I have a 70 Nova SS with a 454 and a Holley 850. I am currently using a 3 x 14 air filter with a FLat TOp lid and a drop base bottom. It just bearly clears the hood when closed, and have about 1/8 inch left between the top of the lid and the hood.
My question is three part.

1. Is a 3 x 14 paper filter enough air flow for the 850.

2. If not, what and when would I notice any problems with it being to small.

3. Any suggestions to get more air in, should I go with a K&N that is suppose to flow more air ?

Thanks

[This message has been edited by cottonpicker14 (edited 01-20-2003).]

don't think I'd be too worried if I were you

------------------
'68 Camaro (Baby) - 333, 200-4R, custom interior and paint, 12bolt/4.10s
'94 Z28 (Pepe) - stock heads/cam and 3.23 gears - 12.44 @ 106+ 1.68 sixty, all motor
(Jan '03 GM High Tech Peformance cover car)
a few other toys
fast's page (http://fastz28.cz28.com)
Midwest F-Body Association (http://www.mfba.org)
LT1Tech (http://www.lt1tech.com)

A 14x3 filter should be large enough.

BUT...always,always,always,always...always use K&N or similar filter!

Yes, they filter as well as paper. Yes, they make more power (People always argue these points when it comes to cotton gauze filters).

------------------
Matt Jones
1969 Base Camaro
Vortec 355, Perf. RPM, Demon Carb., TH-400
All sheetmetal is NOS GM
See my UPDATED webpage at: http://www.geocities.com/compuboy007/ (Updated: 1/13/03)

This somewhat depends on the operating range of the engine and VE. RPMs is what demands CFMS and VE is what causes air to flow.

By dyno observation alone, small blocks up to 360 cubes with around 6000rpms of peak operating range require at least 90 sq-in of paper element area. With a K&N type...smaller. With another 100 cubes add another 30%. So, at around 132ish sq-in you should be fine.

As expertly pointed out, A K&N will allow more airflow at less resistance and you will probably need different jetting. It's really astonishing, I have to rejet everything I had going to complete wrap around and top style aircleaners.

------------------

STEVE "Jack'Stands" JACK
Techical forum/links at Jack'Stands TechForums and Links (http://www.inccn.net/techforum.htm)

i seem to rmember a story in a magazine a while back where they stuck a bunch of different air filter arrangements on a flowbench, and came up with something like 3000 cfm for a NEW $3 14X3 paper filter in an open element setup, with a K&N or something similar doing only marginally better. to keep an advertiser happy (K&N), they threw in that a paper filter loses efficiency fast if it gets dirty, while the $50 element keeps flowing well, and is reusable. i might be wrong about the numbers, but i remember the story.

------------------
1971 Nova(looks like 69 camaro from underneath!)
355sb, vortec heads, HOT cam,T-10 tranny, 3.70 gears 16X8" IROC wheels. 12" Corvette brakes on the way.
see dirty pics here of a car that gets driven http://community.webshots.com/user/novaderrik