'66 327/300 Air Cleaner

[Alex Gilmour]

How can I tell if I have the correct air cleaner base? Reason I ask is that the air cleaner is a VERY tight fit with the front of the doghouse. In fact, to get the air cleaner on, I have to really push hard against the bottom of the ignition shielding. Is the base of the AC suposed to ride against the doghouse? Is the small block base offset (to the front) to give additional clearance? I was thinking that I might have a big block base for my air cleaner.

Thanks, Alex

'66 A/C Coupe

Alex.R.Gilmour@intel.com

[Joe L.]

Re: '66 327/300 Air Cleaner

Alex----

A tight fit between the air cleaner and the distributor shield is not uncommon. Also, if yours were unusually tight, I would expect a possible problem with the mounting of the shielding. Mounting supports and brackets could be slightly distorted or bent.

As far as the air cleaner base goes, the part number for the original base for your small block car was GM #6422931. Big block cars used GM #6422188. Unfortunately, part numbers are usually not stamped on ac bases, but you could look. I do not know what the precise difference was between these two bases, but I would not expect any difference in diameter which would affect your ac to distributor shield clearance. This is further supported by the fact that both air cleaners used the same cover, GM #6421832, and the same element, GM #6421746(AC-212CW).

[Page C.]

Re: '66 327/300 Air Cleaner

Hi Alex, Both small block and big block air cleaners bases are 14 1/4 inches in diameter. They appear to have been stamped from the same set of dies. Both have a keyway that correctly positions the air cleaner to the carb. The small block air cleaner has the 1 inch vent tube exiting the rear of the base and points towards the distributor. On the big block air cleaner the 1 inch vent tube comes out of the base on right side and connects into the passenger side valve cover. Hope this is helpful . Page Campbell #2299

[Alex Gilmour]

Re: '66 327/300 Air Cleaner

Page, Thanks. It does appear I have the correct base. I'll look like Joe suggested and make sure the brackets are correctly installed.

Alex

[William C.]

Re: '66 327/300 Air Cleaner

I would look carefully at the distributor top shield to see if a '65 shield has been used instead of a '66. The '66 shield drops down lower before it bells out to ptovide more clearance for the deeper '66 air cleaner. This is described in the judging manual, as well as shown in Noland Adam's book.

[Alex Gilmour]

Re: '66 327/300 Air Cleaner

Bill, It is entirely possible that I have a '65 shield on my car. My car is a very early (#681) '66 so there are lots of '65 parts on it. Does Noland Adam's book describe the differences? I don't have the NCRS judging manual yet.

Thanks, Alex

'66 A/C Coupe

[William C.]

Re: '66 327/300 Air Cleaner

Alex, look at the picture of the '65 dist cover on page 302 of Noland's book. Note the location of the foreward protrusion just above the mid point of the shiled, just under the lower rivit on the ground clip. On your '66 it should be about to the lower edge of the clip in the picture before the bulge starts. This was unlikely to be a carryover part, as the part number was changed to avoid the interference, but?? If you can document it as having never been changed then we may learn something, but I've seen early cars with the correct cover also.

[Alex Gilmour]

Re: '66 327/300 Air Cleaner

Bill, My shield definitely looks like a '65 shield. The bulge starts right below the lower rivit (like the one on page 302) and this is where it interferes with the air cleaner. I don't think that the shield has been replaced, but really have no way have documenting it. Most of the other stuff on the car is correct, though. I'll investigate further and see if I can find an answer.

Another weird touch: the A/C stickers are '65 style and on the vent wings instead of the rear window.

Alex

'66 A/C Coupe