Air Cleaner for 72 Mach 1 Ram Air & 351C

[likesoldjunk]

Hi Guy's, Been off the board for a while...

I've recently lucked into a set of flappers and a
Plenum for Ram Air in my Mach 1. That just leaves
the Air Cleaner, which is a pretty unique device.
Someone sells a fiberglass repro on the net for $425,
and crappy originals can go for upwards of $1000
on EBay, so being the King of the Kludge, I figure
it's time to get creative.

A friend of mine loaned me an original to measure
and photograph. It's been chromed, and a little beat
up, but it gives the dimensions. It seems to me that if
I take a standard 18" base, make a plate out of heavy
sheetmetal, to take care of all the offsets. The geometry
is a little weird, but it's really just 3 non concentric
circles. Then I just need to come up with something for
the top that gives the lip for the rubber seal, I should be
able to come up with something that would pass even a
relatively close inspection.

I took a first crack at making a plate last night, and
although I screwed it up, I think the concept is sound.

Has anyone tried to do this before ?

Here's a downshot on the original.

 

[likesoldjunk]

Not sure what happened to my attachment....

Oh, too big... had to scale it.

 

[69 Rustang]

I have thought about making parts like that before as well. My shaker hood scoop is missing some pieces and I have made parts out of fiberglass to get buy and they look good, but definitely are not perfect and don't pass as original. I am considering doing it in sheetmetal, but to get them to be perfect I need a good pattern to copy--you have that so go for it. Take your time and don't be afraid to keep trying. I am sure there will be more mistakes, but at least you will have fun doing it. Good luck.

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

laurel mountain mustang is making a nice steel repop for just over $200. i bought one and the quality very good. the only thing missing is the 14" lid but those can be had elsewhere.

 

[likesoldjunk]

Laurel Mountain eh ? I checked their website, and they don't have it
posted... I would have thought for something like that they would
make a bigger deal. I'll call them later.

Are you sure we're talking the same thing ? The carb in the 351
Cleveland is offset, so the air cleaner I need looks like two stacked
on top of each other, with one slid about an inch and a half forward
and to the left.... I hope you're right, but....

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

Laurel Mountain eh ? I checked their website, and they don't have it
posted... I would have thought for something like that they would
make a bigger deal. I'll call them later.

Are you sure we're talking the same thing ? The carb in the 351
Cleveland is offset, so the air cleaner I need looks like two stacked
on top of each other, with one slid about an inch and a half forward
and to the left.... I hope you're right, but....

yes we are talking about the same thing. i'm very familiar with a '71-'73 ram air system as i used to have a factory original one on my previous mach 1 years ago. about 2 months ago they were pushing them like crazy but they sold out the first batch.

 

[likesoldjunk]

You're right !

I called them, and this does appear to be the real deal. $214,
unpainted, no lid, and no seal. Still a pretty good deal
compared to anything else out there.

Only problem is, as you say they are sold out, and really can't
tell me when they expect more in. I put my name on the list,
and will just quiver in anticipation of word.

In the meantime, I may just continue with my project just for
fun.

 

[thehueypilot]

Here is my version of a functional poor man's ram air.

 

[72grande]

Sorry for the hijack.

-HueyPilot, where'd you source that A/C compressor? Looks pretty, and modern?

 

[thehueypilot]

That's from the Classic Air company.