1965 corvette 365 HP aircleaner

[Joseph F.]

I'm restoring my 1965 corvette wth the 365HP engine.The engine was missing a lot of the correct parts which I'm in the process of getting.The aircleaner which I assumed was the right one, is chrome with the indentation in the front.All of the 1965 corvettes I've seen with the 365 HP engine, had almost the same aircleaner but the aircleaner base was completely round with no indentation in the front.My car was built in early march of 65.Does anybody know if this is the right aircleaner?

[Art A.]

Re: 1965 corvette 365 HP aircleaner

Joe, I've owned my 365 for 28 years and have never noticed an indicator for front direction. The reason for that is...........that I've never looked for one because, it can only fit on one way. The two hoses that connect to the bottom of the base dictate it's location.

Art

[Albert P.]

Re: 1965 corvette 365 HP aircleaner

On my '64 327/365, the air cleaner base is indented in the front in the area of the fuel banjo fitting for clearance; not sure if '65 uses the same type of fuel inlet arrangement as mine.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 corvette 365 HP aircleaner

I believe the indentation you are referring to is shown in Noland's Vol 2, page 277, where he says "For unknown reasons, the front of early 1965 L76 air cleaners was indented".

The indentation covers about 80 degrees of the front vertical face of the cleaner base, with an upper lip reverting back to full diameter to mate with the cover / lid.

I've seen these on cars, and some have said it is a sign of L76 / C60 combo, although there is no reason that this indentation would solve any clearance problems that I can imagine, C60 or not.

I lean towards the explanation that these are early replacement bases that covered Corvette SERVICE requirements as perhaps other Chev L79 engines.

Here is one that sold on eBay; came NOS in a box w/part #6419221, which is the correct # shown in the AIM and parts catalogs. Sorry for the crappy thumbnail pic -- get out your magnifying glass.

[Loren L.]

This discussion is good; it force me to relocate

my aircleaner. Wayne's picture to me is the dreaded "red x" but when I look at
the page 277 my definitely does NOT have that indentation, but on the underside of the base there is a "dome" on the center part of the a/c at the front. I assume that it is for carb clearance. The car is #23561, L79, C60 & K19.

[Page C.]

1965 Indented air clearner

When I purschased my 1965 365hp coupe with air cond in the late 1970's it had the indented air cleaner like the on Wayne pictured. It is an early car vin # 4293.
Page Campbell

[James R.]

Re: 1965 corvette 365 HP aircleaner

Joe,

My 65 also has the 365 hp with a build date of 4/9/65. Mine is a non a/c car and my air cleaner base is completely round with no indentations.

Jim