LS-5 open air element base

[D S.]

What are significant differences between the original bases versus reproductions? I have a chance to buy what is said to be an original but it looks too nice for being 40 years old.

Thanks,
Scott Sims
Texas Chapter

[Chris H.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Scott, post a photo(s) and I'll post a photo of mine for comparison. Chris

[D S.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Scott, post a photo(s) and I'll post a photo of mine for comparison. Chris

Thanks, I appreciate that. It will be Monday or Tuesday before I can post photos as I am out in the boonies setting up deer blinds and am using only my I-Phone.

[Kenn S.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Glad you found something!

I was scanning the 'Net for one for ya myself... Found only repros, but I've learned things pop up if I keep looking. Found an NOS brake console and an AZ rim for my missing spare, dated one day earlier than my other 4 rims. A cleaner *will* pop up. That LS-5 of yours needs an original.

[Ronald L.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

They might get the base stamping pretty close but the usual dead give away is the thickness of the tube that connects to the valve cover. Repro will be about .070 thickness and the real ones .035-040. What you have to look at is the edge detail of the crimping and other formations. Scott I looked at an original '73 454 asy the other day and that would be consistent with what I sent you relative to that tube.

The other key difference is the paint finish. Take some carb cleaner, if its not OE paint, rattle can, it will come off, it should not.

If it has a mottled look or thick looking paint, think powder coat, its a repro. The original OE paint was microscopically thin and shows all the metal stamping defects. After-all, these were under the hood functional parts, not show parts. To an expert the color and gloss are different too, but I wouldn't want to judge that from a picture.

[D S.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Scott, post a photo(s) and I'll post a photo of mine for comparison. Chris

Charles, here they are:

[David L.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Ron,

Back in the very late 1980's I was told by a vendor at Corvette Carlisle that the reproduction air cleaner bases were made by the original company using the same tooling so they were the "same part ". I have never compared an original and reproduction base side by side. Your comments about the tube wall thickness and the paint are right on.

I know that the 1966 base for 327 engines has never been reproduced.

Dave

[Ronald L.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Dave, yes it is very surprising the 66 base adaptor plate, also the same stamping used for 396BB and 427BB in 65-66 was never reproduced.

The original change was an insert in the original die for 67 SOP (almost) which suggests later on that die was worn to the point that it was replaced (with no insert), or the current holder of this die is pretty laid back about making these parts correctly. Making the 66 insert that can be pulled out. One look at the tool will tell us for sure.

My suspicion is that in the late 80's the tool was redone. I have had 83 and 83 dated parts in dated boxes from Flint and the die was very faulty, severe scratches and the die did not even close all the way to get some of the 'peak' detail over the float adjustment nuts (die washout).

Scott - That picture is hard to tell for sure but that tube wall stock looks thick. Measure the wall stock on that tube if you have the part in your hands, if its a fleebay sale, get the seller to measure the tube, it should be .035 - .040 max.

[D S.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Glad you found something!

I was scanning the 'Net for one for ya myself... Found only repros, but I've learned things pop up if I keep looking. Found an NOS brake console and an AZ rim for my missing spare, dated one day earlier than my other 4 rims. A cleaner *will* pop up. That LS-5 of yours needs an original.

Kenn, after doing this for a few years we build a base of people with parts who know people with parts.....you know the drill....so one of the people I buy parts from emailed me to say that a friend had some parts left over from a '71 LS-5 that had been sold. I sent a list and the air cleaner case and lid (to a dual snorkel air cleaner) was for sale. The lid I know is original but those bases still stump me. The metal tube on Rochester bases is angled differently than those on the Holley bases and neither is supposed to fit each other. I think. That's why I come to the TDB so often. It's like a free school.

[Kenn S.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

The depth of knowledge is incredible. Makes me want to learn to judge someday.

[Chris H.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Here are some photos. Notice the lack of / thin paint and scrathes from the die.

[Terry M.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

The depth of knowledge is incredible. Makes me want to learn to judge someday.

Come to a Regional or National, sign up for the Advanced Judging Seminar and I will be glad to hook you up with the people who can teach you -- Oh, and we get some really original Corvettes to look at too.

[Kenn S.]

Re: LS-5 open air element base

Excellent. Count me in.