I have one of the small paper filters on my 54 235, like this.. I was reading a comment on youtube about it restricting air flow on a 235 and causing it to run rich. Any truth to this?
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am. 1954 3100 Chevy truck In the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix 1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
That filter element is way too small (short) to give a 235 enough air at speeds above a fast idle. Yes, it will run rich because of manifold vacuum finding its way up to the venturi. It's like running the engine with the choke partially closed. Try stacking two of those elements together with a thin wrap of electrical tape or black duct tape to prevent leakage where they meet, or just find a taller element with the same diameter. Another method would be to use a thin bead of RTV sealer between the two filter elements when you install them. We used to do the same thing on the dirt track race engines, to make a filter element nearly a foot tall. A small block V8 at 7000+ RPM needs a lot of air. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
The type of paper used in the filter plays a part in air restriction also. A paper filter as small as these (even the taller one) will require frequent changing to maintain proper air flow. It would be nice if there was a washable filter to use in these filters... Oh wait. There is. It’s made of copper mesh and uses oil. 🙂
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Didn't Chevy make a washable copper mesh filter- - - - -about 70 years ago? I wonder where K&N got the idea? Maybe from a guy named P.T. Barnum! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Don't panic just go for it. To HRL comment if my engine reached 7800 rpm I would be eating the engine. I do not think I need to change the height of the filter I can get taller ones. Just my ongoing quest for better fuel mileage. I did figure that if I spent the money for new carbs I could pay for 25 weekly fill-ups or a couple of long long trips and 15 weekly trips and errands. The quest continues.
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am. 1954 3100 Chevy truck In the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix 1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
I've got an oil bath air cleaner on my 43 fire truck with a 235. Just the frame for the air cleaner element and signs where the PO had pulled and removed the copper mesh element. Chevs of the 40's sells just the copper mesh.
Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?
