Koda

I was asked for some data on the air cleaner my 442 has, being a 67 automatic made late in the year. From what I can tell, I think they went to this air cleaner around March of 67. It is an interesting air cleaner; it uses the 4 speed open air cleaner base, and the top piece is oversize, which allows it to look like a closed air cleaner, but really perform like an open one. This was the last year for any kind of chimneyless air cleaner, as the advances made on the Climactic Combustion Control air cleaner went into standard use on all air cleaners in 68. These are fairly rare, I think I have seen 2 for sale in 18 years.

Like the rest of my 442, it sits in a restorable project state, as a new member who is not someone with whom I'd care to associate pointed out. I have the wrong air filter, it is too tall. Locating the upper part onto the carb stud is more difficult than a non-oversize air cleaner lid, as there are no datums with which to align it, you just hunt for the stud.

The base is 13.125" dia, while the lid is 16.875" dia for most of it. The lip on the bottom is 17.375" dia. Height of lid is 3.1875". Calls for a 14x3 in filter.

joe_padavano

Cool. You definitely do not see those very often.

Oldsmaniac

It seems to me though the engine will be getting next to no cool air from this design....

Koda

I think it's effectively the same as the open air cleaner.

This 442 will receive a modern day track pack in the restoration, so this air cleaner is destined for rechroming and wall hanging. I have a lot of rechroming to do, this air cleaner and a couple OAI shrouds.

joe_padavano

Any air cleaner that draws underhood air pulls it at the same temperature. The only 1967 air cleaner that provided cold air was the W30.

Hairy Olds

You will notice the chrome part of the housing is not highly polished more like sand blasted finish. The chrome part has no copper in the process only Nickle and a light flash chroming.

Koda

Yes, sometime I'd like a discussion on that style of chrome. It's not show chrome, and it is not the tooling product "hard chrome." Triple nickel show chrome has copper strike, dull nickel, bright nickel, porous nickel, then chrome. I believe the chroming on this air cleaner is similar to the spokes of an SSI wheel. The chrome on a W-30 OAI air cleaner is more highly polished chrome, but just not as excellent as today's show chrome. I think.

Rallye469

That's definitely a cool air cleaner. I need to polish mine up.

And I would LOVE to find someone who can duplicate the flash chrome process as all the 65's air cleaners are the same.
I've reached out to dozens and none are confident they can do it.