2" round aircleaner on it with the "turkey pan" on top of a Holley double pumper.
I suppose this is correct to the original, but I don't see how they make that much power through that small an airfilter.

Your thinking is on the money.While trying to dial in the 585 hp 460 in my car with the small Stelling air cleaner,knew out of the gate it was too small. A call to K&N set me straight.Ordered a new hood to be cut installed a modified Harwood scoop,now have a 3"x14"with Extreme Top, happens to sit in the middle of the scoop.Performance is the way it should be,the motor no longer lays over for lack of air.

RACER X #99 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 07:01 AM

Those little Stellings were the original setup for street Cobras today they are car show air filters.
Makes no sense in building a big cube engine with all the go fast parts and then chocking it just because it looks "correct".

Hotfingrs · #15 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 11:08 AM

Gary's air filter is a K&N with an Xtreme top from K&N. I've got the same filter and top, and on the dyno made the same horsepower, with or without the filter, so it does work.

undy · #16 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 11:42 AM

That's why a lot of "600 hp" engines built by reputable builders dyno 400 hp at the wheels.

I did quite a bit of chassis dyno time to develop a filter set-up for me. In fact, it put 8 more rwhp down with the filter than without one. Some air staightening is a good thing, as long as the filter's adequate.

RET_COP · #17 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 01:56 PM

K & N just told me that my red gauze 11 7/8 x 8 3/8 oval flows only 387 cfm ! yikes !!.
I have no room for anything else. I like what mdross1 did and I have thought about this, but it's not in my plans for now.
Those Edelbrock triangle foam filters claim 1000cfm. Does anyone have any positive information on this. Maybe use some flame retardant spray.
Get this, they also said that on a 14 x 3 round red gauze filter, the difference between the extreme top and a capped top is 200cfm
Lou

CHANMADD · #18 (**permalink**) 12-14-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RET_COP

K & N just told me that my red gauze 11 7/8 x 8 3/8 oval flows only 387 cfm ! yikes !!.
I have no room for anything else. I like what mdross1 did and I have thought about this, but it's not in my plans for now.
Those Edelbrock triangle foam filters claim 1000cfm. Does anyone have any positive information on this. Maybe use some flame retardant spray.
Get this, they also said that on a 14 x 3 round red gauze filter, the difference between the extreme top and a capped top is 200cfm
Lou

I have an Edelbrock 1000cfm....:threw the foam away and used ac filter from home depot.and also used the same in the scoop and brake ducts......no more stones on the intake.No restriction whatsoever. Been there for at least 5 years.

Racer_X · #19 (**permalink**) 12-14-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHANMADD

I have an Edelbrock 1000cfm....:threw the foam away and used ac filter from home depot.and also used the same in the scoop and brake ducts......no more stones on the intake.No restriction whatsoever. Been there for at least 5 years.

Got pictures of what you did to enlighten the rest of us?

xcop · #20 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 02:14 PM

Thanks, Jack. I ordered a 9" top for mine. It has a K&N element in the Stellings housing, that is about 8 1/2". I hope this top will mesh all the way around, and make a decent set-up. If not, I guess I'll ditch the pan and go with an oval cleaner.
I bought a set of stainless pipes from Madmax, so the "out end" should be opened up, and this should open up the "in end"