I just received an open element air cleaner assembly (from Rick's) made by Classic Industries, ...and unless I'm putting it on wrong, ...the base is totally off.
I'm curious if anyone else has gotten this and how it fit for them...???

Basically, I can't get it to seat down on the round gasket of the carb. It hits the carb near the choke lever area and also hits near the front before the base even seats to the gasket. Unless I start 'working on it', ...it isn't going to fit. :sad:
I have an original (restored) Rochester Quadrajet too, ...so it should fit fine, ..especially since it's noted in Rick's catalog as "...perfect restoration..."

Kevin

You stated if you had an open aircleaner (like cowl injection) vs a closed air cleaner. The air filters are different for both types.

Also did you order the square mesh style vs the diagonal mesh style... the square mesh style if for 1970 and up..

:thumbsup:

The problem isn't with the filter, ...it's with the BASE of the air filter assembly. Simply trying to get the base alone to seat down around the gasket is the issue...

I bought a CHQ air cleaner kit for a 69 Z a couple of months ago. Same issue, had to make some clearance around the front where the notch is. Think I also beat the lip around a bit to get a little more diameter.

The problem isn't with the filter, ...it's with the BASE of the air filter assembly. Simply trying to get the base alone to seat down around the gasket is the issue...


oops :eek: better learn to read whole sentences.. my bad

I just received an open element air cleaner assembly (from Rick's) made by Classic Industries, ...and unless I'm putting it on wrong, ...the base is totally off.
I'm curious if anyone else has gotten this and how it fit for them...???
Kevin

I have an off-the-shelf Holley 650 four barrel carb and I had the exact same problem. I hated to do it, but I finally just took a half-round file to the carb hole in the air cleaner base and kept shaving it down until it finally fit. I did a little at a time on all sides to keep the hole as round as possible. I don't know why we have to go through all this crap for supposed 'exact match' parts, but we do.

...OK, ...So I'm not the only one. I just emailed Classic to see what they have to say...

...I thought to follow up on this, ...since it's been a couple weeks.
I have at this time emailed Classic Industries, Rick's, ..and now CHQ. The 1st response I received was from Rick's, ...and then Classic. Those at Classic state the air cleaner is repro'd by CHQ.
...still haven't heard anything from CHQ, ...however I will continue to follow up on this and post the findings.

CHQ (Classic Headquarters) is Rick's brand.

CHQ (Classic Headquarters) is Rick's brand.

That's what I thought...:confused:, ...Does anyone know if CHQ is 'owned' by Rick's? ...or is CHQ simply the company that Rick's 'uses'?

I suspect CHQ is owned by Rick's - their address is 410 Athena Dr, Athens, GA, while Rick's is 420 Athena Dr... kind of close to be a coincidence, although I suppose anything is possible. If they are owned by Rick's, were they bought out by Eckler's as well? In my experience I've found CHQ parts to generally be of much higher quality and better fit than OER brand parts, I'm sure not in every case but that's the general trend I've observed. I hope that isn't going to change with the new "Rick's". I just purchased one of these air cleaners as well, I haven't yet tried it to see if it fits.

I suspect CHQ is owned by Rick's - their address is 410 Athena Dr, Athens, GA, while Rick's is 420 Athena Dr... kind of close to be a coincidence, although I suppose anything is possible. If they are owned by Rick's, were they bought out by Eckler's as well? In my experience I've found CHQ parts to generally be of much higher quality and better fit than OER brand parts, I'm sure not in every case but that's the general trend I've observed. I hope that isn't going to change with the new "Rick's". I just purchased one of these air cleaners as well, I haven't yet tried it to see if it fits.

...Mike,
I would be very interested to hear your experience on the fitment. Are you planning to use this on a Holley or a Rochester?
There is an issue (acknowledged by them, ...and apparently they are working on this) of the base diameter being too small, ...however I am still waiting to hear on the linkage area clearance issues I experienced. Maybe I have an 'odd-ball' Quadrajet, ...I don't know?

Here is a pic (primitive editing, ...sorry) to show where it 'hits':
http://photos.imageevent.com/hvclassics/camaro/1968rsss396/websize/QJetCarb2.JPG

Here's a copy of the un-edited pic in case:
http://photos.imageevent.com/hvclassics/camaro/1968rsss396/websize/IMG_2490.JPG

...Mike,
I would be very interested to hear your experience on the fitment. Are you planning to use this on a Holley or a Rochester?

It's going on a Holley 750. Currently I have a Mr. Gasket chrome air cleaner on there, but wanted a more "correct" looking setup - not that the car is anything close to being a "real" correct car, it's just a clone that started out as a 6 cyl... the car is currently in a friend's shop, I'm hoping to get up there tonight to drop off some parts including the air cleaner. If I manage to make it up there I'll bring the camera and take some pics.

Edit - didn't make it up, our schedules won't permit me to get up to see the car until Monday. I'll test fit it and try to take some pics then

I had the same problem mounting it on my Rochester. I love these parts that are exact repo's. I used a Mr Gasket spacer to allow all the clearances that you had the issues with.

i have a big block 365 hp chevelle in my shop now, has original air cleaner. the is a metal spacer ring between carb and air cleaner. so i removed it and try to install aircleaner, it hits as you describe so i would guess a camaro is the same. you may need the spacer?

