Air Cleaner Top Original

[James B.]

I have two air cleaner tops that came with my 67 L79 and I am trying to determine if one of them is original. Hopefully pictures of the two are attached. The bottom sides show the greatest variations so I have two pictures of each. The newer of the two (on the left) is cleaner and the old dirtier so I will refer to them as the new and the old. The new one has a very distinct and clean rolled edge on the underside. The old one has a rolled edge but it is not as smooth and uniform and the roll isn't all the way back on itself. Also, the old top has a very distinct rise in the center of the underside, significantly more noticeable than the new top. The lettering on both tops looks about the same except that the lettering on the old top is still intact whereas it is coming off on the newer top.

I have the 5th edition of the JG and it has pictures of a top on page 108. The older top looks like the underside pictured at the top of the page. However, there is another inset crop at the bottom of the page that seems like a different center (from that at the top of the page). So in spite of the JG I am still confused.

I would appreciate any comments and if some could post pics of original tops showing the same areas on the shots I have attached. Thanks for your help and comments. Jim B
ACTopNew1.jpgACTopNew2.jpgACTopOld1.jpgACTopOld2.jpg

[Gerard F.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

James,

I think the one you call old is a lot closer to my original for a 67/300. Pictures below. The area around the hole is little more rounded than the one you call new.

I see what you mean about the inset picture in the 5th edition JG, the area around the hole is a little sharper in the curve and looks closer to the one you call new.

Maybe it is a vendor issue. However, looking at the deteriorated silkscreen and position of the one you call new, it may be a replacement.
Hopefully an expert will chime in.







Guaranteed original to my 67/327/300, all I did was clean it up with a little Simple Green (carefully for a few hours )

[Keith B.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

the top one is a original the bottom is Paragons best

[Gerard F.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

James,

I think a comparison of the silkscreen fonts and line start/spacing with Keith's photos, will tell you which one of yours is the original, and which one is a replacement.

I'll bet that inset photo in M-5-3 on pg 108 of JG is of a replacement.

[James B.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

Very helpful and thanks to you both. Yes I felt the old/dirty one was original but was confused by the pic in JG. The font and print in the old one looks more like above original and the 'roll' looks just like the first set of pics. Interestingly, the print on the repro is coming off after a couple of years but the 46 year old original is still good; similarly the turbo fire 327/350 label has eroded from cleaning but is still largely there, the new ones are looking worn after a couple of very careful cleanings. Again, thanks to you both, great pictures and I appreciate your taking the time. Regards, Jim B

[Peter L.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

Jim - Keith has a couple of nice example. I have a simple system when it comes to air cleaner lid instructions. "If they look too good & you can ready read them; they probably aren't original." Pete

[Ronald L.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

the repro modern dot matrix print can be seen with a little magnification,

I posted some of those a few years ago here, but there are other print differences to the naked eye too.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

Peter,

Don't agree That silkscreen ink or paint on the original air cleaner lid was some pretty tough stuff. Still very clear on mine after 46 years and 76k miles.
Maybe it's the California weather

[Terry M.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

the repro modern dot matrix print can be seen with a little magnification,

I posted some of those a few years ago here, but there are other print differences to the naked eye too.

Ron,
What part is dot matrix printing? The conversation began with the silk screen and moved to the top engine size label and back to the silk screen again, so I am confused.

[Gene M.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

Jim - Keith has a couple of nice example. I have a simple system when it comes to air cleaner lid instructions. "If they look too good & you can ready read them; they probably aren't original." Pete

Peter,
Nailed it here. The repops have not perfected the font. The character line weight is too too thin, a dead give away.
I have seen some variation on original roll forming holes. The nature of the roll forming manufacturing process results is not "good enough" to make verification.

I do not recommend "magnification on the judging field as the verification should be naked eye (exception eye glasses).

[Ara G.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

Peter,
Nailed it here. The repops have not perfected the font. The character line weight is too too thin, a dead give away.
I have seen some variation on original roll forming holes. The nature of the roll forming manufacturing process results is not "good enough" to make verification.

I do not recommend "magnification on the judging field as the verification should be naked eye (exception eye glasses).

Gene, Couldn't agree with you more. I use the term "exacto knife versus a sponge". If it looks like the silk screen lettering was cut with an exacto knife (so sharp, thin letters and not blotchy) then it's repop. If it looks like it was applied with a sponge (I know it wasn't, but it looks like it was) then it's probably real/original. I have a few original lids that are smudged a lot too....I assume them to be factory lids as the lettering is wider, raised (feels like brail almost when you run your fingers over the lettering)...Just my 2 cents....ARA

[Patrick N.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

[QUOTE=Gerard Fuccillo (42179);682221]Peter,

DThat silkscreen ink or paint on the original air cleaner lid was some pretty tough stuff. Still very clear on mine after 46 years and 76k miles.

FWIW, I have a theory that the original ink was similar to Mil-spec epoxy ink. When I worked on products for the 20th century land warrior program, the military printing that was spec'd was a two part epoxy that could be applied either as silk screen or rubber stamp pad. It was very easy to use in high volume production an very cost effective. it took two hours at room temp to dry and about 7 days to cure. once fully cured- especially if baked, the letters had seemed to "Puff up" and was all but impervious to any chemical cleaners and had insane abrasion resistance. That ink looked identical to the underside of my 3X2 cleaner that was on my car. I have a replacement on the car now and the new one looks nothing like the original that i still have.

[Terry M.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

I was looking at the Enamel Silk Screen Ink just yesterday. I will post a picture of the can and label later today.

The thin or thick lettering comes from the size of the opening in the screen.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

Patrick,

I think you are correct, the silkscreen has to be an epoxy. What other paint or ink would stand up to years of gas/oil, and hot and cold.

[Larry E.]

Re: Air Cleaner Top Original

Has anybody seen silk screen lettering like the picture below? A/C came off of a 69 Camaro 302; but do not
know if is original or not. Thanks in advance. LarryMVC-033F.JPG