Published 2012
SPL 1600 K & N Air Filter Tech Section
Reprinted and edited with the author's permission
Mike Pieczarka found a K&N Air filter that fits in the stock 1600 air cleaner assembly. The K & N part number is E-1290. It is a round 11.0" by 2.75" high filter. This filter fits most Ford and Dodge light trucks with the 2bbl V-8.
Mike searched K&N's website looking by dimension for an oval that might fit. None were found so he called K&N and asked which style would accept being deformed best. The K & N customer represenative said the round ones as long as it didn't have the wire reinforcing rings. So, he measured the circumference of the stock filter and came up with 34.25" which works out to 10.9" dia.meter. Mike then went out to his old Toyota truck, grabbed it's K&N and began to deform. Since it almost fit he checked K&N's website again and got the stated dimensions (E-2820, 11.5 by 2.00) and deduced that an 11" filter oughta' work.
He then took a run down to the local Major Chain Auto Parts Store, grabbed the E-1290 off the shelf, paid the man, hopped back in the car, took it out of the box, tried it, and it fits perfect with minor adjustments required. Note: "Cost was $41.49 with tax at the auto parts store, the lowest price I found on the links from K&N's website was $33.61 +5.00 shipping, so 3 bucks and not having to wait 5 days to find out if I was wrong was definitely worth it." The 2.75" height works just right with the stock Datsun rubber gaskets removed. The minor adjustment that was required was the removal with razor knife of an approx. .125" sealing lip on the top and bottom of the K&N. It came off so easily that he thinks it was designed to be removed. K&N makes a pretty wide range of round filters in various heights and there is probably one that will fit in the oval / semi-diamond shaped 2000 filter housing. Just measure the circumference of the stock filter, calculate the diameter and then search knfilters.com by dimension.
UPDATE
There is an alternate to the K&N filter. Details follow:I found a cheaper alternative to the K&N E1290 air filter... It is made by Spectre, and the part number is 880351. It is available at Autozone for $20. It is a cotton/oil filter just like the K&N, and you can even use the K&N cleaning/oiling kit on it. It also comes with a lifetime warranty. This filter bolts into the 1600 air cleaner housing with no modification at all. (Although it is a round filter, but you just squish it into place.)
Picture of filter in the air cleaner.
Submitted by Tomakze(Tom)