Coming from the NASCAR world. You'll be surprised on how much air filter height and the base of the air filter works I've seen 20-25 horsepower on a chassis, Dino!!
As long as a filter has enough capacity to not restrict, it can often smooth the flow through the carb giving a better more consistent signal to the venturi..
@@woods-garage I came to the comments to say this exact thing. I worked at a local drag strip for a few years and watched many 1/8th mile index racers looking for 1 tenth or so and can't find it. Then they slap an air filter on and break out by a tenth+. It's crazy that the things they we assume will hurt power will actually help make more power.
Way back in the mid 80’s I ran a tall filter kit by Moroso that I felt the difference in performance. It was about 5 in tall but fit under the hood and had a much more dramatic radius curve in the base pan, to help it fit under a hood.
The plate creates what is called the Coanda effect and the air filter creates diffusion thus making the fuel vaporize more (droplet break up) making the fuel burn better.
Steve, it actually makes a bit of sense that the filter helps it. If the filter is super non restrictive, I could see how it would improve. Think of a gas lense in a tig torch. It evens out the airflow and causes it to be laminar instead of turbulent. In this case, it’s probably smoothing out the way the air is entering the carburetor. With the amount of air that engine is moving, it’s almost definitely turbulent due to the air velocity. However, not all turbulence is the same (think small and big bumps when riding in an airplane). If it’s reducing the amount of turbulence entering the engine, the fuel mixture and distribution are probably a lot more consistent and evenly distributed due to the lensing effect of the air filter. Interested to hear your thought on this idea.
One of my friends had a nearly identical combination (his was 513 cubic inches, single 1050 Dominator). It pushed a 67 Mustang fastback deep into the 7s.
So it must be fairly light,well under 3000 lbs.I raced a 3500 lbs Malibu with blown 538 bbc and calculated that even high sevens would require well over 1200 hp.What is deep sevens more accurately?@@owggarage723
Back in the early 80s I built a iron block 490ci 385 series BBF with 429CJ heads and a built 750 carb flowing 780+ she pulled 823 hp @8500-9000 on good pump gas on the dyno and it had a big stacked air cleaner on it to and yes those BBFs like rpm and will live thru it.
Agree with most of the airflow comments below. That cyl. head intake combo looks awesome. Engine sounds sweet. Nice combo , would be good to see one that Steve can tweak more. Many thanks.
The filter allows just enough airflow to slow/settle down for it to be more evenly distributed throughout the intake at the same time allowing for fuel mixture to optimize more evenly. All wile creating a bigger vaccume
Agree with the smoother air flow comments. With the filter media I believe the air flow gets very laminar and the engine is able to digest more CFM as a result. Love your content - thanks for sharing.
I love to see you working on the NA stuff! It's so awesome hearing you talk about the old cup engines and pro stock stuff, because it was a time of innovation and finesse in engineering.
More Ford Content! Great feature. People constantly overlooking the BBF in favor of the BBC, it's the hidden gem of the motor world lol. I would also say a few things with respect to the power gain: 1) did you run the "Base Combo" again? I would be interested to see if it picks up power after a few runs warming the oil and settling the cam and rockers in. 2) One hypothesis is that the Filter acted almost like another manifold, slowing or sort of trapping air and therefore making it easier for the carb to pull it through. I see you turned the fans on right before each run, they appear to be pushing air out of the room? If that is the case that would also pull air away from the engine (which would make sense that a large filter which traps air and slows it down would make more power)...This affect would probably happen even if the fans were pulling air from outside and pushing it into the room. I could also be very wrong though. Great video either way BBF FTW!!
