Air Cleaner / Hood Clearance w/Edelbrock Victor Jr. Manifold on 351W

[Rufus]

Hi Folks -

I'm about to tear my hair out trying to find a decent solution for an air cleaner. The car has a 351 W, Edelbrock Victor Jr. Intake and Holley 4150 style carb. It also uses an MSD 85805 distributor to clear the manifold.

So far, the only air cleaner that comes even close to working is an Auto Zone 9" dia assy with a 2" element height. I say this 'comes close' because it rubs inside the hood. It also seems too small to be anything but restrictive.

Does anyone have any experience with the 351W / Victor Jr combination and what other distributors and / or air cleaners will fit?

Can anyone confirm whether the MSD 8578 small diameter distributor will fit? From the dimensions obtained from MSD it appears that it will not clear the water crossover on the front of the Victor Jr. manifold.

[RACER X #99]

I have the same setup on my 408 Dart. I bought a drop base 14" moroso filter with a 3" high element, then I cut the 1/2" mounting base off of the filter. This sits the base right in contact with the Holley carb float adjustment so I punched out two holes in the base to clear the adjusters. I then found two rubber grommets that just fit over the carb adjusters and seal the bottom base to the carb. I also had to trim the base where it comes in contact with the distributor.
It ain't perfect but there is no point in spending money for performance parts and then choking your engine with those small Stellings type filters.
If interested I can take a few pictures and post here for you.

RD

[Rufus]

Thanks RD.

Sounds like you did something like I'm contemplating. Not the most elegant solution, but at least it works! I think I'm pretty clear on what you did to clear and seal the carb float adjustments. Clever! I would like to see how much you had to trim the base to clear the distributor. Also, how much does your modified base drop the bottom of the element relative to the carb filter mount? What element height are you using, 2"? It doesn't seem I have enough room to run a 3" high element without getting the distributor out of the way.

I've looked at the 14 " dia Vette base which drops the element 2" from the level of the filter mount on the carb, but it appears to result in way too much interference with the distributor to be viable. I'm now looking at a K&N 14" assy that just barely hits the passenger side of the hood scoop with a 2" element. It has a 1.25" drop and clears the distributor nicely after slicing off the rubber 'button' atop the distributor end of the spark plug wire. I'm considering trying to 'squash' the filter base a little to tilt the element slightly to lower it on one side.

Like you, I just can't accept choking the airflow with a restrictive air cleaner after using one of the best manifolds.

Thanks for your help!!

[BMK]

Rufus

Running pretty much the same setup as you. See my profile.



Guess the easiest way is to say check out the engine photos on my gallery but I 'll try to explain - see page three (3) on the gallery photos.



I also used the drop filter base. I trimmed and used gaskets to keep a seal. I then used a K+N filter and a K + N filter top. The two combined give more than enough air flow.

I trimmed/hacksawed all of the top off the carby down flush with the float bowls. The top K + N filter now sits about 1" above the carby. The ring/circular K + N filter runs around at the same level as the bowls due to the drop base plate.

Put a drop base on. Place a torch inside and close the hood/bonnet and you can see how much space you have above the carby to play with.

You may not need to be as radical as I have been, or you may be able to use a higher ring/circular K + N filter.

Trial and error.



Cheers

Bernie

[RACER X #99]

Rufus go here to see photos of modified drop base filter. The Filter is 14X 3"
http://www.cobranet.com/coppermine/index.php?cat=10004
The photos dated 2/24 are what you want to see.

Rd

[trularin]

Been there, done that.

I found the triangle aircleaner from Edelbrock worked with 1/2" to spare.



It flows 1000 CFM and looks okay.

You can transport an oval cleaner for show and swap them while on display.

Hope this helps.

[Curt C.]

MSD makes a separate 351W distributor to work with the Vic Jr. Check out there website. Not sure if you dist. will work or not. I use a K&N drop base (14 inch) with a 2.5 inch filter and an extreme filter top. Works very well. I could not accomodate a 3 inch height filter

[Rufus]

Many thanks for the input. I've been struggling with this 'problem' off and on for a while and am determined to find a better solution than the 9" dia x 2" high Auto Zone filter.

Maybe there's a difference from car to car or between parts that are supposedly the same.

I think I have everything that Curt C mentioned: 351W / Victor Jr. / MSD 85805 Dist (for Victor Jr.) / K&N (1.25" drop base).

This drop is about as much as the distributor will allow - it puts my element just a little more than 1/4 " (or maybe .300”) higher than Rd's. My ERA has a molded 'glass hood scoop, and a 3" tall element won't even come close to fitting....a 2" element hits inside the hood on the passenger side when closed. I'm thinking if I can distort the base to tilt it down on the right side it may be ok.

I'm thinking that unless I change to a smaller distributor (diameter and / or height) to permit dropping the base more, this is what I'm stuck with.

Bernie Knight - What distributor are you running on your 351W? 'Doesn't look like an MSD....

[Frank Messina]

If it's any help at all to you, I'm using a Mallory/Ford Duraspark Billet distributor on my 351 with Victor JR manifold and evrything fits good. I'm also using a 14" X 3" Moroso drop base filter with no modifications. I'm not suggesting you run out and change distributors, just wanted you to know about this combination.
Frank

[Jack21]

Using K&N 11" with filter top. Fits well, breathes well.

[392cobra]

I had been trying to figure out a way to get the amount of air I need into both the engines I've had/have for sometime now.First was a FMS 392w and now my 418w.

Using K & N's formulas I knew I needed 136.4 sq in of effective filtering area.
I have beening using a 9" K&N filter,2.75" height,with their filter top.It gave me 69.12 sq in. Just about HALF of what I needed for the 418w !

After reading about RD's 14" drop base a light came on.My big block '67 Camaro has a 1.25" drop base K&N filter.Pulled it off and sat it on my Cobra's carb.

It fit with 1/2" to spare.Even with the 1" carb spacer on the victor jr.

I ordered a new K&n extreme filter assembly with the filter top,came in yesterday.
Now have the problem solved,finally.

A 14 x 3 filter has a EFA of 98.96 sq in. 14" filter top is 63.62 sq in. Total of 162.58 sq in. Needed 136.4 sq in.

RD,THANKS !!!

[392cobra]

New filter assembly.

[Dennis Kelley]

Ding Ding Ding,

392 Cobra has the same assembly I have on a 302 with a 1inch spacer under the carb and it clears. Although I am not running a victor jr. rpm air gap on my car. That assembly did not cost any power on the dyno. It picked up 1hp with the extreme lid on as oppose to off.

[Steve Riley]

I made a set of motor mounts of 3/16" stock to lower the engine 1.5". This enabled me to fit my Edelbrock Air-gap and Holley w/ air cleaner under the hood. Seems to have worked like a charm. Tricky on the design and measurements though.
Steve

[trularin]

I know what you mean Fred, I tried to use combinations of elements and tops to get it to NOT hit the hood and breath enough to do the job.

That's how I came up with what I have.

My oil pan is the lowest part of the car, if I lower it any more, I'll be scrapping pavement.

[Dustin Mustangs]

Here's yet another take on this. Accel PN KS1408:





This is on a vic jr./351w stroker in our spf. According to K&N, our filter that came with the car was 34% the size it should of been. The effective area on this one is more than required by K&N, although obviously by another brand. Not too much involved in getting this to work, the velocity stack needed to be shortened and a brace welded across the top as shown here:





The beauty of this design is that the height is more or less adjustable, so you can take full advantage of the little room available. It will breathe well enough, but we're still not too excited about how it looks. I think we're going to try oiling it with some K&N oil to get rid of that retna melting blue which should help some.