'72 Air Cleaner Base Color

[Kevin Morris]

Hello again all. I am further detailing my engine compartment, and have a question regarding the correct color of my air cleaner base. My '72 has the base 350/200hp engine. Therefore, it has the dual-snorkle black air cleaner base, with the chrome lid. I am uncertain as to what to repaint the black base, i.e. how glossy of a black to use. Satin black seems not shiny enough, so I am torn between a semi-gloss black, which would most closely match my fan and shroud, or a gloss black, which would more closely match my original B-R 270 coil. What is the correct black for this base?

Thx,
Kevin #39927

[Patrick H.]

Re: '72 Air Cleaner Base Color

Gloss black is the closest.

Remember that the factory didn't use a lot of paint, and the coverage was thin. It will be tempting to put it on too thick.

Patrick

[Harmon C.]

Re: '72 Air Cleaner Base Color

Kevin I have found the judges hard to please on this part as the original finsh has aged with heat so the gloss is gone. If it is repainted then it is much more gloss than they usally see as new ones are all old now. I think the factory did paint over dirt at times. Do the best you can and a little less gloss may have better results. Lyle

[Kevin Morris]

Re: '72 Air Cleaner Base Color

You have a good point Lyle. My '70-72 TIM/JG states the air cleaner base should be "gloss black". The original paint I stripped off of the air cleaner base, however, was not all that glossy...more of a semi-gloss. As you stated, probably diminished because of the heat buildup in the engine compartment.

Kevin #3927