The Cal-look Lounge

Anyone have any opinions on the best non-billet air cleaners for IDFs? Don't need a breather hole and am willing to spend some cash, the cheap chrome ones I have are already starting to wear down, though are miles better than the Empi billet ones I had on the car for years that stripped out studs and were generally just a massive hassle.

Ive been spoiled by the CB Peformance ones.  Can be had in several configurations.

K&N, have them on the DRLA’s on my bug motor.

Vintage Speed and Flat Four make some nice looking ones. They have an early Porsche style to them. Not sure how efficient they are though.

Vintage Speed filters are beautifully made and accept K&N filter elements. I had a pair when I was running carbs.

I use Ram Air Filters

https://www.amazon.de/Ramair-Vergaser-Luftfilter-Grundplatte-Weber-Anschrauben/dp/B08LDTXXPK

https://ramair-filters.co.uk/filters/carburettor-filters/carburettor-foam-air-filter-with-baseplate-to-fit-weber-40-idf-40mm-internal-height/

I've definitely looked at both of those, they're a bit pricy but they both look great and seem better built than what I've run in the past. As far as efficiency goes, I have K&N elements so I'm more concerned about just how well they're made and fitment.

In which case, you won't do better than the VS ones - fit and finish on mine was exemplary.

That's good to know! My only concern with those is that some of the pictures show an upper brace between the uprights that goes right over the velocity stacks, did you have any issues with that?

The photo they use is deceiving as the filter element is shown lifted free from the base plate. The brace you mention is actually flush against the top cover, not floating in mid-air over the velocity stacks.

Awesome, thanks for the info! It might not be immediately but I'll definitely be ordering a pair of those as soon as I can!

OP, if you still have your original chrome air cleaner lids and want to experiment a bit, you could prep them and spray with hammer-finish paint. I had a set of used swap-meet cheap Dell'Orto lids and bases several years ago which were also past their prime. I wet-sanded the surface with 220 grit, then applied light blue hammer-finish paint. Several other colors are available such as gold, copper, silver. Here are my shots from theSamba-
(https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1808831.jpg)

(https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1808830.jpg)

Then wrapped the filter elements' outer surface with screen door aluminum mesh to give them a retro look-
(https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1808829.jpg)

Oh man, that looks great! I really like the mesh outer screen look on IDFs, there's just something racy about it. I might have to do something similar to mine, I still have the cheap chrome ones from EMPI and running my K&N elements in them, but adding a grommet to the center hole has improved their lifespan immeasurably.