Opinions are like .......

[hdff]

and everybody has one , so which way would you go with this motor? I just replaced the intake and carb as seen it the pic with the stock air cleaner. Should I keep the stock air cleaner or go with the aftermarket, if I use an aftermarket it will be round not this 3 sided one. I like the stock original look but with the motor not looking stock with the resto-mod look does the stock cleaner look out of place? I know the opinions will be all over the place but let's hear it

[72 Super]

Honestly on your truck it looks you could go either way. I like the original stuff as well and modified. I personally say a polished aluminum or chrome one though to go along with engine compartment. Very nice by the way.

Ray

[WORNBRAKES]

As nice as the factory air cleaner looks, you will probobly benifit from the increased airflow from the aftermarket one like you described. If you like the black look, you could have it powder coated...... Orange would look nice as well to match the block....
Either way, your engine looks great!

[54belair]

Looks good either way Man, Im going with something in between, the old round Cadillac air cleaner from the 50's painted to match my wheel wells.

[cdowns]

why worry about it cause that lazymans rubber hose will probably spring a leak and burn it down to the ground anyway

[Coley]

Count me in on the factory painted look with the original air cleaner.

Personally if I see one more underhood chrome accessory, chrome valve cover or $6 chrome air cleaner I think I'm going to poop my pants.....lol

Seriously tho, custom and customization to me is what is not on most peoples vehicle so, in my humble opinion...what is more custom these days is a hot motor disguised as an original appearing motor.

Here is a really great example of a smokin' motor (LS3) disguised somewhat as a stock big block motor....on the Holley Shop Truck, a '67 chevy short box
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p6Jf5exuA8
Its always good to be ahead of the curve on this and the guys from Holley carbs appear to be getting there....

Anywhooo, just my two bits!....great looking engine bay either way tho'!

all Good
Coley

[jjlett69]

either way , your motor looks great! i would perhaps chrome the original air cleaner, and have best of both worlds, or perhaps powder coat the original chevy orange to match the block? just some ideas

[RustyBucket]

Just one old guys opinion.. I like the 14" open element with a chrome slightly domed lid. .. looks like factory on a L78 first gen. Camaro. If you make a longer carb. stud you can use a 4" tall 14" filter. With the hood clearance on the truck you don't need a dropped base. The 4" filter refrences to an '80 Chevy PU with the converted Olds diesel.
Advance has the filters on sale right now for $5.. purolator classic air filter pt# a63181
Had this old lid that was rusty so I wet sanded it and sprayed it with semi-gloss Krylon.
Yeah, C.Downs, I got a length of 3/8 rubber fuel line too, haven't burned one down in almost 50yrs..... I know, don't take but once, right?

[hdff]

Originally Posted by cdowns

why worry about it cause that lazymans rubber hose will probably spring a leak and burn it down to the ground anyway

great advice....IF I had ask for opinions on rubber or metal fuel lines


FWIW i am looking for a fuel filter that can be hard piped, this is what the motor guy put on it. Since you seem to be big on this subject, I've seen you post similar things in other posts, do you know where I can get an external filter that can be hard piped in???????

Let's see a pic of your set up....

[Stocker]

Captain Encouragement's comment aside..... like others, I'm firmly astride the fence on this one. It simply looks great either way. I would probably go with aftermarket for improved airflow. A taller filter like RustyBucket posted might be a good choice. Cadillac unit also sounds good. Geez, too many possibilities....

[elf w/capital T]

with all the chrome, stay with chrome. stock looks good but only with no chrome in my opinion! nice truck!

[RustyBucket]

Originally Posted by hdff

an external filter that can be hard piped in

.

AC, Purolator, Fram... there's good selection of metal fuel filters with a variety of fitting sizes on em. Buy some tubing and bend away. I have some kind of mental block and have trouble bending tubing to fit. Little tubing bender seems to bend backwards from the way I want it.

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by 72 Super

Honestly on your truck it looks you could go either way. I like the original stuff as well and modified. I personally say a polished aluminum or chrome one though to go along with engine compartment. Very nice by the way.

Ray

X2 either way looks good. On mine I just put a 4 inch tall K & N filter into the stock housing, I get plenty of air flow with it and it still looks stock but modified.

[Overdriven]

I personally don't like lots of shine, particularly on the intake but to each their own. The stock air cleaner looks out of place. If it were me, I'd remove it, make a base out of cardboard, set your current air cleaner element and lid on top and see how it looks. Maybe you'd want a black lid (or another painted color instead of chrome) to tone it down. 10min making a base out of cardboard will help you to visualize what it'll look like without the snorkel though. I'd definitely ditch the snorkel and go with an open element air cleaner though.

