[leeklm]

Getting close to time for an air cleaner. What height of element (assuming a standard drop base) is working for you guys with a 73? My hood is currently off, but from what I can see, it does not appear there will be a ton of hood clearance.

I have a performer RPM and Qjet.

On my 66 gto, I used a dual intake system from these guys with a 14x3 element, and ran the air ducts up behind the headlight area. I think the same setup would work on the 73

http://www.ramairbox.com/

How about the aftermarket dual inlet factory style? Will they clear taller valve covers?

What has been working for you guys with the 73 a-body?

[Grand73Am]

NAPA GOLD 2095, 3" tall air filters in my 75 Lemans and 79 TA's.

I don't have an e-brock rpm intake, but if you were to use a TA drop base air cleaner or equivalent, on your 73, I'd think that would work.

[rexs73gto]

On my 73 GTO I have E-heads & the rpm intake, & use a 3" chrome open element air cleaner & it clears the hood by just enough to be able to close the hood with enough space to not rub the hood. The std. 73 GTO 4bbl. air cleaner will clear the hood to. Thats a single snorkel air cleaner, but if you get ambitious you can get a second air cleaner & take the snorkel off the 2nd. one & put it on the one your going to use on the car so you end up with a duel snorkel air cleaner on your car.

[leeklm]

Got my hood on, and low & behold, not enough clearance for the factory-type air cleaner that came with the car. I have no idea if this air cleaner is from the 73 GTO, or a 72 Chevy Impala or who knows...

Based on the pics here, does this air cleaner even resemble the factory GTO unit?

I have a generic air cleaner with 1.5" drop base that should work until I figure out a permanent solution.

thanks.

[77 Canamman]

No, that one is totally different than the original. That is a Chevrolet air cleaner.

[leeklm]

I picked up a more correct air cleaner from GTO John, but still need about another 1/2". Guess I should have went with a factory intake... The hood scoop bracing is where it hits.

I could probably notch the hood scoop bracing for clearance, but hate to start hacking on it. I may try to cave the center of lid in a little to see what happens. In the meantime, plan B will be to modify an aftermarket drop base to make the open element fit.

[rexs73gto]

Again if you use an open element air cleaner you can use the std. 3" tall element & the chrome top & it will clear with no problems. It works fine on mine & I have the Eldo RPM intake & Q-jet.

[leeklm]

which drop base are you using? I have this edelbrock open air cleaner http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-1207which is a 1" drop. I can make it work, but need to do a little massaging for it to clear the accel pump rod on the qjet.

I have not found anything with a steeper drop that will fit a qjet.

[fiedlerh]

The snorkel on the factory air cleaner was originally on the driver's side, but it looks like you might have some clearance issues with the valve cover breathers.

[leeklm]

I have a 2bbl air cleaner with the same snout, and planned on adding it to the 4bbl to make a dual intake system, but with my hood clearance issue, looks like I will be sticking with the open element with 1" drop for the time being, breathing all that hot air off the radiator

[rexs73gto]

The open element air cleaner I am using is one that I bought at a swap meet from a guy who always sells the chrome parts that he get from a vendor that they get them from the Chinese . I guess. They all say made in China on the little gold tags. I'm sure if you go to just about any swap meet that has more then 25 vendors you'll find a guy selling them. All the base's have the indents on both side (underneath) for the plastic pieces for the vent tube to be attached to. I think I paid $ 20.00 - $ 25.00 for it. There are couple type out there , some have a tall dome top & some have a fairly flat dome for the top. I have the 1 that is the lower dome top. The top kinda looks like the original 67 GTO chrome 4bbl top. Just a bit smaller in diameter so it fits over the element & not the base unit. I think I may have a top, & a bottom extra in the garage but I'd have to look to see which style I have. I know I have the correct base as those are all the same, it's the top I'm not to sure of.

[Pontiac1976]

fiedlerh

The snorkel on the factory air cleaner was originally on the driver's side, but it looks like you might have some clearance issues with the valve cover breathers.

If that the case have you thought a but putting the valve cover on opposite sides
then trying that.

[leeklm]

That is just the way I set the factory cleaner on the carb for test fitting. Issue is that the RPM manifold raises the carb up to high, and the hood scoop hardware does not clear the air cleaner lid.

I like the way this setup runs, so unlikely I will switch manifolds, unless I go back to factory cast iron. My new coil springs raise the front end a little too high now, so maybe I need the extra pounds back up front

[Pontiac1976]

Ok maybe try the 73-87 4BBL chev air cleaner 350 it on most trucks or Canadain Pontiac with chev motor. I doing one off them for my 77 GMC making dual snorkel
The 73 Grand am air cleaner is a bit taller wider then the chev one should be close.

[Pontiac1976]

This style GM 75-87 most Chevy trucks a lot of Chevy cars is about 1 inch shorter then the older one you showed. These style come in 4bbl and 2bbl base. The one I measured was the 4bbl

[sdx455]

I was running the performer rpm 1910 850cfm carb & intake I used a drop base fit under the hood with about a hair of clearance . I think I had a 2'' filter. all still in the box if anybody interested.