Help!!!!! someone who knows about cars!!!!!!?

Im getting a 88 regal with a 383 stroker, now this may be a stupid question but i just need to know. The 383 is carburated but it does not have an air filter on from what i can see. will this affect the performance of the car? i have heard dirt and dust and other crap can get into the engine if there is no air filter on. WIll the engine suffer from this? and is it ok to run it without the af? Thanks for the help!!!!!