The inlet manifold may be a little excessive for the application, and once the filter is applied, it creates a better Venturi effect, causing the power to be increased
Old school racer here. Carburetors need a certain amount of disturbed air flowing across all of the different orifices and ports to actually atomize the fuel and allow that mixture to more efficiently into the combustion chamber. The smoother the surfaces are actually create increased air drag. A slightly dimpled surface will release that surface tention. The best example is golf balls. Over the decades there have been intricate studies to find the most efficient design for coefficient of drag that will allow that ball to travel the farthest. By finding the best combination of dimples and lines, the average golf ball today travels significantly farther than any time before. Each additional change on that single throat carburetor allows the air to dynamically change just enough to disturb that too smooth air and actually reduce air fuel mixture drag. Turbulence is necessary for more efficient mixing and coefficient of drag. The same applies to exhaust gas release in non-power adder engines especially because there is only a specific amount of natural air flow generated by the engine itself. NASCAR uses all of the different types of air flow tricks and technology to help gain the most minuscule increases to remain legal and still somehow find an advantage to beat that restrictor plate. It's all the same, certain types of surfaces create the right combination of disturbance to break the surface tension and increase air flow.🤙
Agree. I love the deep tone of a well built BBF. Such a unique tone. I used to be able to ID one at the strip just from the sound. Now I’m just old! 🤷🤣
The filter gives a better signal to the carb, and its enrichening the mixture just the right amount, or somehow the restriction helps lol. Or a combo of all three or just two. Enjoyed the vid
Carbs are designed for a filter from the factory a proper filter adds hp the carbs puts in work more efficiently as designed when the rite filter is on it
The base improves because of the rounded edge, the filter improves it because the restriction lowers afr slightly, meaning carb could be richened up a bit maybe. Ive had it happen with my motorcycles 🤷♂️
Engine masters tested different attachments on the carburetor and the salad bowl shape made the most power, by a good bit if I remember correctly. Does anyone else remember better than I do?
A property called “laminar flow” is what makes the filter work… the air in the cel is turbulent and the filter in affect diffuses that turbulence increasing cfm through the induction system… A good and properly sized filter with a well designed base/lid combination will always flow more than just a bellmouth… I’ve proved this many times on my flowbench.
Weeeeeeell someone applied their master's degree in fluid dynamics appropriately !!! Great job to whom ever designed the initial blueprint and air inlet carb set up etc. I'm sure tuning has a little to do with its success but the design and initial blueprint got you there so credit is definitely due there !
Awesome Thanks for Another great Lesson professor Morris!! Thanks for sharing, Also love seeing sugar Momma in the intro !!! Great Channel Keep up the Amazing Work !!!!
Stated in other comments also, buy my idea is that w/ no filter, the area an inch or so above the venturi's is very turbulent and the filter prevents the air from getting 'dirty' just before it is pulled in the carb.
I believe having just the base on would be creating a better path for air into the carburetor. Then adding filter could make the air entering more uniform and can syphon the fuel better. It might also help how the fuel is mixed into the air for better distribution to the cylinders . I wonder if the EGT temps were more even with the filter. Great stuff .Thanks for sharing.
I believe the reversion that comes all the way out of the carburetor hits the air cleaner lid and helps with pulse wave tuning, just like header length matters. It picked up throughout the whole curve. But what do I know
I know air flow into the carb makes a huge difference. As in the way it swirls or the direction it enters. That air filter probably straightens the air flow and coming in from the sides through the radius base plate accelerates the flow, rather than going straight in from the top. At least that's what I've noticed about airflow.
Back in my supermoto days there was a saying for the guys that ran no air box just filter. Because it literally was proven to slow you down. The air box would provide "cleaner air"
It's amazing how much time, money and effort goes into squeaking out a few extra horsepower from these machines at this level!!! Every time the "rule makers" set a new rule, someone somewhere is developing a new way to get around it, and it looks like these folks have indeed found a way ;-) Well done gentlemen 🙂
Kinda what I’ve learned just messing with dirt bikes. With a filter it creates a little more of a vacuum effect in the carb pulling more fuel volume through the jets. Also smoothing the pulse creating a more consistent flow for the venturis to work. As long as the filter isn’t restricting the amount of air needed to match the fuel it usually picks up power.
