Air Cleaner Assy. (hard to find)

[philobeddoe]

I did find a used one that I will have to clean up, but why is it so hard to find an air cleaner assy for the 73-87's? Not even an aftermarket can I find! Does anyone know where we can get these? Like I said, I did find a complete unit with duct hose to rad support and all. But i'll have to sand blast and paint then find the GM sticker for the side of it.

[tucsonjwt]

Most people put aftermarket air cleaners on their old trucks (like chrome.) No demand for stock ones. I did the same thing for my old truck. NOS ones are priced like gold.

[enaberif]

You can swap a TBI assembly on the trucks as well if you are using a quadrajet. Otherwise swap meets and bone yards are your best bet.

[philobeddoe]

Yeah, dont like chrome. It didnt come off the line with chrome. No chrome under the hood anyway. And yes, NOS for these is like gold. Used ones aint cheap either. Ebay, swap meets and boneyards. You would think there would be a demand, oh well.
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[rich weyand]

I got a junkyard one. I didn't sandblast it, I put it in Evaporust for about three days, and that got all the rust off, then used aircraft paint stripper to take off the original paint. The advantage over sandblasting? No lost metal.

[KrazyRay]

I have a bunch of stock air cleaners, but there is not much demand so most go for scrap metal.

[natedogg]

I seen one in good condition on a 86 C10 Silverado at the pick and pull the other day. I need to go back and get it!

[jlelec]

Been looking for a stock air cleaner for my 74 big block too. They are hard to find. Let me know if you find a source.

[philobeddoe]

I just picked one up, found on craigs list. Was blessed, this one is very solid, exact OEM, very clean. The best part, all the parts are there, even the large intake hose that connects to the rad core. It was soaked in old oil and grease, but thats a good thing! No rust! Will have to degrease and paint. Now i just need that little GM decal that goes on the side. Oh yeah, it was $25. Maybe thats the best part!! Good find.

[philobeddoe]

And i totally agree with your quote about the cowl induction. In fact, i believe chrome is for bumpers and trim, not engines!! Assembly line stock!!

[gmachinz]

I'm retaining the stock tall air cleaner on my 86 K10 along with its ducting and core support breather. I much prefer to keep a clean, stock appearance under hood. It also clears the GM serpentine setup as well.

[rich weyand]

https://www.google.com/search?q=GM+a...33%3B300%3B225

[philobeddoe]

There are two connections that come off the sensor unit on the inside of the air cleaner assy. I think one goes to the vacuum diaphragm on the neck of the assy. for the damper door in the snorkel. But where does that second tube go to coming off the sensor....carb port????

Thanks,,

[gmachinz]

I believe that second hose goes to one of the manifold vacuum "T" ports. My "T" has three ports-one to the snorkel sensor, another to the climate control one-way check valve and the third (top) is for the transmission vacuum modulator line.

[philobeddoe]

So it needs a manifold vac. ? Ok, I don't believe I have a climate control, so I'll just T it off the trans vac mod. (unless my 4bbl m4me has it's own vac port for it) I do have three small ports capped off. The hard part is going to be finding and installing the lower and upper stove on the ex. manifold.

ps. won't "borrowing" vac from the trans vac mod. line reduce suction to it,,,when we "T"? Just asking. Thanks..

[rich weyand]

Run it off a manifold vac port on the carb, or you can T it into the vac advance line, which should be manifold vac as well and which runs right past there.

[philobeddoe]

Ok, i understand, will try it. I didnt know you could run two lines off of one manifold vac though Thanks.

[philobeddoe]

Another question: When setting your timing, should the manifold vac line to the tranny modulator be connected? I have to unhook in order to loosen the dist. clamp. It was not connected when i recently did the timing.

[rich weyand]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

Ok, i understand, will try it. I didnt know you could run two lines off of one manifold vac though Thanks.

I teed mine off the vacuum advance line just a couple inches in front of the vac advance canister. You can see the line in this photo, in the upper right corner.

[rich weyand]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

Another question: When setting your timing, should the manifold vac line to the tranny modulator be connected? I have to unhook in order to loosen the dist. clamp. It was not connected when i recently did the timing.

Doesn't matter.

[philobeddoe]

Good pic, that's what i'll do. Thanks...

The paint is now dry on the air intake assy. I should have posted before and after pics, looks brand new. I got a little cheap on the "Keep your GM car all GM" decal. I printed one the exact size and laminated it with clear boxing tape. It actually came out pretty good. I'll use some rubber cement to affix to side of air cleaner housing. How do you post pics????

[philobeddoe]

test

[philobeddoe]

Ok, it worked. Don't look at that GM air cleaner decal too carefully or you'll notice a flaw. Of course, only a Chevy guy will find it.

[philobeddoe]

Sorry Rich about my earlier post about chrome on engines. Unlike mine, yours looks good. My chrome was beat up. I had to buff it out and paint it black. I should have painted it chevy blue. Doh!!

[rich weyand]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

Sorry Rich about my earlier post about chrome on engines. Unlike mine, yours looks good. My chrome was beat up. I had to buff it out and paint it black. I should have painted it chevy blue. Doh!!

No worries. I just replaced the valve covers and air cleaner top with chrome pieces to liven things up a bit. Current pic from tonight: