TR2/3/3A Question on paper air filters for TR3

[TuffTR250]

I'm still thinking of putting paper air filters on my TR3. I have found some Baldwin air filters that are quite small but that I think would work on a TR3. See pictures below. I would have to fabricate some front and rear plates to hold the filters. I measured the old steel mesh air breathers and I counted 8 inlets around the filter, each being 1 inch x 1-1/2 inch, which gives an inlet surface area of 12 square inches. The Baldwin filters have a paper inlet that is 3/4 inch wide and the circumference is 16 inches which gives 12 square inches of inlet surface area also. My question then is...would I get as much air flow with 12 square inches of paper air filter as with 12 square inches of the stock steel mesh filter? Thanks!
Regards,
Bob

 

[TR3driver]

My _guess_ is that the paper filter element is more restrictive than the original rock catcher, even after taking into account that the paper is pleated (and so has a lot more surface area than just the perimeter of the filter).

If you are going to fabricate plates anyway, why not use TR6 filter elements? You'd have to offset them from center (as the original filters are), but there is plenty of room for them.

 

[TuffTR250]

I thought the TR6 filters would be too big. I did not try them. If I offset TR6 filters, will they fit without swinging the float bowl over like in the picture of the TR4A oval filters you posted a picture of a while back? I prefer to not have the float bowl swung over. Thanks!
Regards,
Bob

 

[TR3driver]

I believe they will fit, by offsetting them up and to the rear. But I haven't actually tried it, so I could be mistaken.