I had a 2bbl claimer engine that picked up 3 when I stacked a cpl of air cleaners on it. And another one with a proper tall filter. My theory was that the tall filter provided enough air to not be a restriction but cleaned up the turbulence into the carb.
Steve you have to be the most down to earth man. You seem like my brother or best friend the way you teach us about your engines, which are more superior then them all. I love your channel please keep the videos coming. Thanks for sharing and God bless you and your family and friends.
Like others, I believe there may be air vortices when run w/o the base, and the base smoothes out the flow and then the filter adds more favorable smooth air flow.
Ive actually read some awesome studies about this very thing back in the day. Theres been tons of research done about the effects different filters have on the fuel delivery/atomization through carburetors. Its amazing how different filters, spacers, and of course intakes effect atomization of fuel. You can adjust a spray nozzle into a perfect mist, but when you spray it into a fan on high, everything changes. Sorry to ramble, just a very interesting subject i dove into years ago while dirt track racing. Every little bit counted when it came down to the stringent rules given for the class i ran. A good filter will actually help power by improving the atomization of fuel delivered by the carb. A nice clean burn is good for power. That can be achieved by stopping turbulent air and cleaning up the delivery. Lots more goes into this, but thats a very quick amd dirty synopses.
Watching Sick Week makes wish I could finish my 71 Chevelle. But Cancer has killed my car dreams until I figure out if I can beat this. Love watching what you do Steve once the Wagon is back together this will be the year to kick ass.
I think the radius base helps increase air speed/decrease turbulence into the carb, when the filter is on it increases the flow by forcing air to come across the radius more so than coming from all directions.
Engines are basically air pumps. They pull in air on one end and push it out the other. The base of the carburetor and the filter itself are helping to stabilize the airflow going into the intake. You must always account for the the CFM of air the engine ingests while tuning any engine. Unrestricted, the engine is pulling in too much air and is leaning out the fuel air mixture leading to the drop in power.
Amazingly smooth sound at 9,000 RPM. You are not thinking about the combined effect between the shapes of the bottom and top of the cover holding the filter. It is obviously aligning the air, probably more laminar flow by eliminating turbulence.
The air filter is a vary small restriction witch causes laminar airflow.The venturies respond with better atomization and distribution increasing horsepower. Nice build !
Nothing better than a NA big block revving to 9000rpm. Im a chevy guy but can appreciate Ford stuff like this.
I like big Fords and I cannot lie.
Those other brothers cant deny!
I'd love to put a motor like this in my 72 1.5 ton super duty!
When a car rolls by wit an itty bitty base and big block in yo face you get sprung!
Nothing has the deep tone of a BBF. Very distinctive.
Me too!!! 👍🇺🇸👍🇺🇸
Ain't nothing like Ford power💪🏿
Coming from the NASCAR world. You'll be surprised on how much air filter height and the base of the air filter works
I've seen 20-25 horsepower on a chassis, Dino!!
We need more fords
to replace all the broken ones?
@@korn38ktmIt’s obvious you know NOTHING about Fords!
@@korn38ktm I know you really meant to say to finish shattering all you morons hearts...... I see you have seen way too many Ford taillights!
@@korn38ktm He said more FORD'S, not LS ...
@@korn38ktm you misspelled Chevy wrong twinkboy
Filter cleans up the air turbulence. I’ve experienced it before and it makes perfect sense.
Now here is a comment with some thought behind it..
Its simply atomizing the fuel better brother
Reminds me of a episode of “engine masters” where they tested a bunch of different filters..
And the salad bowl kicked ass.. 😂😂😂
The addition of the filter and the LID gave it a smoother air flow creating a venturi affect?
thanks Steve, love your channel!!! Ford power baby!!!
Thank you so much for doing a Ford motor
The filter gave it a medium to align the air to flow smoothly over the Bass
Stabilized the air wich created better atomization of the fuel. ... but you were close
@@mcintyretyler89 I was going with the filter is helping clean up the air flow through the carb.
agreed
@johnhufnagel air flow should be cleanest with out a filter.... no restrictions....but a carburetor runs off vacuum
It's the difference in pressures that make them work
Thanks for the Ford content!
