72 TA : New Project

[69rsz28]

Really nice job Steve. I hope I have that kind of success when I start working on my project.

[CamarosRus]

Steve, Is it correct that you removed the BAD snorkel and installed a good one from another cleaner......If this is the case can you elaborate on HOW you did the amputation and reattachement........
Also if you used Rustoleum 7777 Satin Black, and it matches Pontiac OEM......may I assume that Chevrolet's Air Cleaners were in fact somewhat glossier.......than factory Pontiac ????

Chuck

[njsteve]

You can see from the photos that the color is a very close match to the NOS air cleaner's color. The same transplant procedure works for any of the chevy air cleaners as well. You just have to know which snorkel is the correct one to swap. There are only four tack welds on the outer flange perimeter that hold the flange of the snorkel against the air cleaner base. Using a very small chisel you gently split the seam between the flange and the base. The metal is very thin and once you get it off, you can tap it flat again. Attaching the new snorkel is relatively easy as the snorkel fits over the 1/2" tubular section that is on the base with a snug fit. You dont even need clamps to hold it on. Just apply epoxy to the flange and tap it back into place, and wait for it to set.

[njsteve]

The driver's side snorkel on any Pontiac 4bbl air cleaner from late 60s to 72 is the one you need to replace either of the snorkels on a 70 to 72 Trans Am air cleaner. Unfortunately you need two of them. (Even though both sides have the Thermac valve, the passenger's side snorkel usually doesn't have the heat riser tube mount on the bottom, but sometimes you get lucky). In these photos you can see the 4 bbl donor air cleaner, the flange area and the underside which shows the passenger side snorkel without the tube mount. This would be a similar process for any GM air cleaner. KevinW seems to be the expert on donor snorkels for Chevy stuff. He knows which are the right ones for the cowl air cleaners, especially the rarer automatic equipped ones that had the Thermac heat riser.

[CamarosRus]

Kevin W, Might you know of another G.M. application that used the same snorkels as the ONE YEAR ONLY 1970 Camaro L-78 or 70 LS-6/L-78 Chevelle W/O Cowl Induction Hood ??

Chuck S

[njsteve]

Since it finally stopped raining after a week or so I decided to reinstall the drivetrain back on the finished subframe. Using my superior male logic I figured I would lift the engine and move the subframe around under it and then set it down. This was my second theory after I couldn't move the engine and trans assembly by myself while it was up in the air on the winch.

[Leigh]

Thats looking really nice. Good luck with the T/A.

[KevinW]

Chuck, do you have a pic of the air cleaner you are taking about. Steve is giving me credit for way too much knowledge I know 69s the best, I get fuzzy when you go to 68s or 70s. I do know that most same year similar applications recieved the same snorkel and can be swapped just like steve did. Send or post me a pic and I will try to ID it.

[SamLBInj]

Excellent job there Steve!

[njsteve]

I spent yesterday fixing the dozen and half extra holes in the firewall from 32 years of brackets, coils, ballast resistors etc. It almost looks like someone had target practice with a .22 rifle.

Here is the before shot:


I was able to borrow a buddy's welder and grinder and ended up filling all the holes myself. Took a few tries but I eventually got the hang of it. I then used some chemical stripper to remove the burnt up paint from the previous owner's carb fire. I only removed what I had to, so I have a reference point to the original semi-flat black paint. And I didn't even burn down the garage either! Here's the after shot: