K19 1966 Part Number Question...Joe?

[Mark P.]

I am in need of some clarification on a K19 part number question for a 1966 big block 390 hp. I am looking for the clarification on the diverter valve number. The JG shows a 7036196 as the correct number, but an individual that has worked with these systems in CA (David Crane...Crane Corvette) says that the actual number should be a number 7036547 for a big block and 546 for a small block. Any truth to the statement? Maybe those were the numbers for an early car vs. a late car. My car buld date was June 16, 1966.

One more issue and I'll shut up. There seems to be some dispute on the air cleaner and which application is correct. I have a supposedly original air cleaner base with the outlet that comes down to the pass. side toward the front to attach into the hose for the K19 pump. It also has the other outlet to connect into the pass side valve cover, but it exits the base on the drivers side of the engine. It also has the stud that supposedly attaches to the the clamp for the diverter valve, but I've heard that was also intended for a small block. I've been told this air cleaner is for a small block, not a big block.

I also have a Paragon reproduction unit that has both outlets coming down out of the base in very close proximity to each other...allowing me to use the short hose to hook into the valve cover. The other unit would need to have about a 12" hose to reach. The Paragon model has no stud for attaching the diverter valve...did the big block require the spot welded-on bracket attached to the valve cover or was that only 1967? Any advice as to which is correct? Late car vs early car again? Not much is written in detail on the K19 system, so I have had to get bits and pieces from a lot of sources...sometimes conflicting. Too many questions for my small brain....

Sorry for the obvious reference to Joe Lucia...he seems to be the expert on the correct numbers and applications. Obviously, I would welcome the input from anyone willing to give advice.

Thanks for the help!
Mark

[Mark G.]

Re: K19 1966 Part Number Question...Joe?

Mark -

This is what I have; big bock mixture control valves, before 3/28/66 #7026295,‘66 & ’67 #7036196, ‘ 67 #7033547.

From the description of your air cleaner base, it is a service replacement as "one size fits all", the unused pipe would be capped.

L36 390 hp Air Injector Reactor (A.I.R.) equipped
L36 engines equipped with A.I.R. have two 1” outlets exiting from the base of the air cleaner. Both bend 90 degrees, one right angling rearward and the other facing front. The rear outlet connects to a rubber hose leading to the right valve cover breather connection. The front outlet attaches to a rubber hose connecting the air cleaner to the A.I.R. pump and is secured at both ends with tower clamps. This outlet does not have a spark arrestor screen. L36 A.I.R. air cleaner bases have a “J “shaped metal bracket spot welded in two places to the bottom of the air cleaner base. A threaded ¼” stud extends from the bottom right side of the base. Email me for more information and pictures.

Mark #35760

[Joe L.]

Re: K19 1966 Part Number Question...Joe?

Mark-----

There are several possibilities for diverter valves for 1966 Corvettes with K-19. However, none of these valves are the ones that David Crane described.

VERY early cars may have used valve GM #7026192 for both big block and small block cars. This valve was stamped "26192".

Later, valve GM #7026294, stamped "26294", was used for small blocks and valve GM #7026295, stamped "26295", was used for big blocks.

Later yet, small blocks used valve GM #7036195 which was stamped "36195" and big blocks used valve GM #7036196 which was stamped "36196".

Just when these changes occurred, I could not tell you.

By the way, there were no diverter valves of GM #7036546 and 7036547 as David Crane apparently told you. GM #7036546 was an overhaul kit for a Rochester carburetor and GM #7036547 was a never-released part number. However, there were diverter valves of GM #7033546 and 7033547. These were the diverter valves for 1967 small blocks and big blocks, respectively, and they became the SERVICE valves for 1966 in late 1967 when they replaced the GM #7036195 and 7036196.

[Mark P.]

Re: K19 1966 Part Number Question...Joe?

Thanks for clarifying, Joe. I thought it might be a service replacement he was describing. At any rate it seems that they are pretty rare and tough to come by. Maybe I misunderstood the numbers he stated. I may pick up the service replacement as opposed to having nothing.

Thanks again,
Mark

[Mark P.]

Re: K19 1966 Part Number Question...Joe?

I have a Paragon reproduction base that resembles the configuration of the outlets you describe, but there is no "J shaped metal bracket or threaded stud extending from the bottom right side of the base." Not much of a reproduction if you ask me. The only one I have with the stud is the one that the outlets don't match up...and it makes it look like it might be for a small block.

Dave was adamant about the point that the base with the stud was only for small blocks and that all big blocks have only the bracket spot welded to the valve cover. Not having an original air cleaner or valve covers leaves me at a bit of a poor position to argue about it. I'd appreciate any e-mails or pictures you would share with me.

Thanks, Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: K19 1966 Part Number Question...Joe?

Mark-----

None of these valves are currently available from GM; they've all been discontinued for a LONG while. You'll find that any of these are going to be quite expensive in the market today. For 66-67 systems, the diverter valves and check valves are the most expensive and difficult-to-locate components.

[Joe L.]

Re: K19 1966 Part Number Question...Joe?

Mark-----

Dave is correct about the small block versus big block diverter valve mounting. However, he's got "67's on-the-brain syndrome". I believe that the valve cover- mounted diverter valve bracket for big blocks was 1967-only. I believe that 67 small blocks used the bracket attached to the air cleaner base.

For 1966, I believe the bracket attached to air cleaner base was used for small blocks. I don't know if it was exactly the same for big blocks, but it was NOT attached to a bracket on the valve cover.

[larry linkous]

Well, I have a NOS

Delco Rochester carburetor air bleed valve ( AKA diverter valve ) in the box marked 1 #7033547. Someone mixed one number up when the talked to each other. I can e-mail a picture if you like. I believe this is the correct one for a 1967 big block K-19 ( Califorina ) car. 546 should be for a small block car. I think.

[Mark P.]

Re: K19 1966 Part Number Question...Joe?

Joe,

Thanks...these are rare enough cars and enough time has passed for people to forget what really happened or how they were originally set up. I'm not surprised that there isn't more confusion and disputes. There isn't enough written (even in the judging guides or in the AIM) to be clear enough to put a car together correctly. The AIM doesn't clearly reference the configuration on the air cleaner and the judging guide doesn't either except to say that "some bb air cleaners have a small supporting clamp spot-welded"...but the JG does say that the diverter valve for the big block "is mounted to a bracket spot-welded to the right hand valve cover". The AIM never talks about or shows such a bracket. Go figure. No wonder I'm confused. Looks like I have choices? Not sure. I'd like to see a judge defintively try to say he's an expert based on this information. Looks like a dispute waiting to happen.

Shoot, we seem to have a hard time and I see arguements on items that should be fairly commonplace among Corvettes that generate tons of discussion... no wonder K19 is a confusing option. In 1966, it was really only used in one state. Notice I said "used" and not "popular." I don't think there are enough examples out there to really say definitively that it is either this way or that way. Just like many other situations, there may have multiple changes in the first two years alone. Obviously, part numbers have changed what appears to be 3 times in the first two years on the diverter valve alone, and that's just on the big block. It seems GM was trying to figure things out just like the rest of us.

I guess the long way around the barn way of saying it is that I appreciate the help from everyone, even though it's a bit frustrating at times when things don't necessarily add up or there aren't definitive answers. Bottom line is, I'm still not sure if the diverter valve attaches to a bracket on the carburetor or air cleaner... or where it really attached. But I'll keep looking and hunting for info and pictures and brackets and whatever else I can get my hands on.

I guess I'll keep the three air cleaners I currently have and hope they fit something that I currently own...some day. Either that or someone out there will benefit from what I find out, because they'll become available. Either way, we all benefit sooner or later, in one way or another. Thanks again and keep sharing the wealth of knowledge that you and many others possess.

Mark