1971 DP 1600 - Air cleaner

[Oldie_but_goodie]

The following picture illustrates the engine in my Ghia convertible. Can anybody describe why this has such a complex air intake/cleaner system compared to other 1600 engines.

Would yanking this air contraption off and replaceing with something simpler and with a better flow help the horsepower?

Ok thats really 2 questions, I'm mostly curious about this particular design and why it suddenly showed up on the 71 dual ports?

Thanks.

[glutamodo]

If it's all in good shape, I'd leave it stock, the stock air cleaner works very well, and is designed to properly flow air into the carb.

By complicated, what do you mean? Most of that "extra" stuff is emissions related and doesn't hurt anything to leave hooked up. In the picture you have a preheat hose coming off the engine with a thermostat-operated flap on the air cleaner, a crankcase breather, and a line coming to it from the evaporative fuel tank vent system -(with a charcoal canister to hold the fumes) - all of that is passive and doesn't hurt anything.

and actually, the preheat thermostat on the 1971 models is simpler than on 68-70 models, where it was cable operated to an arm coming off of the cooling flaps of the engine.

[blackthree4me]

man yall are right up my ally today
I was wanting to know about the filter asembly inside of the unit
I stuck mine in for pre powder coating bake out and came out with a few uhh ohhs
melted some plastic bushings for the pre heater and linkage
(no biggie I can get a replacement pieces off of a doner)
the big question was, what is or should I say "was"
inside the filter assembly?
sorta looked like moss coming out ?
what could I use in its place?
I know I can never put it back, but was thinking of a filter that just lays on top of the waffel instead of between it and maybee tie wire down
just a thought

as for leaving it or going to something else
yours looks pretty stock it kinda rare to see one in that kinda shape if it was mine I would leave it its worked for all thease years why mess with it
there are alot of fools out there changing intakes to gain 100 HP
give me a break
dont be one of them. LOL
at best you might get 2HP
you could get that much by greasing your wheel bearings ( finaly)
blackthree4me
_________________
1968 spatz dune buggy
1971 karmann Ghia

[glutamodo]

[70 140]

It really isn't that complex of a system, in fact it is quite straightforward. Just keep the oil fresh in the filter and everything else is worry free. If you strip it all out and just run a paper filter on top of the carb you lose the pre-heat, you end up with a lower quality filter, and you may run into tuning problems.

If you have a complete working system leave it in place. The only way I would get rid of my oilbath was if I switched to dual carbs.

[blackthree4me]

thanks
on a 71 air cleaner it was definatly the cocanut type filter !
I was pretty close on the moss thing. LOL!
I was thinking of using a house type fiberglass filter then just cutting it down to fit the inside
what if I used some air filter pre oiled foam on top?
any one any one.

the powder coating came out great and looks supper sharp in black wrinkel.

thanks for any help yall can give
_________________
1968 spatz dune buggy
1971 karmann Ghia

[hogboy52]

The fact is, there's a considerable clearance problem with the low deck lid compared to the bug, even with dual carbs.

[KG Fan]

Oldie But Goodie,

If you decide to leave your stock arrangement and you would like to sell me your thermostat off the oil bath filter, I am looking for a working one.

Thanks, Randy
_________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Suess

"Oh that thing? That's just a gaurd, you really don't need that. I'd just take it off."
-Three Fingered Jack

[70 140]

[KG Fan]

70 140,

Thank You.

Any idea how many different styles of those thermos were made? Of course, I need the proper length. Any more specifics on what years of the bus thermos would fit my '71 Coupe? Sure appreciate any help finding a working one.

(Maybe I should start a new thread)

Randy
_________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Suess

"Oh that thing? That's just a gaurd, you really don't need that. I'd just take it off."
-Three Fingered Jack

[70 140]

[glutamodo]

Those spring loaded thermostats lasted only one year (1971) on both the Type I and Type II After that they used the vacuum-operated t-stat.

[74Ghia]

Biggest problem I've noticed with the 71 on stock air cleaner system is that the plastic pipe from the air cleaner to the top of the carb always rubbed a hole through the plastic rain tray.

As for clearance issues with dual carbs, not a problem if you have the short intake manifolds. Even with the air cleaners, I have about 3/4 inch between the top of the air filter and the bottom of the deck lid hinge.
_________________
Allen C.

2012 Silverado
53 FiberFab MG TD Replica (VW)

Life is hard and its harder if you're stupid.

[70 140]

[glutamodo]

It was pretty simple acually, the air cleaner had a temperature-sensitive vacuum valve mounted in the air cleaner housing. The vacuum signal came off of the manifold and supplied enough vacuum mostly at lower RPMs, so combined together, it would only supply vacuum to open the preheat air flap at lower engine speeds and only when the air cleaner was below a certain temperature. Here's a pic of the layout from the 74 Ghia owner's manual. The vacuum valve is on top, Hose E is the one that goes to the manifold.

[70 140]

Thanks for that info. I had never seen that set-up before.

[52brezelfenster]

Happy Friday, reviving an old thread.

Does anyone know the part # of the 1971 air cleaner setup?

Thank you

[kingkarmann]

[crocteau]

[52brezelfenster]

Thank you very much for the information!

Dustin