1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

[Scott K.]

Is there a definitive answer as to whether original air cleaner covers for closed system snorkel C3's (specifically 1972) did or did not "all" have 6 dimples vs 4 dimples around the center hole.

The thread below from the camaro site indicates that only big block closed air systems had 6 dimples on original covers whereas the small blocks had 4.
The original closed chrome air cleaners I have seen all have 4 dimples, not 6. Even the best repro I've seen has 4.

Anyone have substantive evidence on this item and/or should the 4 dimple small block description be specifically addressed in the 72 TIM&JG?

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92933

[Bill C.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

only 4 dimples -
my car was a one owner 45K miles car when I got it.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

My cars aren't here to check but from my photos it looks like 4.

I'd be surprised if there is any difference at all between a small block and big block cover. I've never heard of any.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

My investigations indicate the four or six dimples has nothing to do with the size of the engine.

On the other hand I would love to see a blue-print of the lid. I have a hunch I know what the difference indicates, but it is a SWAG and I don't want to voice my beliefs without any evidence -- and I have none.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

My 71, which may not be revelant here, has 6 dimples on the Original cover. See attached photo. The repro I have on the car has 4.

Ken

[Scott K.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

My 71, which may not be revelant here, has 6 dimples on the Original cover. See attached photo. The repro I have on the car has 4.

Ken

AHA.. Very relevant!! You just demonstrated a big block (454) cover with 6 dimples. That was the premise of this thread... small blocks having 4 and big blocks having 6.

[Scott K.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

only 4 dimples -
my car was a one owner 45K miles car when I got it.

small block or big block?

[Bill C.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

not all true - mine was a 1972 454 car and I am 100% sure of the originality of the lid and it only had four dimples.


maybe it had to do with the year of the car or the manufacturer GM used at the time.

[Scott K.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

not all true - mine was a 1972 454 car and I am 100% sure of the originality of the lid and it only had four dimples.


maybe it had to do with the year of the car or the manufacturer GM used at the time.

Good point.

[Michael M.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

Scott,
My original 71 350/270 has 6 dimples. You may also want to check the seal that mates to the base. Originals are solid with no butt seam. The reason there is no butt seam is because the seal material was first a thick liquid. After it was put in the channel it was then baked in an oven to cure. Upon curing it was then ready to be installed. This is how it was done at Ford in 1973 when I worked in the air cleaner dept. Side note, sometimes things went wrong and the seal would swell to severel times there intended size.
Mike (42753)

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

not all true - mine was a 1972 454 car and I am 100% sure of the originality of the lid and it only had four dimples.


maybe it had to do with the year of the car or the manufacturer GM used at the time.

Now that you put it out there....

[Tom L.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

I'm with Ken, the lid on my Oct. '72 LS-5 had 6 dimples. I can not say for certain it's the cover that the car left the factory with but the dents and tha excessive pitting leads me to believe it is. No pics here but they can be provided if it will help. Good luck!!

[Dave S.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

Now that you put it out there....

Just to throw a monkey wrench into the small block/big block theory I've attached a photo from my very late 1971 small block lid. Its an original as you can see from the decal. - 6 dimples.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

Just to throw a monkey wrench into the small block/big block theory I've attached a photo from my very late 1971 small block lid. Its an original as you can see from the decal. - 6 dimples.

Yours still works as a vendor indicator. That would be my take, but I have absolutely no evidence to support that.

[Scott K.]

Re: 1972 air cleaner cover OEM vs Repro

Yours still works as a vendor indicator. That would be my take, but I have absolutely no evidence to support that.

So...is the takeaway that there may have been more than 1 vendor supplying closed snorkel air cleaner covers and that based on examples of both original small and big block cars, original covers may contain 4 or 6 dimples ?