Air Cleaner Bottom 1959

[John C.]

I have a 283 with a single carter carb, when placing the air cleaner on does it make any difference which way the bottom goes, one side has a big scoop the other has a small scoop. Thanks

[John H.]

Re: Air Cleaner Bottom 1959

I have a 283 with a single carter carb, when placing the air cleaner on does it make any difference which way the bottom goes, one side has a big scoop the other has a small scoop. Thanks

John -

If, by "scoop" you mean an indentation, usually one is to clear the automatic choke housing and another one is to clear a fuel inlet. Nothing connects to the bottom of the air cleaner prior to 1962.

[Jerry K.]

Re: Air Cleaner Bottom 1959

On 1962 AFB carbs, there is a locating tang on the air cleaner base rim. I think earlier cars have the same tang on original air cleaner bases. There is a cutout in the rim that mates to the raised nub on the carb air horn, reproductions do not have this tang. There are also instruction on servicing air cleaner elements, these may differ from year to year, check your Judging Guide for specifics.

[Joe M.]

Re: Air Cleaner Bottom 1959

John, the large indentation is centered over the automatic choke. I am not certain when the base plate had the centering tang as shown in the photograph, but I know it was on the 1960 base plates, the base plates that were associated with the two piece air cleaner unit.

[Joe M.]

Re: Air Cleaner Bottom 1959

The tang for the early WCFB, up to early 1962, was 1-3/8" long. I am referring to the length of the tang from the right side to the bottom edge of the semi-circular cutout. The later tangs were 1".