Date:         Thu, 13 Jun 2002 08:56:30 EDT
Reply-To:     Willolyn99@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Marshall <Willolyn99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Replacement for SA air filters
Comments: To: tiicolist@vgonman.com, thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

       This is in response to Karl's question on what to replace the South
African cylindrical air filter with.  I have recently done this myself, and
here are my results.
       I did a quick look to see if Fram, etc., had anything similar to it,
but it was a pain in the butt.  I decided to go with the K&N filter, for the
variety of obvious reasons (increased horsepower, never replace, etc.)  I
looked up K&N's website to find filters that fit our needs:
-intake flange 3 1/2" dia.
-case dia. 7"
-case length 10"
-1" brackets at 8" into cylinder, effective diameter 5"

Here is what I found that will fit:
RU 2790 -- small cone shape, 4.5" long, about 58 sq in of surface area
RU 3130 -- larger cone, 7" long, about 90 sq in of surface area
RF 4760 -- big cone, 8" long, 125 sq in, (chrome cap)
RF 1045 -- big cone, 8" long, 119 sq in, chrome cap
RU 1785 -- long cylinder, 8 1/2" long, 5" dia, 133 sq in

The air filter that came with my Tiico was 6 1/4" dia X 8" long, 157 sq in,
so I went with the closest size I could find, the RU 1785.  I bought it from
Martel Bros on the Internet, www.martelbros.com, and it was $35 + shipping.
Got it pretty quick, but if your FLAPS can order it they may be faster.

The added horsepower is legendary -- actually, it is a legend, closer to a
myth.  It felt a tiny bit snappier, but I could be fooling myself.  The
original filter was huge, so I don't think airflow was really improved that
much.  I am just happy to not worry about finding or ordering filters every
year.
       Hope this helps.  As with all things, YMMV, and there's always someone
more clever waiting around the bend.

Bill Marshall
85 GL Tiico
Bradenton FL