Air Cleaner for 1971 VW Engine

I have the Original Air Cleaner for the 1971 VW 1600cc Engine. However, it does not look very good and I was wondering if anyone can recommend a replacement model and type that is more slick and clean looking, but does a great job in cleaning.

Thanks,
Brian

There were several chrome plated aftermarket air cleaners for stock VW single carb setups. Believe it or not, you might try J. C. Whitney. A design with a velocity stack section below the flat/round filter element will probably work best.

The problem with using an aftermarket air cleaner is where do you send the vent tube for the crankcase. I had an old chrome velocity stack filter on my beetle and it got very messy. You will need to purchase a breather kit to trap the blowby oil vapor.

The other option is an early beetle (60s) oil bath air cleaner. They are small and look kinda cool looking when painted or chromed. Very good at trapping dust.

Some of the "chromie" aftermarket aircleaners had a spigot for the breather hose; in any case it would be fairly simple to add a fitting for the hose if necessary.

Running the breather hose into a dry element air filter is a mess.

There is another problem If you live in a damp climate no pre heat pipe will cause icing I have a 68 karman Ghiea breather converted to dry pack thats a neat way to go if you run a single carb. but if I go with CIS I wont need it I will hang on to it, if all else fails

Looks like you got the making of a nice car. If you havet got a colum I know where theres a 70 bus . And I have the turn switch.

I got a second bus colum and used the the 65 bus switch it looks just like the eary porsche stuff

There is another problem If you live in a damp climate no pre heat pipe will cause icing I have a 68 karman Ghiea breather converted to dry pack thats a neat way to go if you run a single carb. but if I go with CIS I wont need it I will hang on to it, if all else fails

Looks like you got the making of a nice car. If you havet got a colum I know where theres a 70 bus . And I have the turn switch.

I got a second bus colum and used the the 65 bus switch it looks just like the eary porsche stuff

Barry,

FYI. Preheating is not done by the breather hose. Preheating is done by the riser pipe off the exhaust system to the intake manifold.

Excellent Debate!

So.... What do you think is the consensus.. New Chrome paper based Filter or stick with the Original and clean it up.

Let me know.

Thanks,
Brian

Find an early 60s small one in the junkyard. They look much better than the early 70s models.

Brian, the flagon with the dragon has the brew that is true... or was it the chalice from the palace?