Air cleaner issues (62-340)

[Rob Edwards]

I have to confess I'm confused about air cleaners for the '62. The one I have is all wrong, it's steel, for one, perhaps the '63-64 Pontiac unit Noland refers to. 12 columns of three louvers, exactly 1.5" thick, 14" across the top, and just over 14 3/4" across the flange at its base. The filter in it is a paper Hastings AF111 (equiv to an AC A350C?). The base I have is steel, has the AC A98C silkscreen on it, and must be a repro, it's really clean. Noland's book menitons that no '62 carb cars had a pleated paper element, all used the zig-zag wire spring and polyurethane element.
Now- is there any reason I can't use the zig zag wire/element with this air cleaner? This is probably moot since it's the wrong darned air cleaner, but it would be slightly more correct than it is now. Sorry for the dumb questions, I've just never seen the INSIDE of the air cleaner on a "62.

[Chris H.]

Re: Air cleaner issues (62-340)

Rob, the air cleaner top you have is not the original one nor one of the replacements from somebody like Corvette Central or Paragon. I just got one and it is aluminum and has a cloth/fabric flame arrestor sandwiched between the top and a stamped blade part. Bottom looks exactly like the one I just bought from Corvette Products which is incorrect because it does not have extensions going into the carb top. Please see attached photos of my old parts and the replacements I bought.

I also show a picture showing the gap we discussed between the top and bottom. I see this same gap, caused by the carb stud spacer and/or the paper filter on my original parts, my new parts and photos of other engines I have. Cannot assure this is exactly correct but I am leaning toward it since you have a non original top.

I plan on picking up the foam and wire air cleaner soon.

Chris

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewalbum.html?alb=80289