Oval Air Cleaner on TOP of Engine?

[TomoHawk]

I had the thought of hiding all those hoses & stuff by putting a functional air cleaner (oval type) on the top of the engine. Would it work and could it be done? I think the most you would need is a bent hose from the filter to the AFM, and some kind of platform for the filter to mount on.

[280zx Fever]

i think height clearance would be a problem, without taking into the fact it would look ugly

[TomoHawk]

Ugly? Says you, huh?

Then why to lots of V8 engines have the air cleaner up there?

It wouldn't have to be a huge one. You could use one like the 260s have.

The idea is to get rid of the clutter on top of the engine. You got the fuel rail, ignition wires & all the wires and hoses for the fuel injectors making a mess up there.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by TomoHawk

Ugly? Says you, huh?

Then why to lots of V8 engines have the air cleaner up there?

Several reasons.

1. V8's had DOWNDRAFT Carbs originally. Thus filter on TOP of carb(s). The L6 had Side Draught Carbs originally, thus filter on SIDE.

2. V8's have a lower profile thn an L6 engine, thus even when FI became standard, there was/is more room up there. When FI came to the L6, the engine profile was/is still too tall to move filter to "top of engine".

There isn't room "on top of the engine" to do this. Best you could do is put it "on top of the intake manifold".

What would the point to doing this be? To make all of those things like "fuel rail, ignition wires & all the wires and hoses for the fuel injectors" MORE difficult to get to when maintainance is needed?

The manufacturers don't change things unless it is either more efficient, or cheaper, or both. It's the same with the vacuum Solenoids. If they could have been eliminated by use of a simple "T" fitting, don't you think the manufacturer would have done so and put the extra money spent on the solenoids in their pocket?

[beandip]

In addition to the maintaince issue , did you think of the ammount of heat you would trap from the exhaust manifold ??

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by beandip

In addition to the maintaince issue , did you think of the ammount of heat you would trap from the exhaust manifold ??

Good thought, Gary. Another reason to leave the filter where it is.

[TomoHawk]

If you had a hood with a raised center or a cowl, there would be plenty of cold air and room.

I don't see a maintenence problem. You gotta take the air cleaner off a regular carb'd engine to get at the carb or what's there.

Think positively. FIND a way.

[TomoHawk]

Originally posted by BambiKiller240

The manufacturers don't change things unless it is either more efficient, or cheaper, or both.

I guess that's why Datsun used that cruddy wiring in all those Z cars.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by TomoHawk

I guess that's why Datsun used that cruddy wiring in all those Z cars.

Correct. They didn't see a problem. Now, 20 years later we all see it.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by TomoHawk

If you had a hood with a raised center or a cowl, there would be plenty of cold air and room.

I don't see a maintenence problem. You gotta take the air cleaner off a regular carb'd engine to get at the carb or what's there.

Think positively. FIND a way.

If you put in a VW flat 4 cylinder motor in a Z you could put the aircleaner AND a stereo there! I still have to ask....What is the point in doing all of this re-engineering? What is to be gained?

PS I'm POSITIVE, for ME it isn't worth the effort to consider. It works, don't fix it. Sorta like trying to redesign the apple.

[TomoHawk]

If it was so simple and could be done easily, lots of people would probably have done it already.

It's a way to put an "alternative V8" under the hood. I was thinking about a way to get the L28 to look more like a V8 and I came up with the oval air cleaner on the top. You would also need to get the intake manifold to look like a valve cover, so it would look right from the top. I'm not talking about close-up, say, ao-20?

That's why this is a good place to spew about ideas like that. All these people with different points of view & knowledge should be able to come up with some good ideas.

[Bambikiller240]

OK, now I understand what direction you are coming at this from. Still not sure it's worth the effort (expecially since V8 swaps are so common and semi-easy (if you follow the JTR recipe), but I understand your point.