#s matching 72

Hello my Corvette friends
I need some help identifying a ( probably a 70-72) LT1 open element air cleaner that I have. I am going to be putting this item in the C3 want and sell later but I don't want to misrepresent it when I do.
I believe it is to be original because the air cleaner lid has the "AC" silk screening on the inside with some filter instructions and what type filter to use on the underside of the lid , but I can not find any stamp markings on the base. It came on my non LT1 (L48) Corvette when I bought it. I have since put the correct dual snorkel air cleaner and carb. on it during restoration.
If anybody has some pictures of what it is suppose to look like and show the characteristic (IE Markings part#'s etc.)s that make it original i would appreciate it. I am interested in pictures of the base too make to make sure it is correct also.
I am sure Alan Has the data ready at hand.
Thanks John





POSTED BETTER PICTURES BELOW IN A LATER POST

Alan 71

Hi John,
I only WISH I could help with some LT-! air cleaner base and lid pictures.
I believe there is at least 1 LT-! owner who frequents the Forum that may have some pictures of original air cleaner parts you can access.
Regards,
Alan

#s matching 72

Thanks Alan for trying.
Regards John

avalonjohn

I have an original off a 1970 LT-1 lid with the original sticker still in place. It's a spare and I do not need it. I can take pictures if you want however, my thought is it is no different than any other one off a 70, except for the HP designation sticker. The silk screening should be straight as opposed to the curved style on 68/69.

I'll post them later tonight.

#s matching 72

Thanks. if you could take a picture of the base from the bottom that great to. What I have was on the car when I bought it in 1980 so it isn't one of today's repo's maybe a repo from that era maybe. The silk screening on mine is straight and is not radius'ed or curved
Thanks John

gbvette62

There are no markings on the 14" open element air cleaner bases, to help identify them.

You can determine the year of the lid, to some degree, from the shape of the silk screened instructions. A 66-69 lid will have curved instructions, while the 70 and later lids have straight, silk screen instructions. If you have the straight instructions, than it is a 70-72 lid, or a later service replacement.

There were 2 different bases used from 68-72. The differences came down to the angle and shape, of the right side breather tube.

The LT-1 used a different base then the L-48. The breather tubes had to be different, because the height of high rise LT-1 intake, placed the tube at a different position in relation to the valve cover, than the cast iron L-48 intake does. The same 2 bases were also used on different 427's and 454's. There were some other bases, such as those for 66-67 small blocks, L-88's and some CA emission cars, but it's not as likely that you have one of these.

If you bought the air cleaner assembly in 1980, it's probably a GM piece. I don't think GM discontinued the bases until sometime in the late 90's. Post a picture of the base you have, and I may be able to tell you which base it is.

c69vete

Unless I am way off base, the LT-1's were equipped with Holly carbs and not Q-jet. If it was on an 80 with a Q-jet then my guess was it was not from a LT-1.
YMMV and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

#s matching 72

This air cleaner was on my 1972 L48 that bought in 1980. the prior owner had removed the Qjet and installed a Holley thus he had to use a different air cleaner.
This is now extra since I have returned my 72 to a Qjet and the correct dual snorkel air cleaner. I am trying to post pictures but it looks like photobucket is down now not uploading.
Regards John

gbvette62

It makes no difference, the center hole is the same for all of the bases.

Certain Holley double pumpers, won't work with the 14" open element air cleaner base. This is because of interference with the fuel bowls, and has nothing to do with the base's center opening.

gbvette62

This does not look like a Corvette base.

On a Corvette base (and most other Chevrolet ones I'm familiar with), the breather tube would be pointing out toward the valve cover, not into the center of the base. The only exception to this that I'm familiar with, is the 66-67 327 base, but it has the breather tube on the opposite side, and it points straight back.

It's possible that the tube has been repositioned, or it may be for a different car. Possibly a GTO?

I have pictures of both the LT-1 and L-48 bases, but for some reason, Photobucket is not letting me load them right now. I will try to post them up for you later.

#s matching 72

Ok Photo bucket is back up here are better pictures of the air cleaner.
It appears that the vent tube on the base is in place with a rubber plug and a 90 deg. elbow similar to the one used on the valve cover. It still may be a LT1 base but the original may have had a welded on 90 deg tube and it was removed and this was put in it's place. You can rotate it anywhere you want. I measured from where it would set on the carb. to the bottom of the base and it has a 2" drop.
Regards John

gbvette62

As you've guessed, the original breather tube is missing. It has been replaced by using a valve cover grommet to install a 68-72 small block, valve cover, breather tube.

The tubes were only attached by 3 little spot welds, so they often from the bases. The tube is available separately, but it cost $26. You can buy a brand new base for $60, so it's really not worth buying a new tube, to try and sell a used base.

The only thing that would make the base an LT-1 piece, is the position of the tube. Without the tube, it's a 14" open element air cleaner base.

Below are the 2 bases used between 68-72.

The top one is the LT-1 base, and it was also used on 68-69 L-88, 65 396, 66 427 and 67 427/390.

The second base is the one used with 68-70E L-48's, as well as 68-69 427/390 and 70E 454.

LT-1 base (yes, this is a repro and the paint is too shiny)


L-48 base

#s matching 72

Thanks for the pictures , based on them it probably as you said 14" open element base with a missing tube . Looking at your pictures I think mine most resembles the top picture. Can you tell me if your bases are a 2" drop also?? that would be from where the carb. would rest to the very bottom of the base. What do you think the lid might be worth? I would say it's driver quality with no rust chrome I would say is visually presentable as a driver . What would you say would be a fair asking price? someone may be able to use it if they get it cheap enough.

Thanks John

#s matching 72

A GREAT BIG THANKS to all for the info and pictures and the time spent to help.
It's now in the C3 sell section.
Regards John