So, I'm replacing my air filter with a K&N. When I opened the air cleaner box, the old filter is installed with the "comb's" going down, away from the lid. It looks like it blocks about half of the air intake. This isn't correct is it? Shouldn't it be flipped over? Comb's up into the lid.

It looks like it fits both ways.

 

The filters fit both ways (same for the stock and K&N filters). Not sure what you mean by "combs" but if it's the crap that's accumulated since the last time the filter was changed, well just ignore that stuff.

I prefer the replaceable paper filters, I think they flow better than the K&N (which is smaller) and I don't miss that K&N filter cleaning routine using all their special solvents.

And, at $5.00 a piece for the autozone product, I really don't mind changing these every year or two (hint, get longer life by rotating the filter around in the holder every month or two).

 

ok. The filter seems to fit into the box one way, and then flipped over it fits as well. But, when installed with most of the filter down in the box, it seems it blocks airflow from the pick-up.

 

The filter should be symmetric, there is no top or bottom:



$7.29 at autozone

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...ext=air+filger

Unless maybe you have an SE? If so you want the flutes up I would guess (don't have an SE, but that's how they go in my Honda lawn mower).

 

I have a 13B. I believe it's called an FB?

 

You probably have a GSL-SE by the way to decribe the box and the fact that you have a 13B. All 1st gen RX-7s from '81-'85 are considered FBs. The FB is just part of the VIN code. The levels of trim go: S, GS, GSL, and GSL-SE (in that order).

Anyway, the fins of the filter point down.

 

to clarify even more, 84-85 were the only years to make the GSL-SE model which has the 13b. the rest of them are 12a engines, a simple search or just reading on all the recent threads will give you all this info.

 

As a side note, I've found it hard on my GSL-SEs to seat the filter on the car, then add the cover. It's much easier to seat the filter into the cover, and then lay the cover and filter onto the base.

 

Same here. Otherwise the edges of the filter tend to want to get pinched between the lid and the base.