big block air cleaner clearance

[rowingone]

If someone with a big block could do me a big favor . . I'm trying to fabricate an air cleaner that will help me retain my stock hood with an edelbrock rpm . . from looking at pictures of the big block air cleaners base I think I can fabricate something similar or buy that base . . what I want to know is the clearance between the top of the carb on a factory big block and the top of the air cleaner . . . if I use a 3 inch filter but the clearance right at the top of the carb is only 1 inch . . will that restrict my airflow in a significant way . . my gut feeling is that 1 inch is not enough . .if someone could measure theirs that would save me the trial and error.

 

[magicv8]

If no one else answers - I will dig my BB air cleaner out this evening.

IMO one inch is enough room, the problem is getting the three inch air filter element under the hood (the filter element is the real restriction) - and the BB air cleaner does that.

I have an SB in my BB car now, and I fabricated the base from an old full size Chrysler product V8 with 2 barrel base (which has a Carter AFB air horn opening in it), mated to the lid from my BB air cleaner. The 3 inch tall BB air filter element fits between the two pieces. The BB air cleaner base wants to be on a Holley, and I dislike leaky carbs. If you have a Holley, it will work fine.

 

[magicv8]

Here's the data:

The BB air cleaner base has a funnel like (torroidal) curve to it around the base of the Holley. Like a doughnut with a huge hole had been cut in half and layed flat side down around the carb air horn flange.

With a straight edge across the top of the stock 3 inch air cleaner element, there is exactly one inch of clearance from the air horn flange to the straight edge - BUT - ther is only .625 clearance from the top of the toroid hump (in the air cleaner base) surrounding the air horn flange.

The air horn itself (the flat face at the front of the holley that sticks up into the air cleaner) has negative clearance. If it weren't for the .40 dome in the center of the air cleaner top, it would hit the top.

My guess is that you get about an inch of clearance due to the BB top, and using a flat top would be bad for the Holley.

 

[rowingone]

Thanks for doing that for me . . its exactly what I needed!!

 

[myonnone]

Not sure if you can see it in the pics but the horn of the carb extends over the top of the air cleaner. The pics are from my 66 big block.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I'm trying to fabricate an air cleaner that will help me retain my stock hood with an edelbrock rpm .

I am sorry I didi not jump on this post earler But I have been REEL busy

IS it a big block hood or a small block hood.