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I have converted my 71 to an HEI distributor and went to the trouble of fitting it with the 1975 distributor ignition shield to keep everything looking as close to C3 stock as possible.
I have an LT-1 air cleaner that has worked perfectly to date even with the HEI distributor but now the 14” diameter of the air cleaner will it clear with the shielding.
I have fitted the shielding nicely and can buy about 1/4” of the clearance by relieving the back of the shield to accommodate the connector that is proud to the the front of the wiper motor casing but will absolutely need another 1/2” or so.
I can probably modify and relieve the bottom of the shield in a fairly discrete way but …….
Anyone know of a nice 13” drop air cleaner option? I cannot find one the looks right and is not a Ford product. I have also considered an offset but do not like the idea or the look.
You wouldn't need the seal ring since you don't have a cowl induction hood on your '71 like they had on the '73-'75's. You can still use your 329C air filter and lid.
The '75 base is similar to a '73-'74 air cleaner base. For model year 1975 the base was modified so that it would fit on top of the carb next to the larger HEI distributor by adding a 7" long recess so it would clear the distributor shielding.
(thanks for the pics, Jimmy)
The 1975 air cleaner is a one year only design. Later air cleaners were either single snorkle or an off-set dual snorkle design. All had Therm-AC temperature valves.
Last edited by '73and'75; Apr 21, 2022 at 04:38 PM.
buy a repop LT1 base and modify it like the 75 filter base shown above. you won't have to bend-cut quite that deep. then push the back of the element in a bit.
You wouldn't need the seal ring since you don't have a cowl induction hood on your '71 like they had on the '73-'75's. You can still use your 329C air cleaner and lid.
The '75 base is similar to a '73-'74 air cleaner base. For model year 1975 the base was modified so that it would fit on top of the carb next to the larger HEI distributor by adding a 7" long recess so it would clear the distributor shielding.
(thanks for the pics, Jimmy)
The 1975 air cleaner is a one year only design. Later air cleaners were either single snorkle or an off-set dual snorkle design. All had Therm-AC temperature valves.
That setup looks like it might be a bit too tall for a '71 base hood...?
I would mod the ign shielding. Looks like you would only have to open that existing window up a bit more, but do it slowly so you don't blue the chrome.
That setup looks like it might be a bit too tall for a '71 base hood...?
I would mod the ign shielding. Looks like you would only have to open that existing window up a bit more, but do it slowly so you don't blue the chrome.
The pictures I posted for the '75 air cleaner show a 348C filter which is 3.5" tall and correct for a '75. OP would have to use a 329C filter which is 2.5" tall and correct for his car.
Opening the "window" on the distributor shielding won't help. With the HEI shielding distributor cover there is very little clearance between the shielding cover and the side of the distributor.
Last edited by '73and'75; Apr 22, 2022 at 08:31 AM.
Air cleaner with HEI