As long as a filter has enough capacity to not restrict, it can often smooth the flow through the carb giving a better more consistent signal to the venturi..
The filter stabilized the air wich atomized the fuel better
Which?@@mcintyretyler89
Yes, and it’s possible the flow went from turbulent to laminar.
@@woods-garage I came to the comments to say this exact thing. I worked at a local drag strip for a few years and watched many 1/8th mile index racers looking for 1 tenth or so and can't find it. Then they slap an air filter on and break out by a tenth+. It's crazy that the things they we assume will hurt power will actually help make more power.
Way back in the mid 80’s I ran a tall filter kit by Moroso that I felt the difference in performance. It was about 5 in tall but fit under the hood and had a much more dramatic radius curve in the base pan, to help it fit under a hood.
The blue oval on the thumbnail got me excited! 😃 I love this channel, but also love Fords!
Yeah, would love to see lot more Big Block Ford stuff with Steve.
Thank the lord for the big block ford!
The plate creates what is called the Coanda effect and the air filter creates diffusion thus making the fuel vaporize more (droplet break up) making the fuel burn better.
Steve, it actually makes a bit of sense that the filter helps it. If the filter is super non restrictive, I could see how it would improve. Think of a gas lense in a tig torch. It evens out the airflow and causes it to be laminar instead of turbulent.
In this case, it’s probably smoothing out the way the air is entering the carburetor. With the amount of air that engine is moving, it’s almost definitely turbulent due to the air velocity. However, not all turbulence is the same (think small and big bumps when riding in an airplane). If it’s reducing the amount of turbulence entering the engine, the fuel mixture and distribution are probably a lot more consistent and evenly distributed due to the lensing effect of the air filter. Interested to hear your thought on this idea.
More Ford!!!!
Killer build, and video! Love the 385 series!!!
And it is still running a distributor. LETS GOOOOOO!!
The intake on that big boy is a piece of art
One of my friends had a nearly identical combination (his was 513 cubic inches, single 1050 Dominator). It pushed a 67 Mustang fastback deep into the 7s.
Must ve been very light car if you are talking 1320 ft numbers.
@@teknoaija1762 square tube 4 link chassis built in the 90s.
So it must be fairly light,well under 3000 lbs.I raced a 3500 lbs Malibu with blown 538 bbc and calculated that even high sevens would require well over 1200 hp.What is deep sevens more accurately?@@owggarage723
That in a lightweight ford with a liberty 5 speed shifting at 9k would be a bad ass combo. 👍🏻
In a badass galaxy with carbon bits... yeah.
nah everything you said in a small tire(28.10.5 tire)maverick. That little sucker would rock😂
Big block ford!!
Nothing better!!!
Well maybe a smx!!!
Being a ford guy , love my BBF’s
Being a SME guy, love the smx!!
Great work SME!!
As always!!
Best part about being a Ford guy is not having to talk about how you love BBCs.
Now…imagine a SMX version of a BBF. Billet block and all. WOW 😎
billet block/head BBF’s have been available for years.
Great to see a BB ford. Very underrated engine.
Maybe drag racing, BBF is legendary, arguably on the top in mud racing/truck pulling
Back in the early 80s I built a iron block 490ci 385 series BBF with 429CJ heads and a built 750 carb flowing 780+ she pulled 823 hp @8500-9000 on good pump gas on the dyno and it had a big stacked air cleaner on it to and yes those BBFs like rpm and will live thru it.
Love seeing fords
I love to hear them sing around 9 thousand RPM and you build a mean motor!! 👍
Agree with most of the airflow comments below. That cyl. head intake combo looks awesome. Engine sounds sweet. Nice combo , would be good to see one that Steve can tweak more. Many thanks.
