69 AIR stuff

[Brian Cooke]

Hey everyone,
I'm a little new to the correct side of the Corvette. I've had my 69 350 4 speed for a long time. I'm starting to get the bug to put it back to factory, eventually have it judged. I saw many posts here that gave me good info, but I have to ask something.
A few posts back there was a post about an AIR pump. The AIR system is long gone from my car. I swapped the headers for correct manifolds. Coincidently, I'm looking at some AIR stuff on ebay (can I say that word here?) Specifically there is an air pump & nos tubes & valves. I haven't shopped around much yet, I'm just starting. I've got a problem with ebay because I find you never know what you're getting. But I do need these, & they look correct, & I know I'm in for alot of dough. Does anyone have any advice on this matter? Any source secrets?
Thanks
Brian

[Jack H.]

Advice:

(1) Don't wait to 'eventually' have your car judged. Club policy is each outing starts with a fresh slate (no memory of prior judgings) to PROMOTE owners improving on their restoration/preservation efforts.

(2) Join and get active in your local chapter and take the car to a Chapter meet to get your feet wet BEFORE you make purchasing mistakes and/or perhaps discard correct/original parts.

(3) Virtually any component can be restored/refurbished...

(4) On the AIR components that are MIA, SLOW DOWN... There are numerous dating/coding aspects that need to be correct to match your car. When you get to the chapter meet for judging, there will probably be other cars to look at and photograph. A picture (even if in your mind) is worth how many thousand words?

(5) Once you know how to visually ID the items you need, you're a leg up on eBay. Plus, at the Chapter meet, you get to know fellow members in your neck of the woods who've been there, done that, got the T-shirt and can help you. Who knows, the parts you need may right across town in a fellow member's garage!

[George D.]

Re: 69 AIR stuff

Brian,

Jack's advice is right on the money. I have a 69 350/350 that is missing the AIR stuff as well. If you have your car judged you can get some of the points for the AIR system by having gthe correct pulley on the water pump and the lower bracket that holds AIR pump and the fuel filter. The stuff I've seen on e-bay is not correct, in most cases, for your car. You can get a complete set up from one of the Driveline advertiser (I don't remember his name), but it will be expensive. However, he has an excellent reputation for restoration correctness. If I ever get some spare money I'll go this route.

Good Luck

George

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 AIR stuff

Bill Hodel is da man for AIR parts. Check the archives for further info

[Gary Schisler]

I second Bill

Hodel for AIR stuff. He really knows his product, will give excellent advice, but you may have to sell a kidney or other non-essential body organ to buy a full setup. Seriously, I would use him again if I ever needed to.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 AIR stuff

Brian-----

Most of the components for a 1969 AIR system really aren't too hard to come by. The pump can be purchased rebuilt in regular auto parts stores. Beware, though, as you want a pump with no external check valve and many of the rebuilds do have the external check valve (i.e. 1968 style). Nevertheless, the 1969-75 pumps are out there and not difficult or expensive to obtain.

The hoses can be purchased in reproduction from Dr. Rebuild. They are perfect. They can also sell you reproduction manifold "trees". These are virtually identical to originals; some "NOS" pipes are NOT identical to orignals.

Check valves can be obtained in wrecking yards and replated if necessary. These were used on a wide array of GM cars of the late 60's-early 70's. You can also purchase these already re-conditioned from Corvette parts vendors for about 50 bucks, each (2 required).

The pump pulley is reproduced and available from most Corvette parts vendors. It's not 100% accurate, but it's very close.

The pump bracket is reproduced, but it's not 100% accurate. Used originals show up all the time on eBay. Often, they don't draw a single bid. You're looking for one with the embossed number 3923214. This is, by far, the easiest of the AIR brackets to find. It is Corvette-only, though.

The most difficult parts to find are the original diverter valve, diverter valve elbow, and the pump pulley spacer.