Stock Air Cleaner Clearance with Edelbrock Carb
 

The PO of my 78 K5 Blazer decided to slice up the air cleaner to clear the fuel line housing on carb instead of using an air cleaner spacer. I am going to get an Edelbrock 8092 spacer but my question is do I need to be worried about patching this hole up for air flow? Thanks.

Re: Stock Air Cleaner Clearance with Edelbrock Carb
 

another alternative and the way I ended up going rather than a spacer is a flat air cleaner base, see how yours is dished, I like the flat ones because not only does the air cleaner sit higher and clear things, but you can actually see the carb

well short answer to your question would have been yes close it up especially the part that is inside the air cleaner element as the tiniest of particles will wreak havoc on the internals of your carb especially the float bowls and needles

Re: Stock Air Cleaner Clearance with Edelbrock Carb
 

Thanks Gregski!

Re: Stock Air Cleaner Clearance with Edelbrock Carb
 

I was able to fit a stock air cleaner to the same type carb by putting a dab of paint on the banjo fitting, seating the cleaner, then using a punch to indent the cleaner where the paint was. Doesn't take much. Maybe a 3/4" wide dent about a 1/4" or so deep. On mine, the dent is on the outside of the air filter ring.

Re: Stock Air Cleaner Clearance with Edelbrock Carb
 

That's a good idea- thanks. The carb heat insulator gasket I put on a while ago has already changed the angle of my metal breather tube from cleaner to valve cover to where it is difficult to keep on. Another inch from an air cleaner spacer and I'll probably need to find a fix for that too- ha, it seems everything I fix creates 2 more problems.