When I install my filter in the air box there is a 1/4 inch gap from the top to the filter to it does not fit tight to the airbox .it is like it's missing a spacer or gasket but parts book don't t show anything i dont have.

 

Man Checking ur pic of your air box filter….
When I bought my 1980 gs850 and rode it home it sucked in a piece of the foam filter and stuck the throttle open ???!!!! My gs is bone stock with 9000 original miles but I replaced the quad cv carbs with mikuni vm34’s and filters from Murray’s carbs, the bike is almost twice as fast and lots of torque and it eliminates the the whole air box….. It looks better too…. I’ll attach some pics