57 FI air cleaner lid

[Mike E.]

What are differences between original and repro? I picked up some 57 parts yesterday, and a lid was included. ( only FI part). Until my bubble bursts, I'd like to think this is an original.

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Mike,

Please post a photo of the lid you acquired.

Gary
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[Mike E.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Gary--
I tried for 45 minutes before I gave up. It wouldn't accept my photos. Here's another try at it. One is 650k the other 760, red mark at end comes up with "undefined" and I'm not sure what to do to rectify that.
Mike

[Vinnie P.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Here are the requested photos

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Mike,

Need to use a photo resizer. TDB FAQ's tells you where to download one. https://www.forums.ncrs.org/faq.php?...faq#faq_photos

IMHO, the inside flame arresting material originally was horse hair jute treated with a fire retarding chemical. Would expect to see only 3 spot welds in the wing nut grove on the exterior side of the lid.

Vinnie, thanks for posting Rev Mike's photos.

Gary
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[Brooks G.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Mike, Here are pictures of two '57 FI air cleaner lids. One is for sure a reproduction and the other I feel sure is original. Unfortunately the original is the one that is cut. The reproduction looks really close to me. I am also going to try to attach a picture of the air cleaner element that came with the original lid. I bought it along with the FI unit from a fellow who raced boats. I have no idea why he cut the edge of the lid and the air cleaner element.DSC02962.jpg

[Brooks G.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Mike, I don't know what happened but two of the pictures did not attach to the post I wrote. I will try again.DSC02967.jpg

[Brooks G.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Mike, I have another picture I would like to post but this site won't let me. Maybe I can try later. Brooks Glover (2141)

[Mike E.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

The center of the one you believe to be original and the one I picked up look to be extremely similar, but with more marks than Gary indicated. We need further input, obviously. SWEET blue filter!!
Thanks,
Mike

[Bruce B.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

MVC-010S.JPGMVC-011S.JPG

Mike,
Attached are a few photos of what I believe is an original 57 FI air cleaner lid.
The front picture trys to show the 3 spot welds (difficult to see)and the picture of the back shows 3 spots of JB weld holding the insulation and screen in place. Screen and insulation was removed for chrome plating. Pretty crude screen but they did not waste any screen material.
I have another cover on my 57 which I will try and get some pictures of later.

[Brooks G.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Mike, I will make another attempt to post a picture. This time it shows the air cleaner and lid. I believe this to be original as I purchased it in mid 1971 and I don't think reproduction air cleaners were out at that time. I still have no idea why the guy I purchased this from cut the lid and air cleaner element. All I remember was that he raced boats at that time.
Brooks Glover (2141)DSC02966.jpg

[Mike E.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

Interesting. That pattern in the center looks identical to the lid I picked up. To keep things challenging--I dug out the one with my 4520 unit. History on that one goes back to 71 also. Pretty certain that's long before repros. That has the three marks like Gary mentioned. Comparing the marks, they appear identical except for the quantity. Almost like only half the spot-welder was working/aligned on the three-mark ones. Anyone else have input on this?

[Bruce B.]

Re: 57 FI air cleaner lid

MVC-014S.JPGMVC-013S.JPG

Mike,
Here is an old repro lid.
As you can see the raised area in the center is different then all the others pictured.
Also you can see 2 spot welds, they seem to be spaced like there might have been 5 or 6 welds.
Please ignore the autograph.