best airbox/filter set up?

Tito · #1 (**permalink**) 08-21-2003, 08:08 PM

I need some help here. I am in the process of restoring my 73 Spider and I have( thanks to Santos Italian Auto) gone completely through my engine and trans. My question is what do you feel is the best combination of filtration and supply of cool air to your intake? I have dual Weber 40's and have heard that the stock euro airbox with the removal of the center tube works best(although I dont know what sort of filter it would use). Noise issues?

**ECARRILLO** · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 05:34 PM

Tito,

I have a Giulia Spider and have a iTG Filter. I just got a replacement from Santo.

This makes me think that what I have (before knowing Santo) is good for other people...........so why change?

Good luck,

magista · #3 (**permalink**) 09-17-2003, 10:27 AM

What exactly do you mean by the "center tube"?

Do you mean the horn that sticks out the front to suck in cool air from behind the grill?

I don't see how removing this could help. You'd end up sucking warm/hot air from the engine bay without it.

That is if that's what you mean by the "center tube".

I have a 1970 Berlina 1750 (euro market 105.48) that's been converted to a 2L. Webers, euro cams...blah, blah. Anyway...I just use the stock Euro airbox and it works just fine.

One thing that the late great Fred Di Matteo used to say all the time was that the factory did things for a reason. Leave it be.

But that was Fred...

Goalfa · #4 (**permalink**) 09-17-2003, 06:43 PM

HI

I have a 72 gtv with 40mm DCOE's and found that a filter box off of a 90 Ford Van 4.9L works really well,(with a little modification). It intakes cold air, It's very quiet and looks like it belongs there.
I've even used a K and N performance Filter element.

Thanks,
Al

67GTV · #5 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 12:43 AM

Hey Al,

Welcome to the AlfaBB! Let's take a gander at that bastardization of an airbox! (after all it is off a Ford)

I have been given similar advice on stock airbox setups. Not necessarily for the same reason though. But rather that the stock airboxes muffle the hissing sounds of the carbs better.

A long time ago I bought a set of these sprint air filters with ram tubes. I installed them on my last GTV but the engine ran like crap so I never got to experience if the filters made a difference. Theoretically aftermarket filters such as these are able to draw in more air and allow the carbs to breath better. I'll install them on my white GTV one of these days, but probably just temporarily. I dig the look of the stock aluminum intake plenum.

BigSwede · #6 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 01:27 AM

This is what I got on the Alfetta:

Don't like it though, rather have a biig paper filter with a custom box around the trumpets. Too small filter area now and probably sucks warm air.
Funny thing is that it out-dragged a 164 Q4 on the long straight on the last trackday so the power is there.

**smestas** · #7 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 01:35 AM

I cant comment on what works best but I thought Id post a few different setups for tha sake of conversation.

**smestas** · #8 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 01:35 AM

**smestas** · #9 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 01:36 AM

More Foam

**smestas** · #10 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 01:37 AM

Mess with the bull you get the HORNS.

**smestas** · #11 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 01:37 AM

Horns and steel mesh.

**smestas** · #12 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 01:38 AM

Ram air

67GTV · #13 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 02:47 AM

K&N filters

turbolarespider · #14 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 06:27 AM

I assume you want good filtering...

If you went through and actually calculated the filter area on a stock set up (the log style filter) and compare it to any of those above systems, including the above K&N, I think you'll find the stock one has far more area.

Oddly enough, if you compare the filter area to displacement, I think you'll find that Alfas filters are WAY bigger than anyone elses on the market- including the S2000.

So if you could find a stock style made by K&N, I think you would have the least drop from the filter.

IF your center tube comment is the one that does go to the front fender, do keep the cold air tube. It does help. You can replace it with a smoother one- perhaps a large diameter silicon one use from a turbo intake...

OTOH, if its the tube that goes across the engine to the filter on the other side, like the 1600's, well, I'm not sure what to do.

Eric

**papajam** · #15 (**permalink**) 09-18-2003, 07:50 AM

Here's the experience I had with the foam filter socks. I'm driving a friends 73 GTV w/Spica at Riverside back in '82. The engine, even though in perfect tune and always a strong runner, ran out of breath by 5000rpm. I asked "What happen to your car? Runs like s***." "Dunno", he said. " "Been that way since I put the stacks on". So I promptly remove the foam socks. Lap times dropped by TEN seconds!
I won't be buying foam socks anytime soon.