K&N garbage, need replacement recommendations Options

[vitamin914]

My 2.4 L with Weber 44 IDF carbs, came with no name air filters. Could not find a source for the weird sized ovals and decided to replace the entire assemblies. I found a kit from K&N made for the Weber 44s (K&N 56-1170). Didn't think much of the flimsy quality but better than nothing - or so I thought.

After I installed them I drove around very little, maybe 50 miles at most before the 914 went into winter storage. I noticed one of the tin caps had lost the screw - I hope like hell it fell out onto the road and not someplace where it can do damage.

I know I tightened them down to the point where I was afraid I would crush the filter or bend the tin cap. Checked the other side that still had the screw, it was not as tight as I had originally made it. It too had backed off. Took off the cap and pulled out the filter element on the carb where the screw went missing... WTF? it is warped? Looked closer and the damn thing is full of holes. Like some have said an old sock over the carbs would be better than a K&N filter. See the photos.

Not going to have the screws fall out again - I replaced the taper flathead screw with a screw from below (with red loctite) and jam nuts on top of the tin cover.

I have joined those who hate K&N - never again. So much so, that I want to get rid of them and replace them with something more reliable that actually filters air.

I need some help sourcing air filter assemblies for Weber 44 IDFs. Is there anything you would recommend, readily available, that is a better filter (paper element?) and looks nice?

[PCH]

PS: I notice the round hole in the engine tin on the left. Will it be used for something? If not, I would recommend plugging it to improve your cooling by keeping the high pressure cooling air and low pressure exhaust air separate.

[vitamin914]

PS: I notice the round hole in the engine tin on the left. Will it be used for something? If not, I would recommend plugging it to improve your cooling by keeping the high pressure cooling air and low pressure exhaust air separate.

@PCH

In the Spring when the thermometer climbs out of the too cold do things zone (supposed to be -7 deg F this Saturday), I'll fire it up to see how much air is coming out of that hole(s) (there is a matching one on the other side) and plug it. The engine was built by Fat Performance in CA and installed by the PO. I know there is no heat for the cabin anymore, what I don't know is if there are any other modifications to keep the high pressure air from leaking out. Definitely something to look at. I know I have to plug the openings into the longs where the heat hoses from the exchangers used to go.