My fav is like the 2nd pic. A little shine on the valve covers and air cleaner, silver intake, stock color on the rest of the engine. Simple and understated yet not really stock. Then again I like painted valve covers and air cleaners with aftermarket intakes too.

[dmjlambert]

I like the stock black air cleaner with snorkel look. The only thing better would be a clear Pyrex air cleaner housing, that's what I want. Doesn't Corning Inc. know they could make dozens if not hundreds of dollars catering to people with desires like mine? :-)

Imagine looking down into that thing and seeing your carb in action.

[Overdriven]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I like the stock black air cleaner with snorkel look. The only thing better would be a clear Pyrex air cleaner housing, that's what I want. Doesn't Corning Inc. know they could make dozens if not hundreds of dollars catering to people with desires like mine? :-)

Imagine looking down into that thing and seeing your carb in action.

You now have me wondering if something like that can be done with Lexan cause that would be cool! Trying to vacuum form Lexan at least 1/8 thick into a shape like that could be tricky though...

[dmjlambert]

I remember reading in the Steve Jobs book that Steve called the CEO of Corning and asked for gorilla glass for the iPhone. When doubt was expressed about Corning's ability to produce it quickly and in volume Apple wanted, Steve told him not to be frightened, just get it done. They did it, and the smart phone was born. We need somebody like Steve to call Corning and give them some encouragement. Air cleaners are just the tip of the iceberg. How about a footlong exhaust pipe extension made of Pyrex going from the exhaust manifold to connect to the steel pipe? People think chrome is flashy, but what about actual fire for your flashy? I would bet Pyrex could handle it.

[cleanfreak]

Originally Posted by hdff

great advice....IF I had ask for opinions on rubber or metal fuel lines


FWIW i am looking for a fuel filter that can be hard piped, this is what the motor guy put on it. Since you seem to be big on this subject, I've seen you post similar things in other posts, do you know where I can get an external filter that can be hard piped in???????

Let's see a pic of your set up....

Opinions are like ... GM fuel injection filter , 33481 is the wix number , many parts stores sell the pre - made line with the metric o-ring fitting , bend away , use a brass "t" at the front of the carb , have done this many times.

Air filter , both are cool....my "opinion" ... stock breather , stock (chrome) covers , custom covers , custom filter , ties everything together

Nice looking engine bay either way.

[palallin]

Stock. Those chrome, open things have always screamed "CHEAP!" at me.

[RustyBucket]

Factory '68 375/396 L78. just like GM made it ... ALWAYS liked this look, wish I had mine back.

[GR8-68]

I think I will turn me one on the lathe out of black walnut !!

[hdff]

Originally Posted by RustyBucket

Factory '68 375/396 L78. just like GM made it ... ALWAYS liked this look, wish I had mine back.

Is that in a truck? and is that how it came from the factory with the stickers? I like the stock low valve covers but they wouldn't fit with the roller rocker arms so I had to go with the tall ones for the clearnace

[RustyBucket]

Originally Posted by hdff

Is that in a truck? and is that how it came from the factory with the stickers? I like the stock low valve covers but they wouldn't fit with the roller rocker arms so I had to go with the tall ones for the clearnace

No, that's an early Camaro.... would've been a nice option in a '67-8 C-10 SB though, with a 3.73 posi and an M22.
I posted it kinda in response to the "Stock. Those chrome, open things have always screamed "CHEAP!" at me"... I DISAGREE
The low valve covers on the BB solid lifter HiPerf engines had drippers welded to the inside to lube the rocker arm ball.

[StoningtonQB]

I have an original air cleaner exactly like yours that I had stripped and powdercoated black, then applied a factory reproduction "Keep your truck all GM" sticker with a K&N drop-in. That being said, I never use it unless I'm driving to a show. I have an aftermarket chrome one like you have.

Keep the original one for the shows (or nice days) and the other one for the street. The original air cleaner is a litle too restrictive for my tastes.

On the subject of an inline fuel filter, what I did was I added a hi-flo filter inline on the steel line before the fuel pump, underneath the cab. That way I can change it by unscrewing the flare fittings and popping a new one in. After the fuel pump I have hard line going into a regulator, then hard line from the regulator into a fuel log.

[AnotherWs6]

Literally the first thing I did was order a factory muscle car style chrome open air cleaner. You get a open filter, cool looks and it is still period correct. It came with the base and a filter with all of the original markings. I needed to buy a 2 inch (I think) plastic carb to air cleaner spacer to get it to sit right. This is it on my truck. Valve covers could use a cleaning. Bought the stickers separately, they are about 5 bucks a piece.

Went with an Edelbrock filter and carb fuel line with a flexible, threaded line running from the fuel pump.