The filter allows just enough airflow to slow/settle down for it to be more evenly distributed throughout the intake at the same time allowing for fuel mixture to optimize more evenly. All wile creating a bigger vaccume
That ford sounds AMAZING!
Don't they all, nothing sounds better than an old foxbody 5.0 with exhaust
@@turbo-jm8hk- Meh. Only to 80’s guys.
They always do!
@@turbo-jm8hk A Cleveland sounds better than the little 5.0 😉
1 of the best sounding engines to roll through your channel
Agree with the smoother air flow comments. With the filter media I believe the air flow gets very laminar and the engine is able to digest more CFM as a result.
Love your content - thanks for sharing.
It straightens out the air flow to curve down in there because of the base plate of the air filter housing
more than likely forces the air to come down straighter ,reduce turbulence over the radius, changing approach angle entry into cab bleeds/boosters!
Maybe the filter is acting almost like a choke, causing it to use a touch more fuel? I wonder if that would show up in the air fuel ratio data log
I love to see you working on the NA stuff! It's so awesome hearing you talk about the old cup engines and pro stock stuff, because it was a time of innovation and finesse in engineering.
You definitely nailed the cam profile....
Right?!
That big block looks clean - almost simple. Nice stuff.
More Ford Content! Great feature. People constantly overlooking the BBF in favor of the BBC, it's the hidden gem of the motor world lol.
I would also say a few things with respect to the power gain:
1) did you run the "Base Combo" again? I would be interested to see if it picks up power after a few runs warming the oil and settling the cam and rockers in.
2) One hypothesis is that the Filter acted almost like another manifold, slowing or sort of trapping air and therefore making it easier for the carb to pull it through. I see you turned the fans on right before each run, they appear to be pushing air out of the room? If that is the case that would also pull air away from the engine (which would make sense that a large filter which traps air and slows it down would make more power)...This affect would probably happen even if the fans were pulling air from outside and pushing it into the room. I could also be very wrong though.
Great video either way BBF FTW!!
Great Intro!! The family that plays together stays together!
Less turbulent air. Directs flow of the air better.
The inlet manifold may be a little excessive for the application, and once the filter is applied, it creates a better Venturi effect, causing the power to be increased
It stabilized the air atomizing the fuel better
That thing just sings beautifully through the entire rpm range.
Old school racer here.
Carburetors need a certain amount of disturbed air flowing across all of the different orifices and ports to actually atomize the fuel and allow that mixture to more efficiently into the combustion chamber.
The smoother the surfaces are actually create increased air drag. A slightly dimpled surface will release that surface tention.
The best example is golf balls. Over the decades there have been intricate studies to find the most efficient design for coefficient of drag that will allow that ball to travel the farthest. By finding the best combination of dimples and lines, the average golf ball today travels significantly farther than any time before.
Each additional change on that single throat carburetor allows the air to dynamically change just enough to disturb that too smooth air and actually reduce air fuel mixture drag. Turbulence is necessary for more efficient mixing and coefficient of drag. The same applies to exhaust gas release in non-power adder engines especially because there is only a specific amount of natural air flow generated by the engine itself.
NASCAR uses all of the different types of air flow tricks and technology to help gain the most minuscule increases to remain legal and still somehow find an advantage to beat that restrictor plate. It's all the same, certain types of surfaces create the right combination of disturbance to break the surface tension and increase air flow.🤙
All the changes improve the air turbulence and the fuel mixes better, which increases the burning speed
It's just like the Bell on the front of your turbo
That big block sounds crisp... 👍🏻
Glad to hear the SMX is still sweet🙏🏻💪🏻👍🏻
You control the air's path equally.
Awesome sounding ford
Steve, that is a wicked BBF, nothing sounds like it, Great job Steve Morris Engines
Agree. I love the deep tone of a well built BBF. Such a unique tone. I used to be able to ID one at the strip just from the sound. Now I’m just old! 🤷🤣
DragBoss351Cleveland I watch and love your channel and content also!
