Early Ford Bronco Air Cleaners

Air cleaner fitment on the early Bronco depends on the carburetor and engine combination. The most common setup uses a 14-inch round air cleaner for the factory 2-barrel carburetor on 289/302 engines, or a modified low-profile unit for the inline-6. Tom's Offroad stocks OEM-style replacement air cleaners as well as performance open-element filters for modified builds.

Traditional cold air intakes designed for modern vehicles won't fit an early Bronco, but similar principles apply. Routing a performance air filter to draw from outside the hot engine bay, near the inner fender or through a snorkel, reduces heat soak and improves performance. This is a popular modification for off-road and trail builds.

The factory early Bronco 302 used a Motorcraft 2100 or 2150 two-barrel carburetor. Many builders upgrade to a Holley 500–600 CFM two-barrel or four-barrel unit for better throttle response and power. A four-barrel swap requires a new intake manifold and a matching air cleaner assembly with adequate height clearance under the hood.

Paper element air filters should be replaced rather than cleaned, blow out light dust with compressed air but replace if heavily soiled. Oiled cotton gauze filters like K&N can be washed with filter cleaner, dried, and re-oiled. Clean the air cleaner housing and inspect the base gasket seal before reinstalling.

Early Broncos built before 1968 have no factory emissions equipment. Emissions controls were phased in from 1968 onward, with air injection pumps, EGR systems, and eventually catalytic converters added through the 1970s. Many restored early Broncos have emissions equipment removed, but legality varies by state, check your local regulations before deleting smog equipment.