A329C

[Lyndon S.]

Does anyone know when a embossed logo A329C filter was used? I have a never seen a embossed filter. Is that a very early A329C or a A329Cw? One on eBay now at a 199.00 buy it now price.
Joe, what do you know about the those filters with a embossing on them and not a silk screen?

Kelly

[Dave S.]

Re: A329C

Kelly,
I have been trying to get factory information on 329C's and have not got any information that seems conclusive. I was wondering the same about that EBAY filter but it has the horizontal chicken wire which seems contrary to some who feel the 329C's should have the "bias" expanded metal mesh that other AC filters have. Also seems that BEST WAY.......... silk screening was necessary. It seemed to me that $199 for a filter that could be right was a bit of a stretch. Maybe someone out there can help us out.

[Harmon C.]

Re: A329C

Dave
That filter with square mesh at an angle is one I have never seen on a 329C. My guess is may have been made before the Best Way. After the no Best Way came the expanded metal mesh. Other early filters were made that way.
Lyle

[Dave S.]

Re: A329C

Lyle,
What is your opinion on the embossed A329C without the Best Way......????
The judging guide says Best Way...... is the correct filter so the judges will most likely deduct for the embossing and no Best Way...... It seemed to me that the embossed filter may be right but to pay $199 to be different than the judging guide doesn't make much sense. The 212 filters of the 68-72 era have some good research on them but these 329C filters seem to be not well understood.

[Harmon C.]

Re: A329C

Dave
The way I was told the A329C started with the best way but GM later must have lost out in court maybe and could not prove their filter was the best way and removed that part of the logo but kept the To Protect..... Later they just had GM and A329C and no square mesh. That one on Ebay is one I have not seen but other early filters looked like that one. It is not good for judging that I know of and would lose points as you said plus the square mesh is at an angle. A late GM filter would get about the same points deducted at a much cheaper price.

Lyle

[Dave S.]

Re: A329C

Lyle,
The repro I have on my 71 base car has BEST WAY....... in silkscreen and the horizontal mesh too. Sounds like that is the correct set up. It lost 2 of 5 originality points at a regional. Note on the judging sheet was that it was a service replacement. That is what started my total confusion on these. I'm going to stick with it and see what happens.

[Lyndon S.]

Re: A329C

was that a pargon reproduction?

[Dave S.]

Re: A329C

Kelly,
I don't know where it came from. It was on the car when I bought it. It most likely came from Paragon though.

[Peter L.]

Re: A329C

Kelly - What's the eBay Item #. Thanks, Pete

[Lyndon S.]

Re: A329C

It is not really a bid item so it has no number, just type in A329C and it will come up. I want post the store name because of NCRS rules on the board.
Kelly

[Harmon C.]

Re: A329C

Dave

That repo has problems and I would think it will allways score about the way it did for you.

Lyle

[Patrick H.]

Re: A329C

Dave,

As promised previously, here is a picture of the embossed words on my filter:


And here is a picture of the wire:


I show them only for discussion purposes as I am not sure how correct this filter is in all areas. I "think" it is close with the exception of missing the "BEST WAY TO" lettering. To the best of my knowledge this is a filter from the 74-75 era, but I am open to corrections.

The currently available repro is not at all accurate. It is nothing more than a current day off-the-shelf 329 with the "BEST WAY TO ..." words embossed in much smaller incorrect font. It is not made by Paragon, but they do sell it.

Patrick

[Lyndon S.]

Re: A329C

Patrick

Could you repost your embossed filter picture ? I think you showed the reproduction filter with the silk screen printing.

Kelly

[Dave S.]

Re: A329C

Patrick,
I don't see embossing just the silkscreen. It is an obvious repro to me. Look at the hundreds of lines connectint the inner and outer rubber lines. Yours has the expanded metal mesh which may or may not be right. I'm not sure.

[Harmon C.]

Re: A329C

Dave
Patricks picture is of a filter that was made after the square mesh and was a service repacement made after 1975 which may be the last year a 329 was used on Corvettes. If your filter has the font of the silk screen in Particks picture and square mesh with the best way you have the correct filter I think without seeing a picture. Next best is the same filter with no best way. The third would be the one in Patricks picture. The fourth would be the one sold by vendors with the small printing and expanded metal. Tied for fourth would be the last service replacement that said only GM and the part number with expanded metal.

The only way I can explain this better is to take a picture of each as I have all of them but not that reproduction.

Lyle