Air Filter Seems Backwards

[Glennman]

1974 MCI MC-8 8V71. I pulled the air filter today just so I could look at it for the first time. It is a dry filter; actually a pretty nice set up. However, it seems backwards. The inside, smaller circumference is on the intake side, and the larger, outside area is on the side of the engine. Are they all like that? It seems like it wouldn't last long with a limited amount of area on the dirty side of things.

[TomC]

Dry air filters are designed both ways-either the engine is pulling from the center of the filter, or the center of the filter is getting the dirty air. The filter doesn't know the difference. Most filters are made where the dirty air comes in on the outside of the filter, then the engine pulls from the center of the filter. Good Luck, TomC

[Bill Gerrie]

The air filter is specked according to air flow. It can be either way if the wire mesh is on the inside and outside. If no mesh on the inside then it has to have the air going in the center and the engine sucks from the outside where there is mesh or vice versa. 

[Rick 74 MC-8]

Bill

I looked at mine many times because I thought the same thing. That's the way it flows on mine too.

Rick