Thanks for the replies :thumbsup:
It is my understanding the at the Holley will be less of an issue, ...so hopefully you'll be OK.
As for the 'spacer', ...I did use a 'thicker' gasket which did help. How thick is this spacer you speak of?

Again, ...Thanks for the input.


Kevin

looks to be an inch or so. gm has a plastic one avaliable it was used on throttle body pickups it should work also?

When I checked out small blocks, new, on the showroom floor, I wondered why the spacer. Mystery solved. They had Qjets.

looks to be an inch or so. gm has a plastic one avaliable it was used on throttle body pickups it should work also?

The spacer is "an inch or so..." ??? :confused:, ...would you mind taking a pic, ...that seems like a lot...??? ...I was thinking maybe 1/8" to 1/4", ...but close to an inch? Hmmm, ...that I no idea and have never seen.
Thanks,
Kevin

Holley makes one that is 3/4" tall. Here is the link from their website:
http://www.holley.com/17-14.asp

They also make one that's 1-3/8" tall. The 3/4" one worked out just right for me, although I had to notch it to match the 'nubs' on the front of the air cleaner base.

AIM shows just a gasket for a Rochester carb. Unless this spacer is part of the air cleaner itself there isn't going to be one on a big block Camaro. Service parts manual says all three big blocks use the same air cleaner assembly so it itsn't like the company repro'ed a base for a holley and are using it on the Rochesters since they are all the same. More likely that the base is reproed from a chevelle, or other big block with an open element air cleaner.

...Mike,
I would be very interested to hear your experience on the fitment. Are you planning to use this on a Holley or a Rochester?

Sorry - I forgot to reply. I checked it on Monday but didn't get any pics. The air cleaner base doesn't fit my 750 holley either. It hits in several places. It looks like I'll need at least a 1/2" spacer, possibly larger.

...I thought to post back in. I just sent another email to CHQ, ....since I haven't heard back from them. I will continue to keep you posted when (if?) I hear anything...

Kevin,

The base as was mentioned earlier is the "issue". When using the correct base, there is no interference. However when using an open element base, on a Q-jet, I have found you need the spacer. The spacer will lift the base high enough so it doesn't interfere or hit anything like the linkages, or the coil.

I had a 69 SS with a 350/300 and the Q-jet. It came with a cowl hood. I traded the hood and air cleaner housing for an SS hood and a NOS open element air cleaner. I had to order a carb spacer from GM to make the air cleaner housing sit properly on the top the carb.The spacer is about 1" high. Problem solved!

If you look in the latest Year One catalog on page 209, it shows the difference between
the different air cleaner housings from a dimesional standpoint.

Kevin,

The base as was mentioned earlier is the "issue". When using the correct base, there is no interference. However when using an open element base, on a Q-jet, I have found you need the spacer. The spacer will lift the base high enough so it doesn't interfere or hit anything like the linkages, or the coil.

I had a 69 SS with a 350/300 and the Q-jet. It came with a cowl hood. I traded the hood and air cleaner housing for an SS hood and a NOS open element air cleaner. I had to order a carb spacer from GM to make the air cleaner housing sit properly on the top the carb.The spacer is about 1" high. Problem solved!

If you look in the latest Year One catalog on page 209, it shows the difference between
the different air cleaner housings from a dimesional standpoint.

...when you say, "...using the correct base, there is no interference...", ...isn't the open element base the correct one?
Never-the-less, ...it does seem the spacer is a/the solution. I'll continue to follow with CHQ (as futile as it seems) since they did indicate they are retooling the die for the assembly.
In my view, ...if they are offering the part, ...they should either correct the base to work without any spacers, ...OR include a spacer with the assembly, ...OR at the least include a note that a spacer is necessary for the part to fit correctly.
(with that said however, ...I do wonder about hood clearance with a 1"+ spacer under the air cleaner base, ...in effect raising the assembly by that amount. Seems like it would be getting close...?)

Thanks,
Kevin

I bought an allumium billet spacer off Ebay for my cowl air cleaner. The guy who sold them has all sizes of thickness. Works great! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ALUMINUM-AIR-CLEANER-RISER-SPACER-1-1-2-CHEVY-FORD-USA_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43946QQihZ018QQitem Z280164452878QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Might work great but that isn't the issue. The real issue is its just another repro part that just isn't quite right. For the money most manufacturers want for their stuff, the least it can do is fit right without having to go out and by a mister gasket spacer, or having one made by your local machinist.

Might work great but that isn't the issue. The real issue is its just another repro part that just isn't quite right. For the money most manufacturers want for their stuff, the least it can do is fit right without having to go out and by a mister gasket spacer, or having one made by your local machinist.

...exactly...

Well,
It's been over two months since I initally posted the issues here, ...I'm done...
I've basically given up on hearing back from CHQ, ...they have made no attempts to follow-up on the issue.
I'll hold my comments to myself, ...but I'm sure others can (quite easily) figure out what my opinion is... :sad:

They obviously don't care very much about fit and finish. As much as you spend the original will always cost more....

check this out... reserve not met...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250196840680&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015

...an update... ;)

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=124133