@@jerrywaston6842Thank you my friend, I appreciate it. More on the way, working on carb adjustment video series. Stay Tuned
With the filters put on top of the base it has more fuel in areas in the RPM sweep. Because decreasing the amount of air getting into the engine.
It makes you rethink the old spiral windvains in the intake tube trick.
Beautiful engine and the sound...!
That is one beeeeeautiful engine!
The filter gives a better signal to the carb, and its enrichening the mixture just the right amount, or somehow the restriction helps lol. Or a combo of all three or just two. Enjoyed the vid
Carbs are designed for a filter from the factory a proper filter adds hp the carbs puts in work more efficiently as designed when the rite filter is on it
The base improves because of the rounded edge, the filter improves it because the restriction lowers afr slightly, meaning carb could be richened up a bit maybe. Ive had it happen with my motorcycles 🤷♂️
Engine masters tested different attachments on the carburetor and the salad bowl shape made the most power, by a good bit if I remember correctly. Does anyone else remember better than I do?
Thats what I was going to say, test the salad bowl! The flipped lid did suprisingly well too
It's a ford it's just badass
First On Race Day baby.
😁👊🏻
@@stevemorrisracingwat kind you look foor car
If adding the filter increases power, there’s probably 1 or 2 cylinders that are slightly lean when intake is less restrictive
Thank you. The filter straightens the air going in.
I’m so glad the wagon is back to being set it’s one of my favorite drag cars. Just big old Betsy wagon rippin
Is that the new EZ access Roadmaster wagon? I know you want to go faster but, the weight reduction has to stop somewhere! 😂
A property called “laminar flow” is what makes the filter work… the air in the cel is turbulent and the filter in affect diffuses that turbulence increasing cfm through the induction system… A good and properly sized filter with a well designed base/lid combination will always flow more than just a bellmouth… I’ve proved this many times on my flowbench.
Weeeeeeell someone applied their master's degree in fluid dynamics appropriately !!! Great job to whom ever designed the initial blueprint and air inlet carb set up etc. I'm sure tuning has a little to do with its success but the design and initial blueprint got you there so credit is definitely due there !
While driving near Quincy Illinois I saw a Steve Morris wagon pulling a Live stock trailer , laughed my arse off
Awesome Thanks for Another great Lesson professor Morris!! Thanks for sharing, Also love seeing sugar Momma in the intro !!! Great Channel Keep up the Amazing Work !!!!
Thanks
Steve do have v12 they 300zx init
Stated in other comments also, buy my idea is that w/ no filter, the area an inch or so above the venturi's is very turbulent and the filter prevents the air from getting 'dirty' just before it is pulled in the carb.
I reckon the filter smooths the airflow out, giving it a better velocity through the carb.
I believe having just the base on would be creating a better path for air into the carburetor. Then adding filter could make the air entering more uniform and can syphon the fuel better. It might also help how the fuel is mixed into the air for better distribution to the cylinders . I wonder if the EGT temps were more even with the filter. Great stuff .Thanks for sharing.
🤔
Much love from Guam/ Washington state! 🤙🏾🇬🇺🇺🇸🍻
The filter smooths out the airflow.
Stability in the flow of the air
Dewey must be on vacation. 😃
Maybe by putting the filter on it creates more vacuum at the mouth of the carb and cfm goes up. Just a thought
Watch how much the filter "sucks in" when under load. I'd be little concerned about the filter getting sucked thru the carb when it implodes.
I’d be interested to know if it’s possible to do is put a vacuum gauge on the hat with the filter just for curiosity
I believe the reversion that comes all the way out of the carburetor hits the air cleaner lid and helps with pulse wave tuning, just like header length matters. It picked up throughout the whole curve. But what do I know
It be changing the atmosphere pressure.
The wagon looks like it is trying to identify as Leroy lol
Steve going cart mode while Leroy gets a body lmao. What is going on?!?1
The restriction can easily affect the atomization of the fuel. A little restriction isn’t always bad with carburetors.
