Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

[Robert M.]

I have a 1967 427/435 coupe. I have had several folks tell me to not install the two bolts that hold down the tri power air cleaner base, and to just hold the whole assembly with the wing nut. They told me there is too much of a risk of them coming loose and possibly going in the carb. Has anyone had this issue and are the members in agreement to only put the bolts in for judging. Thanks

[Ken A.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

That's a load of crap!

[Stuart F.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

I will have to check the mounting on my son's 69 L-89, but I can tell you that I for one am perinoid about having any hardware inside the air cleaner housing. I have had 2 bad experiences back in the day; my buddy used to put the wing nuts back on his three carb studs so he wouldn't loose them (59 Chevy 348 CI 335 hp) when running at the drag strip. Well, you can guess the outcome. One dropped in and we spent the entire night replacing a valve and pushrods so he could run the next day. He was lucky.

I had a hardened steel pin drop in from the secondary vacuum butterfly section of a Rochester 4GC carb I was using on my 58 Fuelie engine. I had removed the butterfly's, but left the housing in place with the pin and return spring locked with a set screw. The pin fell in and lodged into the head of a domed piston, breaking every ring land and scratching the cylinder wall. I replaced the piston, and also had to have the rod straightened.

So, if you haven't lived it, you wouldn't understand, and it is not a "bunch of crap".

Stu Fox

[Ken A.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

I have lived "it" & every foreign object that falls into an engine is the result of a mistake by the owner/mechanic-not the design of the assembly. Your buddy left off the A/C assembly and the wing nut was left loose. The A/C provides a lock washer to the nut/screw. I, too, have learned the hard way that attention to details is what separates good mechanics from hobbyists.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

A good mechanic works at his profession every work day, and can't afford to make mistakes. A retired hobbyist, like myself, is inclined to make a mistake once in awhile when one only undertakes a project every couple of years or so, or as age catches up to you (like me @75). As an example, I did my seasonal oil change on my 63 last week. First; I over ran my ramps (no damage), then next on startup, my filter housing wasn't seated properly (pinched O-ring, not sure) and I dumped about 4 quarts of Rotella T in my driveway (no damage). Then I discovered my drain plug Nylon sealing washer laying on the pavement after I was all done (no leaks). These are things that never happened to me before (and yes, I did remove my PRV to replace the O-ring correctly as I've always done). I'm still laughing.

Stu Fox

[Ken A.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

Stuart, I can relate. It now takes me twice as long to do those auto "chores" & I really can screw up if the phone rings, now what did I do with that gasket?

[Mark D.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

I believe the head will keep them from falling through.

I too think it is a good idea to keep the bolts off, on a show car. The reason being, original FP (A and LF) bolts are expensive. There is no need for them on a showcar and, it will keep them from acquiring wrench marks over the years. The air cleaner comes off for judging so, just keep them in your pocket and show them to the judge when he asks to see them.

If they are reproductions, who cares? When the judge asks to see them, just say..."do I have to?" (Just kidding, it's a joke, lighten up...really, I'm just kidding)

[Michael J.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

Agreed, I always keep my original bolts for my '67 L71 in an envelope with my NCRS judging stuff. That way I always have them at judging to show the judges, and yet never put them on the car to hold down the air cleaner.

[Richard M.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

And if you put your FP's in your pocket, make sure there are no holes in it!

At the Winter Regional a few years ago, when I was a OJ, I asked a 1967 L71 owner if I could hold and inspect one of his FP bolts he had in his pocket.

He wanted a $500 deposit!

[Michael J.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

Not a bad amount of deposit for them. I also treat my original wing nut the same way as the bolts. Since it is universal for my C2s, even more valuable. At a regional once, I had the wing nut out being judged, and laid it down by the air cleaner. I was about to walk away, when I remembered to put it back in my pocket and put out a reproduction one, which looked pretty good at a distance. I went to get coffee, and sure enough when I returned it was gone. So, after judging, and they have been verified as original, put them up, people are usually watching these things.

[Mark D.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

Better yet, when the judge asks to see them, ask him/her for a $500.00 depostit.

[Bob H.]

Re: Opinion on use of air cleaner bolts

how do you tell the difference between original and reproduction FP bolts and wing nut?