DeltaDevil88

Turns out I will have to drive my 85 for 2-3 days w/o the air filter or snorkel assembly, just wondering how much this could hurt my car?

Thank you.

2blu442

I would not do it. It all depends on how much dust is in the air. What kind of particles. What ever is there is going through your motor and sand particles can grind the internal parts of your motor. Are you restoring the air cleaner? Could you come up with a simple aftermarket filter to run while you do the work?


John

redoldsman

John is absolutely correct (as he always is). Go buy some junkyard or aftermarket air cleaner to use for a few days.

MDchanic

What situation or circumstance could possibly create a situation where one would "have to drive... for 2-3 days w/o the air filter or snorkel assembly?"

- Eric

z11375ss

I think you could come up with SOMETHING to use in the meantime. It could save you big money in the future. Just my 2 cents.

380 Racer

I would think unless you are in a hostile environment it wouldn't hurt it much. I guess it depends on how far you plan to travel in 2-3 days and just how dirty the air is. I would probably go for it.......my $.02

oldcutlass

I agree with 380 racer, if your not in a harsh environment and not traveling far, it won't be a problem.

MDchanic

I still want to know why.

OldSchoolMuscle71

at least wrap a particle screen around the top of the carb to filter some of the dirt out. you DO NOT want debris getting into your engine

Rickman48

Make sure your hood insulation is off the hood, as that crap WILL suck right in, as that WAAAAAAAAAAA noise can become addicting!
You'll have a hard time keeping your foot outa it!

coppercutlass

Just a quick story i drove my car with out a hood and no air filter as i was making some adjustments and taking it for a spin in the local industrial site. Well it was fall and long story short a leaf went right into it . I smelled something funny im guessing it burnt the leaf lol. Engine still runs so no harm no foul but the screen idea i think would not hurt. Or you can use one of those edelbrock foam air filters they have the chrome mesh they are usaully 20 bucks at the autozone.

pogo69

if you have to drive it... and you have a nylon stocking you can stretch it around the bore

Lady72nRob71

Even a plastic covered tupperware bowl can be made into an air cleaner with some foam inside, some screen surrounding it, and holes drilled in the bowl & lid in the right places.

Lady's pristine engine bay shows what kind of dust and dirt gets kicked up and around after a simple short drive. Also remember they did put sand in areas around here after that freak snowstorm we got on Christmas day.
I have seen your car and it is definetely not worth any potential damage from running without a filter.

BTW, I just remember I have a spare air cleaner for a 307 in the garage you can borrow for that time!

MDchanic

Just a piece of nylon window screen wrapped over the top of the carb. and held on with a heavy rubber band should be fine for a few days - it's not the fine stuff I'd worry about in that timeframe, but the big chunks.

Old English motorcycles were made with screens instead of air cleaners, and they did just fine, but they also assumed a 20,000 mile piston / cylinder replacement interval.

- Eric

2blu442

In my part of the country they don't use salt on the roads but they sand the mountain roads with red volcanic cinder. That stuff is the most abrasive stuff you can imagine. Every tiny piece that hits your car body, or windshield will take a tiny piece of your car with it

I don't know your part of the country but remember seeing the news stories of dust storms in Arizona. I'm picturing silca sand particles just like the ones used for sandblasting being sucked down your intake. So you'll have to decide what materials may be blowing off the road way, or be collected in the engine compartment (as already said stuck in your under hood insulation). What is the chance of getting that stuff inside your motor.

We've given you a lot of thoughts to consider. Good Luck with your project.

Oh yeah... Eric is still wanting to know why you need to do this

z11375ss

You should stuff a rag in the carburetor. That will keep the dirt out.

ELY442

I agree with 380 Racer. If you're just driving to work to home or just doing some shopping, then i'll drive it w/o the air filter. What 's going to happen? You open the hood and you'll going to see a bird in your carb?

DeltaDevil88

Hey guys this topic has really started to heat up! I might as well include the reason why, I know curiosity kills the cat. I sent my air cleaner snorkel off to be powder coated gloss black along with my radiator cover to be painted gloss black to clean up the engine bay.

I picked up a spare 307 air cleaner at a picknpull awhile back but for the life of me cant find it

I'm definitely going to run something though after reading your guys thoughts in the DFW currently roads are covered with sand salt and other debris.

@Rob72 PM sent!

coppercutlass

As a side note I have pulled whole birds out of air cleaner assemblies but on newer cars.

joe_padavano

I'd drop $10 on a Chinesium open element air cleaner before I drove without one. On the other hand, I have about 20 or so extra air cleaners that I could use, too.

DeltaDevil88

Thx Rob!

Lady72nRob71

I got that extra air cleaner thinking I would make a dual snorkel unit for my '86 but that was 20 years ago and it still has not happened...
Glad it finally got used in a good way!