I know air flow into the carb makes a huge difference. As in the way it swirls or the direction it enters. That air filter probably straightens the air flow and coming in from the sides through the radius base plate accelerates the flow, rather than going straight in from the top. At least that's what I've noticed about airflow.
The air filter with a well designed base plate is shaping the air allowing smooth transition into the carb.
Back in my supermoto days there was a saying for the guys that ran no air box just filter. Because it literally was proven to slow you down. The air box would provide "cleaner air"
It's amazing how much time, money and effort goes into squeaking out a few extra horsepower from these machines at this level!!!
Every time the "rule makers" set a new rule, someone somewhere is developing a new way to get around it, and it looks like these folks have indeed found a way ;-)
Well done gentlemen 🙂
The base and air filter are working in harmony as the base was designed to.
Kinda what I’ve learned just messing with dirt bikes. With a filter it creates a little more of a vacuum effect in the carb pulling more fuel volume through the jets. Also smoothing the pulse creating a more consistent flow for the venturis to work. As long as the filter isn’t restricting the amount of air needed to match the fuel it usually picks up power.
I had a 2bbl claimer engine that picked up 3 when I stacked a cpl of air cleaners on it. And another one with a proper tall filter. My theory was that the tall filter provided enough air to not be a restriction but cleaned up the turbulence into the carb.
The filter is changing the signal over the Venturi in the carburetor and is allowing it to work more as designed.
Love the new intro, BBF’s and truck pulls. Triple win❤ Thanks Steve for another awesome video!!
Holy smokes that's a bad ass ford
Steve you have to be the most down to earth man. You seem like my brother or best friend the way you teach us about your engines, which are more superior then them all. I love your channel please keep the videos coming. Thanks for sharing and God bless you and your family and friends.
I believe adding the filter causes a vacuum on the intake side of the carburetor, increasing the ventury effect and pulling more fuel from the jets.
Thank you are right, made it run richer
It Straightens the air, less Turbulence
Like others, I believe there may be air vortices when run w/o the base, and the base smoothes out the flow and then the filter adds more favorable smooth air flow.
I love that setup and that bbf just wants to keep clean air lol
Ive actually read some awesome studies about this very thing back in the day. Theres been tons of research done about the effects different filters have on the fuel delivery/atomization through carburetors. Its amazing how different filters, spacers, and of course intakes effect atomization of fuel. You can adjust a spray nozzle into a perfect mist, but when you spray it into a fan on high, everything changes. Sorry to ramble, just a very interesting subject i dove into years ago while dirt track racing. Every little bit counted when it came down to the stringent rules given for the class i ran.
A good filter will actually help power by improving the atomization of fuel delivered by the carb. A nice clean burn is good for power. That can be achieved by stopping turbulent air and cleaning up the delivery. Lots more goes into this, but thats a very quick amd dirty synopses.
Watching Sick Week makes wish I could finish my 71 Chevelle. But Cancer has killed my car dreams until I figure out if I can beat this. Love watching what you do Steve once the Wagon is back together this will be the year to kick ass.
I think the radius base helps increase air speed/decrease turbulence into the carb, when the filter is on it increases the flow by forcing air to come across the radius more so than coming from all directions.
Engines are basically air pumps. They pull in air on one end and push it out the other. The base of the carburetor and the filter itself are helping to stabilize the airflow going into the intake. You must always account for the the CFM of air the engine ingests while tuning any engine. Unrestricted, the engine is pulling in too much air and is leaning out the fuel air mixture leading to the drop in power.
Amazingly smooth sound at 9,000 RPM. You are not thinking about the combined effect between the shapes of the bottom and top of the cover holding the filter. It is obviously aligning the air, probably more laminar flow by eliminating turbulence.
My guess is that the filter smooths and aligns the airflow, acting as a bit of a buffer to changes in air flow around the engine. Very neat though.
The air filter is a vary small restriction witch causes laminar airflow.The venturies respond with better atomization and distribution increasing horsepower. Nice build !