Alright guys, I've been running my new C6Z 4100 w/o a choke for a few weeks now, mostly because the choke assembly sticks so far out the front P/S of the carb that my 14" open element air cleaner hits it. I scrounged up a '60s era factory air cleaner (honestly not sure what year, car, or engine - it is blue, however) and it still hits, but barely. Also tried a mid 80's era 5.8 HO assembly, but still same problem. Do I need a 1966 4V Mustang specific air cleaner assembly to fit this thing or what?

Any assistance will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Andrew

I can see an aftermarket one giving you problems but can't understand why a 60's ford one wouldn't work unless it was fron a 67 and up car and really designed for a 4300 carb.
ANY 60's air cleaner from a 2100 or 4100 should work.

But I am also wondering maybe we are talking about Apples and Oranges, How are you getting a 4100 to operate without a choke? As that would cause a vacuum leak with the choke assembly missing. We are talking about the vacuum choke assembly Right?

I am betting you have a later model 67 and up air cleaner though.

Just a hunch.

Bill White
White Automotive

Bill,

I may have exaggerated a bit when I said I was running w/o a choke. I had to remove the black thermo spring housing itself to get clearance for the air cleaner to sit properly on top of the carb.

I then fashioned a cover for the opening left exposing the choke actuation mechanism itself, both to hold the choke in the fully open position and to prevent too much dirt from entering.

I don't think having the thermo-spring housing removed would result in a vacuum leak in and of itself. I believe there is a vacuum actuated piston which is still present in the part of the choke assembly I've still got attached. Am I making sense at all?

Anyway, I can buy the idea that my blue air cleaner could be a 4300 unit, but I must admit I'm a little surprised that the 2100 and 4300 air cleaners wouldn't be interchangable as well. If I was a Ford accountant in 1968 or so, I would much prefer to have had one air cleaner assembly for all V8 engines, or at least all small blocks, know what I mean. Of course there could be a good engineering reason a 4300 air cleaner would need to be different than a 2100.

Yes, when you said you where running without a choke......ah well, now I see that light, but still could have some light leakage around that piston.

I so totally agree with you on the air cleaners but unfortunatley with FORD its that way with some thing and not that way at all on others.

Just have to keep trying, but in my experiance the 2100/4100 air cleaners should all be compatible.

Bill White
White Automotive