An air filter cartridge comprising: (a) a filter media pack comprising first and second, opposite, flow ends (461, 462) with media extending therebetween; (i) the media being closed to flow of air, passing into the first flow end, from exiting the second flow end without filtering flow through the media; (b) a pinch seal arrangement having an axial pinch seal with: an outer peripheral surface; and, a first pinch seal housing engagement surface; (i) the first pinch seal housing engagement surface being a contoured axial pinch seal surface with at least a first housing engagement projection thereon; (ii) the first housing engagement projection including a first pinch seal projection extending further toward the second flow end than portions of the contoured axial pinch seal surface at immediate, opposite, peripheral, sides of the first housing engagement projection; and, (c) a first preform having an outwardly projecting first preform flange having: (i) a first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement at a location in perimeter alignment with a portion of the pinch seal arrangement including the first housing engagement projection; (ii) the first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement being positioned, axially, with a portion thereon closer to the second flow end than portions of the preform flange located at immediate, opposite, peripheral, sides of the first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement; characterized in that (iii) at least a first peripheral resin flow recess embedded in the pinch seal arrangement; wherein the first peripheral resin recess in the preform flange has a narrow peripheral neck and a wide internal resin receiver. (a) a filter media pack comprising first and second, opposite, flow ends (461, 462) with media extending therebetween; (i) the media being closed to flow of air, passing into the first flow end, from exiting the second flow end without filtering flow through the media; (i) the media being closed to flow of air, passing into the first flow end, from exiting the second flow end without filtering flow through the media; (b) a pinch seal arrangement having an axial pinch seal with: an outer peripheral surface; and, a first pinch seal housing engagement surface; (i) the first pinch seal housing engagement surface being a contoured axial pinch seal surface with at least a first housing engagement projection thereon; (ii) the first housing engagement projection including a first pinch seal projection extending further toward the second flow end than portions of the contoured axial pinch seal surface at immediate, opposite, peripheral, sides of the first housing engagement projection; and, (i) the first pinch seal housing engagement surface being a contoured axial pinch seal surface with at least a first housing engagement projection thereon; (ii) the first housing engagement projection including a first pinch seal projection extending further toward the second flow end than portions of the contoured axial pinch seal surface at immediate, opposite, peripheral, sides of the first housing engagement projection; and, (c) a first preform having an outwardly projecting first preform flange having: (i) a first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement at a location in perimeter alignment with a portion of the pinch seal arrangement including the first housing engagement projection; (ii) the first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement being positioned, axially, with a portion thereon closer to the second flow end than portions of the preform flange located at immediate, opposite, peripheral, sides of the first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement; characterized in that (iii) at least a first peripheral resin flow recess embedded in the pinch seal arrangement; wherein the first peripheral resin recess in the preform flange has a narrow peripheral neck and a wide internal resin receiver. (i) a first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement at a location in perimeter alignment with a portion of the pinch seal arrangement including the first housing engagement projection; (ii) the first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement being positioned, axially, with a portion thereon closer to the second flow end than portions of the preform flange located at immediate, opposite, peripheral, sides of the first seal deformation inhibition projection arrangement; characterized in that (iii) at least a first peripheral resin flow recess embedded in the pinch seal arrangement; wherein the first peripheral resin recess in the preform flange has a narrow peripheral neck and a wide internal resin receiver.