I have an OEM open element air cleaner base which I suspect came from a 1969 Nova SS 396/375 hp. It is possible that it came from a 1968 Z/28. I got it from a friend, who had the Nova years ago and still has the Z/28.

I am about to give it to a friend for his 72 Chevy PU w/BB. He has swapped his original low profile cast intake for the 69 Chevelle 396 intake and will need a base that sits lower so the air cleaner will clear the hood.

But after looking at this base, it looks different than the others I have seen. It does not have a 90 degree tube welded to it for the crankcase vent hose that runs to the valve cover. There is a hole there, but it is plugged with a rubber plug. The plug is shaped like a cup.
I don't see any signs of the tube ever being there and the plug looks to be original GM issue. Could this be correct, or did all these OEM open element bases have the tube ?
Has someone removed the tube ?

Do they all have the provision for the Quadrajet carb in the front?


While on the subject of air cleaners.....I have what I think is the original air cleaner for a 1969 Nova SS 350 w/4speed. The snorkel is solid. It does not have the valve or the heat stove tube. And no thermac valve inside. Would this be correct ?

Thanks, Nate

Nate,

According to the factory assy manual the air cleaner base, filter and top are the same for either the L78 or L34 396's. The L78 came with a Holley carb while the L34 came with a Q-Jet. The only difference was the HP Decals that went on top.
I can't imagine that someone removed the tube with out bending the hell out of the base.
Is the base painted black? Or is it a bright finish?
I've seen some of the part store replacement bases that look similar and have a punch out for the hole you are refering to. They usually don't drop over as far as the factory base does either. And they usually have a bright finish.

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FastSS396Man
Brian

Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr3.jpg), Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrrqtr3.jpg),
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69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!
02' Harley FatBoy, Diamond Ice Pearl and lots of chrome!
ACES# 3466

Nate,

Does it have 3 holes with rubber plugs in all 3 ? I have the same base, but only have 2 of the 3 plugs http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif Hopefully somebody can shed some light on the different types of drop down air cleaner bases that are out there.

P.S. Any chance you would want to $sell$ the "rubber plug" out of base in order to install a breather tube ?

Kent
'68 Malibu ZZ502/502 http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
ACES #5102

[This message has been edited by BACKN 68 (edited 07-29-2002).]

fastss396man
The base appears to be painted black. Although some of the paint is flaking off.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by bright finish?

BACKN 68
It only has the one plug. I better keep it for now. The other two areas where it looks like there could be holes, are solid still. I suppose it is possible that somebody took the 90 degree tube off and put the plug there, but my recollection is that the tube was spot welded in place ?? Or was it just a press fit ?

Nate

Nate,

The few original GM bases I have seen all appeared to have the breather tube spot welded on. There should be some "evidence" inside of the hole if the tube was removed. My thought was that if the base you have only has the one hole, then someone removed the original breather tube, inserted a rubber plug (from another GM base) and used a chrome breather on the passenger side valve cover.

As for the response from fastss396man, it sounds like he was questioning whether the base was an aftermarket chrome piece.

Thanks for response about the plug. If you ever do decide to remove it, I would be interested in purchasing it. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Kent
'68 Malibu ZZ502/502
ACES #5102

I've never seen one of these GM dropped bases chromed ???
Have you ?

Nate

The GM ones weren't ever chromed. I think he was thinking you might have a taiwan repop base, not a GM one... I think its evident that what you have is indeed GM, but what exactly it came off of is still up in the air.

As for the closed air cleaner on the '69 SS350, I would fully expect it to have a Thermac; also it should have a chrome lid (both Camaro SS350 & Nova SS350 used these from '68 - '72). Having said that however one of our Team Chevelle members (can't recall who off the top) owns a Fathom Green '69 Chevelle SS396 with a 396/325 & a h.d. 3-speed floor shift - no Thermac! That's a surprise.

CAM
(referring to the 69 Nova air cleaner)
I was thinking that a manual car(4 spd in this case), which would have a smog pump, and tubes coming from the exhaust manifolds, etc., wouldn't have room for the heat stove ???? Thus, there is no thermac sensor nor a valve on the snorkle or heat stove tube attachment on the underside of the snorkle. This air cleaner was with the car when I got it and I firmly believe that it is original and correct and probably hard to find today.

Is there room for a heat stove running from the RH exhaust manifold to the air cleaner base on cars with a SB with A.I.R for 1969 ? Camaro's ?? Nova's ? Chevelle's ?

Nate