the engine i just removed has an Edelbrock performer intake i was gonna use on the new engine. also i have a good Edelbrock performer RPM intake. the RPM intakes looks to be about an inch or so taller so do you guys think it would fit under a stock z28 hood? i wouldnt mind cutting a hole in the hood under the scoop cause i run a filter thats only about 1 1/2 tall and maybe 8 or 9 inches round.

A friend of mine runs an rpm (non air gap) His fits, but we had to take the wings off of the wingnut in order to close the hood. His filter was 1 3/4 by 14".

cool, i might wind up going that route. thanks

cool, i might wind up going that route. thanks

I have run an RPM with a 3x14 inch element and a drop base under a stock hood for a long time with no problems.

I am currently running an Air gap RPM with a 2x14 inch element and drop base, but did have to clearance the hood just a bit under the scoop.

thats what i wanted to hear. i wanted to make sure i could keep the stock hood no matter what.

You can go to edelbrocks website and it will give you the dimensions on all of their intakes. I went with the performer air gap with a 2" air cleaner and I had to get rid of the wing nut and go with an allen head bolt to give me about 1/4" clearance. Here is a pic of my set up.
http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac57/culled/100_1858.jpg

L88 air cleaner (or other drop base that drops at least 1-1/4 to 1.5") should clear the hood just fine with a 14x3 filter. The L88 air cleaner is just an open version of the LT1 air cleaner.

I too ran an RPM intake with 14x3 inch drop base air cleaner with a Holley 750 (3310) carb. I had no problem with it clearing the stock hood on my last '78 Camaro. This time I'm running a Vortec RPM intake with an Edelbrock AVS 650. Hopefully I can get a 14x3 inch air cleaner under the stock hood on my current '78.

80-z28, what's the diameter of your air cleaner, 10 inches or so?

80-z28, what's the diameter of your air cleaner, 10 inches or so?


my air cleaner looks to be about 8 inches, however i'd love to find one of these drop base ones people are talking about.

my air cleaner looks to be about 8 inches, however i'd love to find one of these drop base ones people are talking about.
If you went with a 14 inch drop base air cleaner you could definitely use a 3 inch thick element, maybe even a 4 inch thick element.

Summit, Jegs and just about everyone else that sells auto parts has them. Go to one of their web site or give them a call. Your engine compartment looks sweet!

Good luck my friend, NYH1! :bowtie:

80-z28, what's the diameter of your air cleaner, 10 inches or so?
It is 2"X9".

I was just typing out a similar question to start a new thread as the OP and decided to do a search first. Thanks for the info guys! And thanks to the OP for asking the q. :)

So, today I bought a 14" dropped Edelbrock cleaner and problem solved. And it looks good! Thanks again. :D

So, today I bought a 14" dropped Edelbrock cleaner and problem solved. And it looks good! Thanks again. :D

Part number?


Plan to run a 750 holley and preformer RPM air gap, so i need a drob base air cleaner to clear the stock hood. I was testing one of the ones i had with my qjet on stock intake and a 4 inch filter and it cleared, but i know with the holley and air gap its gonna be a different ball game.

Edelbrock Pro-Flo Part # 1221. It is a 3" element too. Bought @ Auto Zone for $34 and change. Here's a couple of pics. Sorry, taken @ night.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/LuvMyZ/1980%20Z28/100_2838.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/LuvMyZ/1980%20Z28/100_2839.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/LuvMyZ/1980%20Z28/100_2840.jpg

That's the same air cleaner that I use on my 1970 with an Edelbrock RPM intake and stock hood. It fits, but just barely. I have to use a nut instead of a wingnut and still only have about 1/4" of clearance. And that's with my old, worn out engine mounts. New mounts will probably make it worse.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-szOQH6NyOc/SmPcgUCmf8I/AAAAAAAAFjc/THWxfRCoMm8/s640/IMG_8058.JPG

That tiny little filter pictured earlier in the thread is going to be a big restriction on a good running 350. I'd scrap that thing ASAP and get something larger and more free-flowing.

Cue-Ball, is that clay you've got on the cleaner top or what? Looks like what I need to do to verify my clearance too.

the engine i just removed has an Edelbrock performer intake i was gonna use on the new engine. also i have a good Edelbrock performer RPM intake. the RPM intakes looks to be about an inch or so taller so do you guys think it would fit under a stock z28 hood? i wouldnt mind cutting a hole in the hood under the scoop cause i run a filter thats only about 1 1/2 tall and maybe 8 or 9 inches round.

The taller intake will give you more top end power but throttle response will suffer!

anyone got a part number for the l88 base? afco has a 2 inch drop version, but i wonder if it will clear a holley dp and hei.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AFC-80550/

or preform 2.25 drop.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRO-66808/

Rpm airgap holley need to clear stock hood.

Cue-Ball, is that clay you've got on the cleaner top or what? Looks like what I need to do to verify my clearance too.It's Playdoh. :)

You use what you've got available. :cool:

Be careful with the ultra-drop air cleaners, guys. If you've got a 2.25" drop base lower housing and a 3" element, that means that you've only got 3/4" of a gap between the top of the air horn and the air cleaner lid. If you've got a choke, then you're going to have little to no clearance in that area. It doesn't do much good to have a 14x3" air cleaner when you've only got a 6x0.75" area for all of that air to squeeze through. In addition, the air that IS going through is making multiple turns in order to do it.

The taller intake will give you more top end power but throttle response will suffer!Not true. Just because an intake is taller doesn't mean that the runners are bigger or longer. Low profile intakes make lots of turns on the horizontal plane and they often change sizes as they cross each other. A taller intake allows manufacturers to straighten out the curves and maintain a more uniform shape and size for the whole length of the runner.

Thanks CB. :)

I've got a RPM air gap on my 79. You can run it with a 10 inch air cleaner with a 1 inch filter and clear. I first tried to use a 14 inch and the studs on the hood hit the air cleaner lid.