C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Air cleaner hold-down

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 17, 2009 | 09:48 AM
  #1  
Mpls Funk's Avatar
Mpls Funk
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 878
Likes: 60
From: Minneapolis, MN USA
Default Air cleaner hold-down

On a 1970 small block - There is a threaded stud that comes up through the center of the air filter...then a round cover sits on top of the air cleaner and that stud pokes through the center of the cover. I need to know what the size/thread is on that stud so i can buy the proper nut to hold that cover down. Can anyone help me?
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2009 | 11:23 AM
  #2  
gbvette62's Avatar
gbvette62
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
Default

The carb air cleaner studs have a 1/4-20 thread, I believe.

Originally, GM used a chrome plated, stamped steel, wing nut on 70 (actually 63-72) air cleaners, not a nut. For 73-81, the same wing nut was used, but it was no longer chrome plated.

The correct wing nut is available from any of the Corvette vendors for about $3.00, or you can probably find a similar chrome wing nut at most auto parts stores or speed shops. A hardware store should have forged wing nuts, which are similar to what GM used from 55-62, but nothing like the 63 up wing nut.

IMO, a wing nut is a lot easier to use and better looking on an air cleaner, than a plain nut.
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2009 | 11:44 AM
  #3  
Nowhere Man's Avatar
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,121
Likes: 9,436
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by gbvette62
The carb air cleaner studs have a 1/4-20 thread, I believe.

Originally, GM used a chrome plated, stamped steel, wing nut on 70 (actually 63-72) air cleaners, not a nut. For 73-81, the same wing nut was used, but it was no longer chrome plated.

The correct wing nut is available from any of the Corvette vendors for about $3.00, or you can probably find a similar chrome wing nut at most auto parts stores or speed shops. A hardware store should have forged wing nuts, which are similar to what GM used from 55-62, but nothing like the 63 up wing nut.

IMO, a wing nut is a lot easier to use and better looking on an air cleaner, than a plain nut.
that is correct but the wing nut sold at the vendors are not 100% correct and will get a deduct in NCRS judging.
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2009 | 08:44 PM
  #4  
Jim4924's Avatar
Jim4924
Advanced
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 6
From: Ashville, New York
Default air cleaner hold down nut

1/4-20 is the correct thread size..............
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2009 | 01:45 AM
  #5  
Mpls Funk's Avatar
Mpls Funk
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 878
Likes: 60
From: Minneapolis, MN USA
Default

Thanks all - I am going with the quick solution of a 1/4-20 nut...to be replaced by the wing-nut later.

I appreciate your help!
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2009 | 09:52 AM
  #6  
corvetteload's Avatar
corvetteload
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 15
From: Confusion
Default

Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
that is correct but the wing nut sold at the vendors are not 100% correct and will get a deduct in NCRS judging.
Seriously, after the original post and the explanation we had to sit through to get to the "wing nut" part of it, you REALLY think he cares about NCRS!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2009 | 10:55 AM
  #7  
1ARACE's Avatar
1ARACE
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
Default

Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
that is correct but the wing nut sold at the vendors are not 100% correct and will get a deduct in NCRS judging.
What's the visual difference? All my NCRS judging manual says is, "It is attached by a chrome pressed-metal wing nut."

I guess how you tell?
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2009 | 11:15 AM
  #8  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

The quick and easy way of telling the difference is seeing if a dime will fit inside the 'gap' in one of the ears. The repo parts are pinched too tight, the dime won't fit.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 19, 2009 | 11:16 AM
  #9  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

Originally Posted by corvetteload
Seriously, after the original post and the explanation we had to sit through to get to the "wing nut" part of it, you REALLY think he cares about NCRS!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I guess not and it would have been easier to just go to any car parts store and buy one rather than pounding a keyboard and waiting. But.....
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 05:16 AM
  #10  
corvetteload's Avatar
corvetteload
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 15
From: Confusion
Default

Speaking of air cleaner studs, just got a new toy, 67 Chevelle Pro-Street, and was cleaning the engine compartment and polishing things up, so I removed the scoop on the dual Demon carbs and I found the one air filter was held down by a standard 5" hex head bolt, and the other a nut on the stud. After I removed the nut and the cleaner assembly, this is what I found:

Thankfully the originator of this post didn't find this, it would have sent him into a tailspin!!

Last edited by corvetteload; Oct 22, 2009 at 07:55 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 06:57 AM
  #11  
joewill's Avatar
joewill
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
Default

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1963-...Q5fAccessories

I have seen them for double the above...
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Air cleaner hold-down





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:04 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE