GM open element air cleaner with a chrome base?

[VintageMusclecar]

[MosportGreen66]

for what its worth Eric... with that rat '67 Malibu project car I had for a little bit, came a Moroso unit near identical to that. It was black, however.

[427king]

Ive had 2 L78s with that air cleaner one had a silkscreened top on it and factory element.Cant verify but it may be possible??

[VintageMusclecar]

It's definitely an OE GM unit and has the silkscreen on the bottom of the lid, but the chrome base is throwing me off...I've only seen them painted black.

Can't place the breather tube either.

Eric

[3macs1]

Hi Eric:
I am not much help either other than I took an air cleaner identical to that off a unaltered small block 72 corvette probally 25 years ago.Like you I thought the base was not GM but now after seeing yours I am not sure. I know I still have the lid with the GM marking , wing nut and the chrome tube somewhere but think I tossed the bottom thinking it was not GM. The more I compare that base you posted to a black GM one the more I think it is GM just a matter did someone chrome it or did the factory do it.
take care
Joe

[VintageMusclecar]

Joe;

The owner of the air cleaner was/is under the impresson that it came off of a `70 LT-1 `Vette, so maybe you're not too far off?

Did yours also have the dimples to clear the needle&seat adjusters on a Holley carb like this one?

Eric

[3macs1]

Hi Eric:
I honestly cannot remember but the car had a 4spd muncie and I am positive a 780 holley factory if that is possible in 72??
I am not up on the small blocks
take care
Joe

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
The owner of the air cleaner was/is under the impresson that it came off of a `70 LT-1 `Vette, so maybe you're not too far off?

[/ QUOTE ]

Corvette guys are funny. (No disrespect; I used to be one ) I've seen this done a number of times. They (we) just didn't like that Black rim around the bottom of the air cleaner.

Could it be a factory piece? Who knows; it's this old "always & never" deal again, but my money would go on it being a day-2/dress-up project.

[427king]

Eric, Its possible that the base and fittings got chromed by someone after the fact. That end fitting looks like a small block rear block fitting

[VintageMusclecar]

OK, for comparisons sake, here is another OE open element air cleaner which belongs to the same person the mystery chrome one does.



It appears to me to have essentially the same shape (dimples & whatnot) as the mystery chrome one.

The chrome on the base of the 1st air cleaner looks a LOT like the cheap flash-chrome that GM used on the lids and valve covers of the day.