CFM of air filter

[ew1usnr]

Uhhh, ... the solution should have been obvious.
I unscrewed the mounting stud a little bit.

That enabled me to install a $7.99 Wix 42095 air filter that is rated at 250 CFM.
See: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...&keyword=42095

With 250 CFM Wix 42095.jpg

I didn't hear a crash of metal when I slammed the hood down, so I think that I am good to go!

This shows the difference between the smaller stock Purolator A30057 air filter and the larger Wix 42095 filter.

1-DCP_0070.jpg

I understand now why different air cleaner covers were used on the Falcon Sprints. That was functional and not just cosmetic.

Post Script: I wondered what the CFM rating meant. It turns out to be the peak air volume at which the filter will provide its rated filtration. That means that the smaller filter will not necessarily limit flow past 120 CFM, but its filtration efficiency will not be assured past that limit. On my Falcon, 120 CFM corresponds to around 50 mph. That means that the larger filter will provide better filtration while traveling above 50 mph and that better level of filtration would continue up to 100 mph, but it will not necessarily provide any more air flow, or power, or speed. The bottom line is that any advantage from the larger filter is small. It provides better filtration while at fast highway speeds, but that is about it. And since I don't do a lot of sustained high speed travel, it really doesn't make any difference. Oh, well. Once again, I cannot outsmart the Ford engineers who designed all of this to begin with. That's why I like the Falcon. Everything seems to have been well thought out.

The open design air filter cover does provide an advantage in allowing an easy visual inspection of the filter and it also weighs three pounds less than the original style cover. It does not protect the filter from getting wet, though, and the open design might also allow more engine noise to come up through the carburetor.