School me on air cleaners

[Micah]

I mentioned in my “Hello World” post that my engine is missing the top of the air cleaner. I’ve dinked around a bit to see if I could find a quick and dirty replacement but came up short. Since replacing the air cleaner looks like an easy install, I figured it would be a good place to start. Unfortunately, I’m a bit stumped.

After talking to the local Dept. of Environmental Health, the only requirement they have is that the air cleaner has a working PCV system.

I know that Bayless has the Meaner Cleaner, but it is listed as illegal to use in California emission controlled vehicles but doesn’t say why. International-Auto.com has the Sprint air cleaner, which is similar to the Meaner Cleaner, but it says flat out that the Sprint is not legal or for sale for ANY emission controlled vehicle.

I’ve also seen pictures here of engines running what look to be a Power Stack and there’s also the K&N Air Cleaner for Weber Carbs. Neither of which International Auto carries for my model of vehicle.

So, oh wise gurus of the finicky fiat, what do I need to know to pick out a compatible and legal air cleaner for my car? Any tips I should know when searching, any particular models or types I should avoid? Anything at all?

[mdrburchette]

Try checking with Jon Logan (parts@midwest124.com) for an original air cleaner. I have one from a 78 model but couldn't tell you if there's a difference. I may even have an extra lid if I look hard enough.

[So Cal Mark]

the reason Calif requires stock air cleaners is for the hot air intake tube, an open element air cleaner doesn't have that provision. All of the aftermarket air cleaners have a provision for the crankcase breather hose, usually in the bottom.

[mbouse]

geeze.... a week earlier! i pitched mine last week. honestly... last thursday night it went to the recycle bin after two years of hanging onto it.

go to http://www.flu.org and look for Ron Conlon. He has (had) a complete '79+ carubureted stock air breather set.

Denise, i believe the '78 is a different size.

[So Cal Mark]

the 79 air cleaner is different, if you only need a lid I can hook you up

[Micah]

I only need the lid but I went ahead and ordered the Meaner Cleaner from Bayless. Not that I really have any idea what I'm doing but there's only one way to learn, right?

[mbouse]

well, that will be a lesson alright.

[Micah]

...that is not encouraging.

Is there something about the meaner cleaner specifically or replacing the air cleaner in general that I should know?

[bradartigue]

There's nothing wrong with the Bayless air cleaner. I've run one since around 1992 on a whole bunch of motors. It isn't my favorite, but they don't make my favorite any more.

People don't like it because it is fairly thin metal and has these funky clips. But once you get over that it works fine. It is a very good, very small unit.

[Micah]

Alrighty, so I received and installed the new air cleaner yesterday. It was pretty straight forward but I have a couple of questions I'm hoping folks can answer.

First off, what to do with the reed valve connections. I know there's the option of capping them off and calling it good but I also ran across a post from a while back from Mark saying that if you need to pass emissions, they should be plumbed to the air cleaner. That's the only post I found in reference to reed valves and air cleaners so I was hoping someone would confirm or expand on the explanation.

Second, my original crank case hose is too short to reach the new connection on the new air cleaner. While trying to see if it would reach or not I discovered that the PO hadn't secured the hose on the other end and it came off in my hand. Since the hose is off anyway, I figure I should probably just replace it. Is a new hose something I can go to the local Checker's to buy and if so, what should I look for?

[mbouse]

alright. I am sorry, i misread your original post. I presumed that you lived in california based on your reference to the CA restrictions. i mistakenly thought you lived in CA and had ordered a lunchbox breather anyway. i use a version of that lunchbox filter, and am happy with it.

your crankcase breather assembly consists of a cyclonic trap and two hoses. both hoses are avaiable at our regular fiat suppliers; though any supplier of oil resistant hose could easily substitute for the hose you are referring to. i would resist the urge to just forget about the hose all together and not replace it. this is, afterall, your CRANKCASE VENT that your regs are stipulating function properly.

i'd pull those reed valves and cap the head.

[Micah]

No worries, I could have been cleared in the OP.

While I don't live in California, I will have to pass emissions here. The only requirement that Utah has is that the PCV system works but it's my understanding that the PCV system is the larger hose coming off the crank case and totally separate from the reed valves.

Since I do have to pass emissions, is it possible to do so with the reed valves capped or should I just go ahead and plumb them to the air cleaner?

Also, thanks for the tip on the tubing. With where the tubing goes, it'd be nice to just leave it off but I figured I'd have to replace it.

[mbouse]

that tube does emit some vapors, and sometimes some oil. best to have the yuck contained or funneled back to the intake to be burned, as originally intended.

sorry, I cannot answer the reed valve question you ask. I did not have to concern myself with those emissions questions when i pulled my valves.

[chrisg]

I think the crankcase breather would meet the letter of the law. I would guess you could get adequate clean running -which, basically is what you want anyway - with a good tuned carb/intake & not all of the archaic crud on & vacuum lines on the '79 intake (which is a lot...I sold someone a complete - I mean COMPLETE - "smog kit" for a '79 years & years ago & I had really underestimated just how much stuff there was to it!). If you need a visual inspection, i would think any of the "box" filters like the Bayless, Sprint or K/N would raise eyebrows & potentially cause you problems. That said, for general day-to-day running, a good cleaner isn't hard to find. In truth, Ebay's full of them....you need to look for the DGV-designated K&N's (or knock-offs). You usually find tons of choices w/ the VW parts. The DGV has the same base pattern as the factory FIAT carbs up through '74 & I'm not sure after that....what I've seen done rendering a nice, clean result was using that DGV housing & cutting w/ tinsnips to fit the more ovalized base of the later ADF-ish factory carbs. Another advantage of looking among VW parts is that you can buy taller air cleaner elements. That is most likely not a quantifyable issue thermodynamically, but some of those cleaners I see sold for the FIATs seem un-necessarily low profile. Oh...and, if you can get one that uses screws of fixed snaps instead of the 4 corner clips, I believe those are generally safer to run since they don't offer 4 extra chances for something to fly into your timing belt! That said, i've run pretty much every kind (and none at all......omg!...actually, I do NOT recommend, period) at various points & for various reasons.

Oh, one more thing...I have a round Sprint Filter housing...a kinda cool NOS piece that I think I had on Ebay years ago (or maybe I had a couple of them)...it uses a cleanable screen housing and has the crank vent built into the casing. In modern times, it kinda looks like a GPS antenna, but it's a pretty good piece (I used it for a few hundred miles on my 124 Sedan) that I probably should sell because I'll never need it again.