Drop Base Air Filter Element 3" or 4"?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
Drop Base Air Filter Element 3" or 4"?
I'm looking at the Holley 15/16" drop base air filter.
Its is available in 16" diameter with either 3" or 4" high red gauze element.
Will the 3" flow enough air for my 496, or should I only consider a 4" element.
Does anyone manufacture a better drop base air filter than the Holley?
Its is available in 16" diameter with either 3" or 4" high red gauze element.
Will the 3" flow enough air for my 496, or should I only consider a 4" element.
Does anyone manufacture a better drop base air filter than the Holley?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
I'm looking at the Holley 15/16" drop base air filter.
Its is available in 16" diameter with either 3" or 4" high red gauze element.
Will the 3" flow enough air for my 496, or should I only consider a 4" element.
Does anyone manufacture a better drop base air filter than the Holley?
Its is available in 16" diameter with either 3" or 4" high red gauze element.
Will the 3" flow enough air for my 496, or should I only consider a 4" element.
Does anyone manufacture a better drop base air filter than the Holley?
Now I run a 4" filter with the same 2" drop base and the car traps about the same mph as no air filter, downside is you need a big hood to clear it.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,096
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
The absolute minimum for a 496, that will still lose SOME power, but manageable.... Is the 2" drop base air cleaner from the LT1/L88 etc etc... All the repro companies sell them. Then run any 3" element. You really need to have a carb with an HP mainbody or mill off the choke horn. This setup gets you about 1" of clearance between the bottom of the lid and the flow bowl vent tubes...Less then that, and you can have problems, not to mention the air flow restriction. That setup cost me about 10 rwhp from running just the base with no filter or lid.
Now I run a 4" filter with the same 2" drop base and the car traps about the same mph as no air filter, downside is you need a big hood to clear it.
Now I run a 4" filter with the same 2" drop base and the car traps about the same mph as no air filter, downside is you need a big hood to clear it.
Have you finished buttoning everything up now?Back on topic- OCB, about a year ago I had a stroker SBC built for my avatar car. The valve covers I chose had their own crankcase breathers so, between that and the new look I was going for, I needed to find a good drop base set up to replace the factory one. I had very little clearance to play with, so I had to look around a bit. I ended up getting a Moroso piece that gave me at least as much clearance as the factory one. I don't know how it compares to the Holley set up but I'm very happy with the fit and the looks. They come in several colors too.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-65904/overview/
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
The absolute minimum for a 496, that will still lose SOME power, but manageable.... Is the 2" drop base air cleaner from the LT1/L88 etc etc... All the repro companies sell them. Then run any 3" element. You really need to have a carb with an HP mainbody or mill off the choke horn. This setup gets you about 1" of clearance between the bottom of the lid and the flow bowl vent tubes...Less then that, and you can have problems, not to mention the air flow restriction. That setup cost me about 10 rwhp from running just the base with no filter or lid.
Now I run a 4" filter with the same 2" drop base and the car traps about the same mph as no air filter, downside is you need a big hood to clear it.
Now I run a 4" filter with the same 2" drop base and the car traps about the same mph as no air filter, downside is you need a big hood to clear it.
Are you running a 14" diameter or 16" diameter filter?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
I run a 14x4” K&N filter on a LT1/L88 repro air cleaner. Before I had the tall hood, I ran the 3” element and it was fine for playing on the street, but I certainly removed it at the track. It’s about a 1 mph loss.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 160
From: new iberia la
if you think a 2inch or 3 inch is not enough flow , and you can not fit a 4 inch, you can always get a top for the drop base type that is also filtered.. problem solved ...but for a street car, it should not be an issue
