Cheap VFR aircleaner rework 90-93

Howdy all

I work in the automotive area, and happened to notice that my VFR airfilter inner element and a Holden Commodore air filter had pretty much the same filter pitch but the Commodore one was about 2" too long. At the time VFR air cleaners were around $100 each and I was getting jack of paying that. These days they are $60 approx but a Commodore one is under a third of that...

For those of you in the USA, Holden is in the GM brotherhood - take your aircleaner element to a dealer or car parts place and size up some GM filters - you'll probably find they use a very similar if not the same part!

Here's how you can modify your air cleaner to suit (1990-93 VFRs - may suit others)

1) Remove your current aircleaner (preferably dirty) from the airbox
2) Cut out the inner paper element leaving in the bottom metal mesh
3) Cut away or file most of the plastic pins so the opening is square
4) Go buy a Commodore VN-VP air cleaner element
5) Align the Commodore filter upside down into the VFR element opening. The width fits exactly. The rubber seal of the GM filter will be facing you and its metal mesh
6) Work out how much you need to trim off the end - it's around 8-10 pleats from recollection. Cut it cleanly with a sharp Stanley knife or hobby knife and use side cutters (small ones) for the mesh
7) Once trimmed place the Commodore filter into the VFR element frame
8) Seal around the edges with black silastic. Smoooth with finger
9) Let it dry overnight
10) Trim off the excess rubber from the Commodore filter so the aircleaner lid will fit - this is most important at the front facing section of the aircleaner
11) Cut away all the metal mesh atop the Commodore airfilter to maximise intake airflow

I can take some pictures if anyone is interested. It's really about a half hour or so of work, very easy and very cheap.

I've been running these for tens of thousands of kilometres without any concerns

Hope thats of interest. Cheers!

 

Good tip when you have more time than money!
My first filter change was from stock to K&N, so I'm set, but I'd be trying it if I was in stock filter mode.

2007 Caprice and 2008 G8 use that GM platform, but I'm not sure about engine type. Do you know the engine or the model # on the filter you used? It almost certain we could cross reference in the states.

 

Well it looks like that element suits a lot of different cars - I found a Commodore VN K&N on ebay which said it was also suitable for (wait for it!):

