Autopendium :: Fitting a K&N filter for B18 Volvo Amazon (twin SU setup)

Fitting a K&N filter for B18 Volvo Amazon (twin SU setup)

This took a little bit of detective work, but is definitely worth the effort, and in the end is surprisingly easy. K&N filters not only look the business, but do a terrific job too.

First, this assumes you've got a Right-Hand Drive (see below for Left-Hand Drive) standard twin SU HS6 setup on a Volvo Amazon B18 engine. They may be appropriate for other B18 engines (e.g. in the P1800), but I've not inspected the engine bay for years, so can't be sure about how much space there is there.

There are also, I've been told, two different SU setups. The one pictured here, and one with what's been described to me as posts coming up from the inlet manifold (for the SU-HI F6?). Obviously, check yours looks the same

Now the usual K&N filters for the Volvo Amazon B18 twin SU are the 56-9096. This is a pancake-type filter, i.e. it's circular and the top and bottom are the same size, and is 150mm diameter and 54mm high.

The other thing to note about this filter is that the hole where it meets the carb itself is centred, which means you need to make sure you've got about 75mm clearance from the carb intake, and this is where the problems occur as far as right-hand-drive cars are concerned.

On RH drive Amazons, the steering and, more importantly, the pedals and the clutch and brake cylinders are the same side as the carburettors. This means a lot less space for the air filters, as you can see:

The solution is to use K&N 56-9327 filters instead. The advantage of these (apart from them looking even sharper) is that not only are they tapered so the top is smaller than the bottom, giving a natural clearance, the hole is also offset by 41mm, which comfortably moves them away from the clutch cylinder.

Fitting is a doddle -- they just bolt on, and all we had to do was shorten the bolt a little at end. Job done, and you've got an instant improvement to both performance and how your engine bay looks.

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