<VV> Air Filter Tests (no direct Corvair)

[Bill Elliott]

Well, I will answer that one. All production automotive designs are a series of compromises.

Filtering versus flow
Noise versus flow
Cost versus performance.

You CAN get a marginal power increase in many engines by removing intake restrictions. You can get a signifcant increase if you make other modifications 
to take full advantage of the lower restriction.

As an example, in a British A-series engine, it's typical to see a 15% (significant) power increase by adding a Stage 1 kit (header, turbo-type muffler, 
performance intake, K&N filter...even in the original housing, and a richer carb needle). A Corvair engine responds well to a more open exhaust and intake 
(and a slightly larger jet), but not to the same degree. 

I agree that in an otherwise unmodified engine simply adding a K&N is going to add a lot more dirt and noise than it will power... but luckily we don't have to 
settle for "otherwise unmodified" engines. And I happen to love intake noise...

Bill

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 11:57:27 -0800, corvairs wrote:

>Well, the arguments used by some aftermarket air filter companies have 
>never made  any sense. Increased air flow is only an issue if, for some 
>unexplainable reason, the factory intentionally over-restricted the 
>airflow with thier filter design. Don't think so. Increasing air flow 
>(besides increasing contaminate flow) does nothing but lean up the 
>mixture unless you have a corresponding change in the fuel 
>supply........Bottom line - as I've said many times - if you could get a 
>noticible increase in hp just by using filter brand X then why didn't 
>the factory use them?  A 10% increase in advertised hp by just using 
>brand x air filter? WOW! Lon

>www.corvairunderground.com

>Dave Keillor wrote:

>>No surprise here.  More air flow, more dirt flow.
>>
>>Dave
>>






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