Ford Corsair UA 2.0L, 2.4L 89-92
Holden Commodore, Berlina, Calais VT, VTII 3.8L V6 with Factory LPG 9/97-10/00
Holden Commodore, Berlina, Calais VX 3.8L V6 with Factory LPG 10/00-9/02
Holden Commodore, Berlina, Calais VY, VZ 3.6L V6 10/02-06
Holden Commodore, Calais VL 3.0L EFI (RB30) 86-88
Holden Commodore, Calais VN-VS 3.8L V6 88-97
Holden Commodore, Calais VN-VS inc HSV 5.0L EFI V8 88-97
Holden Commodore, Calais, Caprice, Senator VP-VS 3.8L V6 10/91-97
Holden Commodore, Calais, Caprice, Senator VP-VS inc HSV 5.0L EFI V8 10/91-97
Holden Statesman VQ 3.8L V6 90-2/94
Holden Statesman VQ 5.0L V8 90-2/94
Holden Statesman VR-VS 3.8L V6 3/94-6/97
Holden Statesman VR-VS 5.0L V8 3/94-6/97
Holden | Commercial Commodore Ute VG, VP, VR, VS 3.8L V6 8/90-12/00
Holden | Commercial Commodore Ute VG, VP, VR, VS 5.0L V8 8/90-12/00
Holden | Commercial Commodore Ute VU 3.8L V6 with Factory LPG 12/00-9/02
Nissan / Datsun 180SX, 200ZX 1.8L CA18DET 89-91
Nissan / Datsun 180SX, 200ZX 2.0L MPFI 91-on
Nissan / Datsun 200SX 2.0L MPFI 10/94-3/00
Nissan / Datsun 280C 11/82-84
Nissan / Datsun 300C 84-87
Nissan / Datsun 350Z 3.5L MPFI V6 2/03-05
Nissan / Datsun Bluebird (Import) 2.0L TMPFI 89-on
Nissan / Datsun Bluebird 2.4L MPFI 10/93-12/97
Nissan / Datsun Exa KN13 Twin Cam 87-91
Nissan / Datsun Maxima 3.0L MPFI V6 5/90-2/95
Nissan / Datsun Maxima A32, A33 3.5L MPFI V6 2/95-11/03
Nissan / Datsun Maxima J31 3.5L MPFI V6 12/03-05
Nissan / Datsun NX, NX-R Coupe (with ABS) 2.0L EFI 10/91-97
Nissan / Datsun NX, NX-R Coupe (without ABS)2.0L EFI 10/91-97
Nissan / Datsun Pintara U12 & TRX 2.0L, 2.4L 11/89-10/92
Nissan / Datsun Pulsar N14 1.6L MPFI 10/91-9/95
Nissan / Datsun Pulsar N14 2.0L MPFI 10/91-9/95
Nissan / Datsun Pulsar N15 (with ABS) 2.0L MPFI 10/95-05
Nissan / Datsun Pulsar N15 (without ABS) 2.0L MPFI 10/95-05
Nissan / Datsun Pulsar N15 1.6L MPFI 10/95-7/00
Nissan / Datsun Pulsar N16 1.6L MPFI 7/00-2/03
Nissan / Datsun Pulsar N16 1.8L MPFI 7/00-05
Nissan / Datsun Pulsar, Exa (Import) SR20 2.0L EFI 90-on
Nissan / Datsun Serena ST, Ti 20.L MPFI 10/91-11/95
Nissan / Datsun Silvia 1.8L EFI CA18DE incl Turbo 88-91
Nissan / Datsun Silvia 2.0L EFI SR20 incl. Turbo 91-10/93
Nissan / Datsun Skyline 2.0L RB20 EFI incl. Turbo 1985
Nissan / Datsun Skyline 2.4L EFI 3/81-86
Nissan / Datsun Skyline 2.5L RB25 EFI incl. Turbo 11/98-on
Nissan / Datsun Skyline 2.5L RB25 EFI incl. Turbo 91-10/98
Nissan / Datsun Skyline 2.6L RB26 EFI incl. Turbo 1989
Nissan / Datsun Skyline 3.0L EFI 7/86-12/90
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Navara D21 Series 3.0L V6 6/92-2/97
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Navara D21 Series KA24E 2.4L 4 Cyl. 1/95-2/97
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Navara D22 Series 2.4L DOHC 8/99-05
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Navara D22 Series 2.4L SOHC 3/97-05
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Navara D22 Series 3.0L V6 6/00-05
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Navara D22 Series 3.3L MPFI V6 3/03-05
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Pathfinder 3.0L MPFI V6 6/92-11/95
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Pathfinder 3.3L MPFI V6 11/95-05
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Patrol GQ ST & TI with TB42E 4.2L EFI Petrol 2/92-97
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial Terrano II 2.4L MPFI 3/97-6/00
Nissan / Datsun | Commercial X-Trail 4D Wagon 4WD 2.5L MPFI 4 Cyl. 10/01-05
Subaru Forester 2.0L MPFI 8/97-9/98
Subaru Forester 2.0L MPFI Turbo 8/97-7/02
Subaru Forester 2.5L MPFI Turbo 7/02-7/03
Subaru Forester 2.5L MPFI Turbo 7/03-05
Subaru Impreza 1.6L MPFI 93-9/98
Subaru Impreza 1.8L MPFI 93-11/96
Subaru Impreza 2.5L MPFI 10/05-06
Subaru Impreza including WRX 2.0L MPFI Turbo 10/00-7/03
Subaru Impreza including WRX 2.0L MPFI Turbo 2/94-9/98
Subaru Impreza including WRX 2.0L MPFI Turbo 7/03-05
Subaru Liberty 2.2L MPFI 89-3/99
Subaru Liberty 2.5L MPFI 11/96-9/98
Subaru Outback 2.5L DOHC 9/96-10/98
Subaru Outback 3.0L MPFI 6 Cyl. 10/00-05
Subaru SVX 2D Coupe 3.3L MPFI V6 92-4/97
Toyota Lexen 3.8L MPFI V6 89-97

Quite a list, eh? Looks like the Holden part number may be 33-2031-2 and Ryco (aftermarket) part number looks to be Model A360
Ebay shows the pic of the Holden item here http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Genuine-VL-V...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

 

i will go the kn route as well not muchon the stock stuff