Early GTO Factory Air Cleaners

[60sStuff]

A thread showing various early GTO air cleaners that I have accumulated over decades.
I’ll start with the 4BBL. and show the Tri-Power cleaners later.

Below are a pair of 65, 66 Survivor “chrome-w/louvers” air cleaners with the base for the Carter AFB, #6421289.
These “pancake” cleaners have that vintage 60’s hot rod look.

This chrome louvered lid was also used in 1967 (last year), but had a different base to accommodate the Rochester Quadrajet.
This is a non California sold (49 state) air cleaner assembly used on the 335 HP engines.

One has been degreased and cleaned, while the other lid still shows it’s years of under hood grime.
Also an OEM screen to support the original foam filter these cars came with new.

Last pair of photos show this louvered cleaner on a ‘65 GTO.

[60sStuff]

Thank you to the above ^^^^ gentleman that took the time to appreciate some 60’s air cleaners

Now I’m going to show a huge contrasting style to the above 65-67 flat louvered air cleaner (49 state) to the other type of air cleaner fitted to a California Sold New GTO (#614, #616) option.

As you can see these cleaners were much larger with a black painted base and chrome lid. The hot rod look is gone.

1964 actually used a full chrome top that sat on a thin black base.
The 49 state had no metal tube going to the LH valve cover.
The Cal. style used the metal tube, plus a sealed oil fill cap on the RH cover, option #614.

1965 had the big black base with a round snorkel and chrome lid.
This Cal. cleaner continued to use the metal tube and closed oil cap, #614.

Same set up in 1966 except the snorkel is now a flat oval shape.
Plus this was the first year for the #616 option which is the A.I.R. system (Full Smog).
The tube to the LH valve cover is now a molded rubber hose that’s fitted to a chrome twist in oil fill cap.
The RH valve cover is now solid, no hole (one year only).

The 1967 used another style air cleaner as seen below on its #616 option.
Pontiac went back to the metal tube on this year and it went to the RH cover with the sealed AC oil cap on LH side.

I have another thread talking about the various oil fill caps throughout 64-67 whether it’s 49 state or California.

Thanks, Chris

[gto19 ?]

Here is a 1967 gto HO air cleaner. I’m pretty sure it’s a one year only air cleaner.the base is also different from the Chevrolet base. This air cleaner was not used on the California cars .

[60sStuff]

Moving on to the Optional 64-66 GTO Tri-Power (3/2 BBL.).
There were two types of air cleaners used.

The standard (sold new “out” of California) air cleaners without the tubes/fitting on the bottom of the 3 bases (shown on the ‘64 photo).

The 3/2 air cleaners used from mid-year ‘64 through 1966 that were required on cars sold “New in California” (option 614/616) that had a single tube on the outer air cleaner base and a 3 way fitting on the center base. These are shown on the 65,66 photos that were part of the C/C “closed crankcase” system that consisted of short hoses leading to a 90 degree steel tube (64-65) and a molded hose (66) that lead to the LH valve cover.


The last two photos show the C/C center carb base.
The ’64-‘65 base has a smaller opening for the small center carb, plus the 3 way fitting is tilted down.
The ‘66 base has the larger opening for the larger Rochester carb. The 3 way fitting is now straight out from the base.

[60sStuff]

Some of my NOS inventory on these rare California air cleaners.
Some were packaged with the first design foam filter. Others have the third design wire mesh (no solder) paper filter.
A few were packaged with the flame arrester screen.

[69M22Z]

Wow!! Cool!!

[muscle_collector]

nice. you should post that on the performance years/ames pontiac forum.

[napa68]

Great parts and info as always Chris!

[60sStuff]

Below are the various types of Filters and Screens used on the 64-66 Tri-Power equipped GTO’s.

The OEM filter off the assembly line was a dark gray polyurethane foam that was supported by a round brass mesh screen.
I show the 3 Original support screens, plus 3 flame arresters.
A letter from Pontiac was sent out to the owners of 1966 GTO’s that had the A.I.R. (Smog) systems on their cars.
These cars had a tendency to have an engine backfire that may cause an under hood fire.
The dealer modification was a simple brass screen (flame arrester) that laid on top of the bottom base. This flame arrester is shown above in the MPC.
The dealers automatically fitted this flat screen on “all“ Tri-Power models whenever these cars came in for service as an extra precaution.

These foam filters have been reproduced as shown on the car.

[60sStuff]

Here are 2 NOS A193C foam filters sealed in a thick plastic bag inside the AC box.
Also a NOS A224C foam filter for the separate air cleaner for the smog pump.
The 1966 Owners Guide spells out cleaning instructions for the foam filters.

The A224C filter was a flat square perforated metal plate sandwiched in foam.
This filter slid inside the plastic AC canister. You can see the dirt inside the inlet side before the filter, then a cleaner air was pulled forward to the air pump.

Photo from a 60’s magazine test article.