C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

84 air cleaner sitting too high

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Old Oct 31, 2016 | 04:48 PM
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Default 84 air cleaner sitting too high

In the 84 air cleaner, theres a big gasket that is adhered to the bottom of the magnesium lid which mates to the air filter. (no, not the gaskets that go between the throttle bodies and air cleaner)

The car has had a K&N filter for years, and last year when i opened the lid, I was surprised to find that the gasket wasn't stuck to the lid and had expanded maybe 20% at least...
I removed 2 2 inch segments so that it was the correct size, and glued it back together, then adhered it to the lid.

Fast forward a year, I installed the renegade manifold, and it seems that the combination of a still vertically swollen gasket and maybe a slightly taller manifold means that the lid is now too high... The lid now sits above the distributor cover, and hits the hood when its shut.

I dont want to crank down the bolts any more because then ill never get them off without pliers. I tried putting it together with no filter, and it fit perfectly. Is there anyway I could shorten the filter or maybe shave a little off the bottom of the air cleaner where it meets the throttle bodies so the whole thing sits lower?

I dont think these gaskets are available anymore.

Last edited by rorrapalooza; Nov 1, 2016 at 09:49 AM.
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Old Nov 1, 2016 | 12:51 AM
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Originally Posted by rorrapalooza
In the 84 air cleaner, there's a big gasket that is adhered to the bottom of the magnesium lid.
I removed 2 2 inch segments so that it was the correct size, and glued it back together, then adhered it to the lid.
I can't visualize what this "big thick gasket" is. Is yours different than this one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/84-Corvette-...lYAEAn&vxp=mtr

I use a length of foam weatherstrip gasket in my '84 air cleaner. Works fine!

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Old Nov 1, 2016 | 05:43 AM
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Look at picture 5 on that link. it shows the seller peeling the gasket off. looks like he has also cut his and reglued it.
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Old Nov 1, 2016 | 07:47 AM
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Originally Posted by rorrapalooza
Look at picture 5 on that link. it shows the seller peeling the gasket off. looks like he has also cut his and reglued it.
I always thought that if the seal would have been sold, it might have been in a length and required being trimmed BUT I don't believe that it was ever likely sold as a single purchase. The 2 'tighter' bends hints maybe that it's a molded to fit seal and not a 'trim to fit'.

If you've cut and glued a seal that was used previously I can't imagine you having issues. I'd say you've created your issue in some fashion, either the K & N that coincidentally worked previously but then you added the Renegade.

Here's lid that I linked last year and amazingly (maybe not) it's still available. There's some better images for this one. There's 2 seals that are used on the lid.

http://redirect.viglink.com/?format=...8-42507b1db859

The thread with my thoughts regarding the assembly are here.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...sket-seal.html

Regarding the K & N - maybe just toss it and get an A862C that might fit and work as intended. Amazon looks to be a reasonable buy OR maybe a local purchase.

Last edited by WVZR-1; Nov 1, 2016 at 08:42 AM.
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Old Nov 5, 2016 | 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by rorrapalooza
In the 84 air cleaner, theres a big gasket that is adhered to the bottom of the magnesium lid which mates to the air filter. (no, not the gaskets that go between the throttle bodies and air cleaner)

The car has had a K&N filter for years, and last year when i opened the lid, I was surprised to find that the gasket wasn't stuck to the lid and had expanded maybe 20% at least...
I removed 2 2 inch segments so that it was the correct size, and glued it back together, then adhered it to the lid.

Fast forward a year, I installed the renegade manifold, and it seems that the combination of a still vertically swollen gasket and maybe a slightly taller manifold means that the lid is now too high... The lid now sits above the distributor cover, and hits the hood when its shut.

I dont want to crank down the bolts any more because then ill never get them off without pliers. I tried putting it together with no filter, and it fit perfectly. Is there anyway I could shorten the filter or maybe shave a little off the bottom of the air cleaner where it meets the throttle bodies so the whole thing sits lower?

I dont think these gaskets are available anymore.
Not sure what your issue really is honestly, (trying to visualize) but I can assure you that the Renegade is not causing the issue in any way. The stock airbox and any air filter meant for that 84 airbox will work just fine. We made the manifold to work with stock components and this would be the first time I've ever heard of an issue like this, so I'm scratching my head right now on an answer. Pics would be awesome.

Nice (new) Avatar BTW!

Last edited by Buccaneer; Nov 5, 2016 at 10:14 AM.
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Old Nov 5, 2016 | 12:46 PM
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it is a nice avatar, isnt it?


Ill try to get a pic or two tomorrow...

Im inclined to agree that its not the manifolds fault, it would fit right if the cover wasn't sitting too far above the air cleaner. I also swapped to a new distributor (with the old cap), so what I think is that the raised air cleaner cover just happened to coincidentally fit okay with with the old parts, but it just doesn't jive with the new. I know the cover itself is too high (not the manifold too high or distributor too low) and has been for some time since the big rubber gaskets that go between the black air cleaner and the magnesium cover on the air intakes (by the vacuum controlled flaps) dont mate up to the cover; the cover is a half inch or so above them.

Sorry if thats hard to follow, but for now the plan is to measure the K & N against the specs on their website, if its taller then beat on it with a mallet for a few minutes and see if that fixes it.
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Old Nov 6, 2016 | 02:14 PM
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Aright so I took a crack at it today.

heres some pics from before







Before

I made some measurements of the K & N... looks like one side of it was a whole 0.100 taller than the other and both sides were over spec so... I took threw it in my vice and smashed the whole thing down till it could easily be compressed by hand, then put it in and cranked down the bolts all the way to the stops, then let them up and put them at a torque where they could be removed easily. It sits right or close to right now.




After

The air flap gaskets now make contact with the magnesium cover too.

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Old Nov 6, 2016 | 06:20 PM
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Nice!
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