Max wedge air cleaner

[AC64]

Looking for suggestions for very thin aftermarket air cleaners that will fit under the hood on a cross ram car. Has to be a number of us looking for similar
Thanks for the help

 

[maxwedgechar]

When I bought my car in 1985 it had Edelbrocks on it so I got a pair of Pro-Flos. I don't know how they are now but the problem I had was that the motor would burp when I was starting it and the filter material was foam and would catch fire! I was able to acquire a pair of repro factory style filters that were pricey even back then.

 

[AC64]

When I bought my car in 1985 it had Edelbrocks on it so I got a pair of Pro-Flos. I don't know how they are now but the problem I had was that the motor would burp when I was starting it and the filter material was foam and would catch fire! I was able to acquire a pair of repro factory style filters that were pricey even back then.

I’m on your page. Have the Holley fine drag tunnel air screens, but would like to use a real air cleaner without adding another $1,000 to my build

 

[maxwedgechar]

There isn't a whole lot of clearance in there which is why the factory cut the bracing out of the middle of the hood.

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

Proper repop air cleaners are only $420 for the complete set
I didn't cut out the bracing. There is one very small spot on the front air cleaner that just rubs the brace

 

[maxwedgechar]

@MIKESPOLARA Since the only B Bodies I had, except the Max, were single carb I didn't know where the issue was. BTW, which side?

OOPS! You said front! So left side, YES?

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

My car is a clone so I don't know if there is anyway that my engine could sit lower then factory? No idea on that?

 

[AC64]

There isn't a whole lot of clearance in there which is why the factory cut the bracing out of the middle of the hood.

Yes I see that—-you really have to be careful when opening the hood as there is a reason there are hood supports. Things would be a little bendy like bacon without them. And they are notched a bit & that definitely weakens the hood structure. You don’t want to end up with a two piece hood

 

[maxwedgechar]

My car was built with all the normal production line stuff. V-8 K Frame, normal motor mounts and B-Engine brackets. I think if you start lowering the motor you run into driveline issues which is probably why they just cut the bracing out of the hood. And I don't know when during the assembly line they would've done that.

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

My car was built with all the normal production line stuff. V-8 K Frame, normal motor mounts and B-Engine brackets. I think if you start lowering the motor you run into driveline issues which is probably why they just cut the bracing out of the hood. And I don't know when during the assembly line they would've done that.

If my car is of factory specs then cutting out the entire bracing was unnecessary. They could have just built in small reliefs in the cross brace where it touches the air cleaner(s)

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

Cutting out the brace was probably a necessity with the race version that included seals to the underside of the hood (no air cleaner)

 

[maxwedgechar]

ALL the Max Wedges had the hood bracing removed. If you see a Factory Max with the hood bracing then the hood was replaced. I have also seen clones with the bracing removed.

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

ALL the Max Wedges had the hood bracing removed. If you see a Factory Max with the hood bracing then the hood was replaced. I have also seen clones with the bracing removed.

Correct and I think just some small reliefs in the brace would have worked for those without hood scoop

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

This is the only spot that rubs. Abot 1/4" long and just the thickness of the paint on the air cleaner. I think the rubbing is the motor movement when driving as you can't feel the hood hit when you close it.

 

[maxwedgechar]

So the Max Wedge engineering team goes to the production engineering team, and says "We need clearance". And production says "Too Late"! "What do you mean it's too late"? "The stamping die is already made for this year and we are using the same one for next year and the year after and it can't be changed"! Which means "Take a hike for your 4,000, give or take, hoods over 3 years"!

 

[AC64]

This is the only spot that rubs. Abot 1/4" long and just the thickness of the paint on the air cleaner. I think the rubbing is the motor movement when driving as you can't feel the hood hit when you close it.

View attachment 1328117

I wouldn’t complain about a slight scuff, looks great. Maybe the motor mount would allow a bit of torsional movement. Back in my GM racing days we would chain the mount down to keep the fan from going through the hood———those were the days