Just bought a 98 12v. Went to change the air filter today and found a piece of material below the filter in the stock air box. Almost looks between a piece of insulation or whool. Obviously he used it to create a tighter fit in the air box. But i've never seen this before. Is it common? Something i should do? Or should i leave the cotton piece out and just install the fram air filter? Thanks guys!

 

When I got mine it had a piece of foam attached to the air filter. I have since dumped my whole airbox and gone to a K&N cone directly on the turbo tho, talk about turbo howl it's great getting next to someone on their cell phone.

 

I will never use a K&N on a turbo'd vehicle but ditching the stock box should be your first upgrade, better mileage and performance all around.

 

If that foam is glued to the filter , like ive seen before, its just there to catch the dirt before it hits the paper. Like a outerwears for a bhaf. Ive torn it off if its dirty and ran the paper filter. Nothing to worry about, just another mans idea of how an airfilter needs to be. I think they were Orange Frams that ive seen with the foam.

 

Do you live in my garage? Because you just explained it exactly! Orange fram with the foam glued to the bottom. I plan on upgrading the filter come spring, but as of now im on a budget with tranny plans. Thanks for all the info guys..

 

ditch the foam crap got a hole saw and drill some holes in the air box. swiss cheese air box cheap easy remove silencer ring etc sounds good, mot a ton of performance gain.