Trying to make shaker fit

[5th T/A]

I am looking for input on making my shaker scoop fit.

I have a 1980 TA that came with a NA 301. I have recently replaced the 301 with a Pontiac 461 stroker. The new engine has an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. My understanding is the Performer RPM sits 1.25 inches higher than a stock Pontiac four barrel intake. I also have a FAST EFI throttle body in place of the Quadrajet, carb that should be the same height as a Holley 4150. My engine came with an aftermarket air cleaner base that should work with a Pontiac 400 shaker assembly. With the air cleaner base installed the top of the filter hits the fiberglass on the shaker, keeping it from dropping down far enough. If I remove the element the fiberglass scoop will fit.

This is my air cleaner base assembly,

IMG_7969 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

Installed on the car,

IMG_7964 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

Showing where the top cover hits the inside of the shaker when the element is installed. You can see how the cover hits the sides of the shaker, preventing the shaker form going all the way down.

IMG_7965 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

An option would be to use the PTF-EP-401 air cleaner base. It has a cone shaped element that is smaller at the top.

IMG_7966 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

I tried calling PTF, but only got voice mail. Butler Performance shows this air cleaner base in their catalog but says it is not available. Anybody else run into this problem? Any suggestions? I see an alternative from Blockers, but I am not sure I like the look.

[JJ 109]

It’s clear to me you need to find a smaller diameter lid.

Measure carefully and you could by any full assembly cheap and just use the lid and filter if you can’t get the PTFB version.

If nothing else it will hold you over. They are like $20 on Amazon and eBay.

[Gene-73]

If your base and shaker without a filter fits OK, then all you need to find is a conical shaped filter that fits your current setup.
K&N has a good search engine where you can search by dimensions. https://www.knfilters.com/dimsearch/index/

I had purchased an Airaid filter (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0056NQ7VW/) which was about the right size back when I was experimenting with my custom drop base. 
Ended up with a different solution so returned it but it would have worked with my setup had I chosen to go that route.

You'll also need to source a lid separately but that shouldn't be too hard.

[5th T/A]

Thanks much Gene and JJ109,

I ordered the conical filter element, I believe that will solve my problem.

[5th T/A]

I got my air filter / shaker clearance problem solved thanks to suggestion from Gene-73. I purchased the conical shaped airaid filter as he suggested. That saved me big bucks from purchasing an entire filter base from PTF.

Thanks Gene!

New filter installed.

IMG_8011 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr



Shaker mounted on engine.

IMG_8017 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

[roadking77]

Looks really nice. I like how you painted the can white to match the shaker.

[jugalo]

Nice  job. Love your car. Im dealing with a similar situation on mine. But I have an unrelated question. What did you use for those spacers/stand offs on that red (ignition?) box?

[jonathonar89]

Much respect to you guys who get these to work.  I tried various setups and never right on my car.  I got one old design from PTFB to fit but it took modifying and it ultimately did not fully seal the air filter after I was done with it.  I drove with it for a while but I’m no longer using a shaker hood anymore.

[5th T/A]

Jon,

My engine came with a Edelbrock Performer RPM intake that is 1.25" taller than a factor Pontiac intake, so I had no choice but to make a drop base air cleaner work. Knowing what I know now, I would have stuck with a factory Pontiac four barrel intake. From what I have read it is an excellent manifold for average street driving, a great way to go because you can use the factory air cleaner.

[5th T/A]

Kerry,

I did not paint the air cleaner base, the lighting makes it look white, but its bare aluminum. I thought about painting it black, but like the way it looks.



Jugalo,

My CDI box is a FAST E6 and came with the rubber isolated standoffs, they recommended using them. I also have a FAST EFI system. I liked the isolators and used them to mount my ECU to the back of the core support. I called FAST and tried to order another set but they could not provide a part number. I did some research and found I could buy them from JEGS, not cheap $23.99 plus shipping. They are well built, with stainless hex head hardware and nylon lock nuts. Other stuff I found at the hardware store and online looked cheap, so I paid the price. The other advantages of using the isolators is it allowed me to mount the box on a curved inner fender and also allows wiring harness to retain its original path over the fender but under the CDI.

The JEGS part number is 244-1000-1032. So I ordered them from JEGS and they were dropped shipped from COMP CAMS who now owns FAST along with many other compaines. The FAST part number 1000-1032.

[Jack]

Great job and a lot of good info.

[tiggershark]

I wish I would have seen this last week. Would have saved me a bunch of cash because I like this idea better than my set-up. Which is a 14 in K&N but only 2 inches tall and one of those goofy air cleaner lids than doubles as a filter from spectre.

[scarebird]

...and one of those goofy air cleaner lids than doubles as a filter from spectre.

A triumph of marketing those are, if run with carbs they mess up the flow thru the venturis.