Sorry if this an older thread, folks, but the initial poster's question wasn't really answered by most of the posts, and I've been trying to find one (an intake screen) myself for my (new to me) '89 7.3 idi N/A. Does anyone know where one could be had other than "at a junkyard" or at the stealership? Or, do any of you turboheads who don't need yours want to part with one? Also, I'm willing to trade the weird Banks soupbowl intake top I've got to anyone that wants to part with a stock air cleaner cover (top lid). PM me and we can swap details... Interesting, but I've never seen this particular top cover (an aluminum casting that's hollowed out by design, but is definitely for a traditional round air filter) in anyone's pictures of any NA IDI, and the top wouldn't fit any Banks turbo I've seen, so I don't know where the PO got it.....
Humorous aside, and please don't let this question/thread get hijacked by this story, but.... when I bought my truck, the POs (multiple in the last few years) apparently didn't use the truck a whole lot, and the intake screen was ripped to shreds, covered with filth, and there were even bits of tree debris (acorns and such) sitting on top of it and inside the intake manifold... (Reminds me of an old car I had back in the 80s in Maine that had squirrel take up residence inside the intake housing, chew through the air filter, and "store" all his winter's stash inside the carburetor--MAN was that a surprise when I started it up!) I vacuumed up all the trash (but they had been running it that way!!!!) and threw out the screen. I agree, that this screen could be done without, but it is a nice suspenders to go with the "belt" of the intake cover whenever the cover is out or to prevent said squirrels from more intrusive winter spelunking!!!
As my first post, I have to say that I REALLY appreciate this forum. I have been studying this place and my new toy for the last several months and been having fun with this adventure. I am really impressed at the knowledge of some of the trusted experts here. As a grey-haired engineer, I've got a finely tuned sh@# vs shinola detector, and I can tell by the responses from some of you that you really know your stuff and your engines!
Look forward to offering and receiving much help in the future.
-Brad