I have a few of quick questions regarding the 85 air intake assembly. This first one may be somewhat of a stupid question and hard to explain, but when you install a new air filter which side goes into the filter housing? The reason I ask is that I was removing my filter housing, filter lid, MAF, etc and noticed that my filter was sitting on the filter housing with, what I assume is the back of the filter-the side that should face the engine-the side with the fins, facing out towards the filter lid with a black mesh-like fabric between it and the filter lid. I have never installed a air filter on my corvette and assume that the filter should be placed in the filter housing with the fins (or whatever they are called-the ruffled side) towards the inside of the housing, with the lid covering the flat side. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Second, how should the filter lid sit on the housing, with the louvers facing upward (drawing air from above) or facing downward? Third, would you recommend an open air filter lid. Is there any problems with the filter becoming dirty faster or water getting into the filter?

Any information would be appreciated. If anyone has a pic of the air filter assembly process, that would be great. Thank you.

 

Welcome to the forum! The filter (the louvered side) should sit inside the air ducting and just rests on the outer edges of the ducting. The louvered cover sits on top of the filter and gets tightened up. I've had a cut lid now for 4 years and have had no problems to date. I use a K&N filter although there are some on this board that say a paper filter is just as good if not better. I'm happy with my K&N so I won't debate the issue. As far as getting wet I've not had that problem or any others. Sorry I don't have a pic for you but I'm sure someone will chime in and give you a hand.

 

Thank you for the reply. That is how I thought the filter should go, with the bulk of the filter inside of the housing. Somehow, the shop where I had the filter last changed installed it wrong.

Any idea what the black mesh between the filter and filter lid is for; any use for it?

In addition, do you know which way the filter lid is suppose to go (louvers facing upward, drawing air from upward, or downward)? It seems that you can install the lid both ways and mine was installed with the louvers facing upward.

 

No. The pleats go up. The steel mesh is ALWAYS downstream of the filter. It's there to keep the filter media from being sucked into the engine.

 

Thanks, that makes sense.

 

I didn't even know the filters would fit upside down, but i may try it, because the SLP cold air intake I have is kind of restrictive with the filter sticking up. I can't even use the stock filter with it or it blocks the flow.