The Best Air Filters for 1968 - 1982 C3 Corvettes
These are the air intakes and performance air cleaners for 1968-1982 Corvettes, as selected by our team of keen Corvette owners, drivers, and lovers. As the air for the C3 Corvette generation comes through a downdraft carburetor, moving more air to the intake manifold can unlock an additional 5-20 horsepower, depending on which V8 you have.
About Our Air Filter Recommendations
Founded in 2014, the CorvSport team has been 'Vette obsessed for as long as we can remember. While we've spent nearly a decade writing about all things Corvette, we've been driving them for much longer than that!
When creating our Corvette mod lists, we focused on three areas:
Performance: Any air filter that gets our stamp of approval needs to add power/torque while maintaining factory-like reliability.
Build quality: A good air filter or cleaner for your C3 Corvette will allow for the most air to travel through them without also allowing particulate matter and other things through.
Value for money: High performance air filters that give a lot without costing a lot are the type we love to recommend!
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Best Entry-Level C3 High Performance Air Filters
Priced under $60.
Green Filter Q-Jet Performance Filter
Price: $55
Where to Buy: ZipCorvette.com
Why?
Green Filter has been making performance and racing-grade air filters for over two decades. All that research and development has trickled down into an air filter for the Quad-Jet years of the C3 (1970 to 1974).
The filter itself is hand assembled, not pressure molded, and uses two layers of tightly woven cotton fabric designed to handle the rigors of motorsport, allowing for up to 25% more cold air to penetrate and flow down the carb. It is so durable, in fact, that as long as you wash and clean the filter, then apply filter oil to the pleats when it’s dry, it has a lifetime guarantee.
Key Specs & Features
Allows for up to 25% more airflow through to the carburetor, with an average of 20%
Drop-in replacement that fits all stock air cleaner housings
Expected gains are between 3 to 7 HP, depending on engine and cleaner housing
Fitment
1970-1974 C3 Corvette 350/454/350 CID/454 CID V8s with standard or Rochester Carbs
Green Filter High-Performance Filter
Price: $53
Where to Buy: ZipCorvette.com
Why?
Green Filter also makes a high-performance air filter for the non-Q-Jet years of the C3, from 1975 to 1981. It uses the same racing-derived materials and is hand-assembled in a 4-stage process to ensure that the pleats stay put and no blockage or leakage can occur.
These high-performance air filters will hold up to the rigors of day to day use. They’ll also stay ready to allow for maximum power from the 350 V8 engine these model years held. Both the Q-Jet and non-Q-Jet filters also have a steel mesh coating to protect the dual-layer cotton from damage by debris that might make it to the air cleaner.
Key Specs & Features
Allows for up to 25% more airflow through to the carburetor, with an average of 20%
Drop-in replacement that fits all stock air cleaner housings
Expected gains are between 3 to 7 HP, depending on engine and cleaner housing
Fitment
1975-1981 C3 Corvette, 350/350 CID
Best Mid-Range C3 High Performance Air Filters
Priced $60-$100
Green Filter Holley 1x4 Filter
Price: $60
Where to Buy: Zip-Corvette.com
Why?
Green Filter doesn’t just make standard fitment air filters, as they’ve also made sure that all the variations of the C3’s V8 are catered to. A prime example of this is the Holley 1x4 filter, designed specifically to fit and work with 350 V8s that have the high-performance Holley carb.
As with all Green Filter products, this one is hand-assembled, has a steel mesh screen to prevent debris from damaging the cotton filter pleats, and flows way more air than your standard paper filter.
Key Specs & Features
Allows for up to 25% more airflow through to the carburetor, with an average of 20%
Drop-in replacement that fits the stock air cleaner housing for the 350 V8 Holley 1x4
Expected gains are between 5 to 10 HP, depending on air cleaner housing having one or two snorkels
Fitment
1968-1972 C3 Corvette 350 w/ Holley 1x4 Carburetor
K&N High-Performance E1450 Air Filter 350 4BBL
Price: $250
Where to Buy: K&N Filters
Why?
K&N is known as one of the premiere makers of high-performance street-application filters. This reputation shows in the E1450 air filter, designed to work with the most common of the V8s, the 350 with a 4BBL carburetor.
The filter, unlike some others, is a dry, washable filter that does not need to be re-oiled after washing. It simply allows for more air to pass through while also filtering out more particulates than the standard paper-based filter. K&N have so much faith in this filter that they have their 10-year/million mile warranty on it and have given it a 50,000 mile cleaning schedule. That’s a durable, high performance filter if we’ve ever heard of one!
Key Specs & Features
Power gains of at least 5 HP are expected, if not more
Cotton gauze material in multiple layers for the best filtration
Is a direct drop-in replacement for the standard filter in air cleaners for the 350 V8 4BBL
K&N 10 year/million mile limited warranty
Fitment
1968-1981 C3 Corvette w/ 350 V8 engine fitted w/ 4BBL carburetor (Rochester carb)
Best High-End C3 High Performance Air Filters
Priced $100+
Corvette America 1968-1972 Superflow Air Cleaner Assembly
Price: $100
Where to Buy: TopFlightAutomotive
Why?
You can’t get much more flow from an air cleaner than by making every side, including the top, into a high-flow filter. The assembly includes the stud and wingnut to tighten down the top filter, which has a perforated metal backing plate and solid metal rim to hold the main filter in place.
Another great aspect of the Superflow Air Cleaner is that it is multi-engine in fitment, meaning that it will flow just as well for a base L36 up to a full spec L88.
Key Specs & Features
Almost every surface is designed for high airflow, increasing total flow by 15% to 20% over stock
Washable, long-life filters for easy maintenance
Fits every engine and car between 1968 and 1972
Fitment
1968-1972 C3 Corvette with L36, L46, L68, L71, or L88 V8s with 5 ⅛ inch carburetors (open style cleaners only)
Edelbrock Pro-Flow Air Cleaner
Price: $140
Where to Buy: Mamotorworks.com
Why?
Made of Edelbrock’s own filter material, the Pro-Flow Air Cleaner is designed for 5 ⅛ inch carburetors for all the years and engines of the C3 generation, save the 427 with its triple downdraft carbs.
What makes the Edelbrock attractive is its full 3 inch tall main element, with a perforated metal backing on the top to allow for maximum flow. Airflow is guaranteed by Edelbrock to be improved by at least 15%, with the extra surface area provided by the top.
Key Specs & Features
At least 15% or more airflow
Oiled filter (needs to be washed and then have filter oil reapplied every 30,000 miles or so)
Mounts into standard air intake housing without needing any modification
Gives a richer air/fuel mixture for more powerful combustion
Fitment
1968-1981 C3 Corvette with L36, L46, L68, L71, or L88 V8s with 5 ⅛ inch carburetors (open style cleaners only)
More C3 Corvette In-Depth Research
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