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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: wannadrag]
#932658
02/21/11 09:03 PM
02/21/11 09:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,648
San Jose,CA
migsBIG
YouTube is my go-to news source
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YouTube is my go-to news source
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,648
San Jose,CA
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A long time ago, there was a guy here in the bay erea that had some interesting parts. He used to race chrysler products and had a few connections in the inner circle for some interesting stuff. One thing he had was a 1970 Challenger door with an aluminum skin and inner shell looked like it was either thinner gauge metal or aluminum. One set was known to be in the SF erea, while the ones I saw were in castro valley.
The reason I brought that up, is that chrysler was know to 'cheat' like some other manufactures sponsoring racers. In a stock class racing, any weight savings is a plus and everything was trimmed away as best as possible. If you look at the lower air cleaner, it looks to be done too well for a home job. Someone working at a foundry or someone at chrysler could have done it. Not a current reporduction, as it would cost too much energy and cash to make a limited run.
My personal opinion, I would dust it off, take several detailed pics and then send to several vintage mopar racers/restore folks. You may have found something that is truly unique, so have it checked out before you change the history on it.
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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: migsBIG]
#932659
02/21/11 09:14 PM
02/21/11 09:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
Management Trainee
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Management Trainee
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
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Quote:
A long time ago, there was a guy here in the bay erea that had some interesting parts. He used to race chrysler products and had a few connections in the inner circle for some interesting stuff. One thing he had was a 1970 Challenger door with an aluminum skin and inner shell looked like it was either thinner gauge metal or aluminum. One set was known to be in the SF erea, while the ones I saw were in castro valley.
The reason I brought that up, is that chrysler was know to 'cheat' like some other manufactures sponsoring racers. In a stock class racing, any weight savings is a plus and everything was trimmed away as best as possible. If you look at the lower air cleaner, it looks to be done too well for a home job. Someone working at a foundry or someone at chrysler could have done it. Not a current reporduction, as it would cost too much energy and cash to make a limited run.
My personal opinion, I would dust it off, take several detailed pics and then send to several vintage mopar racers/restore folks. You may have found something that is truly unique, so have it checked out before you change the history on it.
I think Miguel is on the right track..
"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: GTXX]
#932661
02/21/11 11:27 PM
02/21/11 11:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,784
Ontario, Canada
mccannix
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,784
Ontario, Canada
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Quote:
My guess is that someone had the capability to cast in aluminum, had access to some original pieces, so they made a mold from them and cast them. It appears that the base has the wrinkles/wavy places the formed sheet metal parts do. Probably worked third shift.......
I think this is the most likely scenario but
I doubt it is any form of factory Chrysler prototype.
The area for the rear nipple has been eliminated indicating it may have been intended for a race engine.
Perhaps Mr. Norm's had some involvement as something to go along with the aluminum Tri-Power air cleaner they were associated with.
Still a cool piece.
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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: autoxcuda]
#932663
02/21/11 11:55 PM
02/21/11 11:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,281
WI
wannadrag
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,281
WI
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
My guess is that someone had the capability to cast in aluminum, had access to some original pieces, so they made a mold from them and cast them. It appears that the base has the wrinkles/wavy places the formed sheet metal parts do. Probably worked third shift.......
I think this is the most likely scenario but
I doubt it is any form of factory Chrysler prototype.
The area for the rear nipple has been eliminated indicating it may have been intended for a race engine.
Perhaps Mr. Norm's had some involvement as something to go along with the aluminum Tri-Power air cleaner they were associated with.
Still a cool piece.
But isn't this piece heavier than a stock stamped steel lower base? I mean, quite significantly heavier??
Why would a racer want a piece of lead like that on the front of his motor that look almost stock? or 
Yes it is heavy,just guessing 20 lbs total top and bottom
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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: wannadrag]
#932664
02/22/11 12:02 AM
02/22/11 12:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
autoxcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
My guess is that someone had the capability to cast in aluminum, had access to some original pieces, so they made a mold from them and cast them. It appears that the base has the wrinkles/wavy places the formed sheet metal parts do. Probably worked third shift.......
I think this is the most likely scenario but
I doubt it is any form of factory Chrysler prototype.
The area for the rear nipple has been eliminated indicating it may have been intended for a race engine.
Perhaps Mr. Norm's had some involvement as something to go along with the aluminum Tri-Power air cleaner they were associated with.
Still a cool piece.
But isn't this piece heavier than a stock stamped steel lower base? I mean, quite significantly heavier??
Why would a racer want a piece of lead like that on the front of his motor that look almost stock? or
Yes it is heavy,just guessing 20 lbs total top and bottom
How much additional weight do you think JUST the cast base it over stock stamped steel?
The top lid is just a factory stamped steal, right?
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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: mccannix]
#932667
02/22/11 12:17 AM
02/22/11 12:17 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,495
Fort Workin Tx
Day2Runner
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,495
Fort Workin Tx
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I think it was out the back door drag racing parts made by Mopar for factory drag teams like Sox & Martin or hey maybe the RamChargers and BTW I think S&M ran a 69 GTX heresa picture of a 69 383 version for comparison note the crankcase hose nipple location compared to the s m version someone madea mold and made that case solved  now  DH
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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: justinp61]
#932670
02/22/11 12:43 AM
02/22/11 12:43 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
autoxcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
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Ok, if I put myself in the shoes of a Chrysler Engineer tasked to make a aircleaner that connects the motor to the hood, I think I'd have to make some type of prototype to test it. I mean, what happens when a motor mount blows out, does it make any contact in normal driving, how do you test the seals for fitment, what happens when/if water gets in there, etc, etc.
So if you made a prototype or test rig, what would you make it from in the late 60's? Wood, fiberglass, sculpted clay, have it stamped out, or something else??? I would not think you could have it stamped out because the stamped dies would be too expensive to scrap if there were major changes?? Opinions??
Doesn't mean this one is a prototype. But would anyone agree that some type of prototype/test piece was probably made by Chrysler, and not out of stamped steel??
Last edited by autoxcuda; 02/22/11 01:08 AM.
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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: autoxcuda]
#932671
02/22/11 12:49 AM
02/22/11 12:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 70,126
Here
DirectSubjection
Tacohead. The First and Only
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Tacohead. The First and Only
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 70,126
Here
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O/T - but would look really cool polished. Of course I wouldn't if its valuable.
Ride eternal, shiny and chrome
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Re: Air grabber air cleaner base and top????Cast aluminum??
[Re: justinp61]
#932672
02/22/11 01:00 AM
02/22/11 01:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,648
San Jose,CA
migsBIG
YouTube is my go-to news source
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YouTube is my go-to news source
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,648
San Jose,CA
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Quote:
I wonder what the two legs on the bottom/front of the base are for? In the photo they look angled the same way.
I think you guys are right about it being too heavy for drag race application. Now, what it, it was to be a display at one of the trade shows to promote chrysler's new line? Those legs might be used to angle air cleaner to be more viewable on a display.
We can guess all day about this, but this has really got to be one of the coolest finds of the new year. Oh, be sure to question the guy you bought the car from, maybe he can help shed some info on whom had the car before and they might be able to fill in some blanks.
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but they were literally exact copies including the support for the heal the headlight bucket area and they even had a pentastar and part # on them. Even had the stud that is on the topside back by the cowl was there...They were beautiful inside and out. The guy had the doors there too and they were original paint that matched these fenders he said he knew the car from the mid 80's and there were original...I wish I had bought them as I have NEVER seen or heard of another set.... 
