Poll: Red Air Cleaner Decal
 

We all know of the Buick-inspired aftermarket red air cleaner 'engine callout' decals. This poll is to see how PY Members feel about them. All votes are public and visible to other members

I don't hate them, but I also don't have one on any of my cars. I wouldn't put one on a restored -type car, but on a car that is clearly not original, I see no problem with it. But of course, it's all up to the owner's tastes; I don't fault those who have them.

Importsmasher

I don't hate them, but I don't have one on my car either. There are folks out there who don't realize they NEVER came on any Pontiac, ever! The aftermarket companies have sold so many of them that folks think they are original, not realizing that it was a copy of the factory Buick air cleaner decal.

Actually, no. I realized that and just liked them.

Also, I'm not the type of anal-retentive, authoritarian a-hole that obsesses over whether something is "original" or not, and feels free to make unsolicited rude remarks about other people's wheels.

I built my car to please me, not others.

I think they are a bit like a belly button. But I realize some owners probably like having something on there that announces the answer to the common first question.. "what's in it?" or "whatcha runnin'?"

I thought they were good when I was a kid. I've become neutral in my grayer years.

I don't mind the Buick sticker that much.

But I really get a kick out of all the Camaro restorers who think that a Ford "CAUTION FAN" sticker is supposed to be on the radiator shroud of every 1969 Camaro out there, especially if they are on TV at a Barrett Jackson auction. ;-)

Well said.

HA HA it was my picture of my car at a cruise night with the hood open that inspired all this talk. Amazing that a $4.00 add on has led to all this. As I said in my original post, I don't see guys squawking about add on's like headers or HEI ignition. If you don't like my $4.00 add on, feel free to post up a pic of your car so I can pick it apart but have thick enough skin to handle everyone's opinions.

c'mon...dont be like that...no one really cars..


its just a big ole hen house and they is a cluckin'

Unless its on a high dollar resto, it doesnt matter at all.

If people are stressing out about another persons car having the wrong decal, I think they're in the wrong hobby.

Yup. Pontiac guys who have looked under my hood are more curious about how I fit headers on it than the air cleaner.

I once saw two Mopar guys at a show nearly come to blows over whether the daub of paint on the pumpkin housing (used on the assembly line to show the pinion nut had been torqued) was the correct shade of yellow. :p

Is that true LimeJudge ?

Those Buick air cleaner decals have been gaining epidemic plague status for years.
The next restoration guide will probably include them as an option. lol

It's been covered and crashed on abundantly in the past in restoration sections.
All conservative moderate and liberal purists hate to see them on an otherwise stock appearing car.

I don't care what someone puts on their car in the sake of their own personal taste.

Problem is half or more of them land on cars because owners are assuming them as correct. PY and Ames sell them - must be right . right ?

I like the Chevy version with the checkered flags better than the Buick version.
But probably wouldn't sell many of them for Pontiacs since the flags are well known.
The Buick version is lesser known and easier digested by those lesser in the know.

Thats just my take on it.

You have to remember that those are chrysler guys , their a bit silly any way. The decal is just that , it's a decal & it can come off as easy as it goes on.

Every time I hear an alleged car guy talking about whether or not a part is "correct" I want to draw my pistol.

Don't know how old you are, but how many 60s GTOs (or any musclecars) do you think stayed "correct" or "factory" back in the day for as long as say, 6 months?

Here's a hint-not too damned many. :old:

"Correct." Jesus H. Christ. "Correct." :mad::gag:

(edit for spelling)

Mine lasted 2 days. I have a 73 GTO that I bought new & I put on headers & an alun. intake & a different carb 2 days after I bought it. It was not a RACE car if you didn't fix it up back then. !!!

I just laugh a little when they claim their 67 is faktry TriPower
TriPowers are cool

Only been playing with Pontiacs a little over 30 years.
Seen all kinds on both ends and in between.
The less molested or modified they are the better i like them.
Wouldn't pass on one because of a decal, but have passed on a lot of cars for other reasons.

Probably have had more than my fair share.
And still do.

I like them about as much as the Ford "Caution Fan" sticker that seems to be on all first gen Camaro's,

I really don't care what people do with their own cars. I don't like these stickers, out of place to me. It's like seeing a CHEVY engine in an old Pontiac, I won't ever like it. Someone was mocking a reply about them being correct or not... He entirely missed the point. I'll state the point again. Guys don't know any better. They think they are original. How do I know? Because on several occasions when judging I have had to politely explain to guys why there were points deducted for the sticker. As stated guys think they are correct. Jesus H Christ... Lol

See my post about the First cruise of the season.

I know that the little red sticker was not a factory option. But neither were my Torque Thrusts, my 1-1/4" front sway bar, my Hurst Comp Plus shifter, or the stereo I installed that has a hook up for my IPod.

My car is NOT stock or numbers matching and I've NEVER tried to pass it off as such. It's a nice weekend cruiser with a little bit of snot to it since I dropped in my 428. The funny thing is that I had a 400-4 sticker on my old motor and never once has someone said anything to me. Since I dropped a 428 into the car, I thought I'd add a 428-4 sticker to the aftermarket chrome air cleaner. At the cruise night I had several questions regarding a 428 in a 1st gen Bird.

It's a frigging $4.00 sticker and if you read the other post you will see that it's already been called stupid. Honestly I think some people need to get a life.

My 70 GTO arrived in OZ with the 455-4 sticker on the air cleaner and I left it there, because it is a bonus at car shows where Joe Public ... is appreciating our classics ... is not an expert on these things ... but is informed that that big piece of iron sitting there looking back at him is a 455 cubic inch torque monster.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps8a89922b.jpg

I sometimes think that if I put on a 454 decal I would need to argue with fewer idiots who think that they know better than me how my car should be.....

I never said anything bad about 71's car. I've commented on a couple if his posts about the engine swap, and been positive the whole time. Seeing the decal made me curious as to how other PY people feel about them, not running down his car.

When I had my numbers matching 389 with the correct air cleaner, valve covers, exhaust manifolds, points distributor, plug wires, etc - I didn't have a "389" sticker on the air cleaner. At that time my car was eligible, and competed in the "stock" class at POCI and GTOAA shows.

When I pulled the original engine and put a 30 over 455 under the hood I knew that my days of putting my car in the "stock" class were over.

So I went with aftermarket Pontiac valve covers, a later model chrome "Pontiac" air cleaner, HEI, aftermarket wires... And I proudly put on the red 455 decal.

I have had some thoughts of having a local shop make me a custom 462 sticker....;)

Not you lime judge. You simply pointed out that the sticker was not stock. I have no issue with that. I know that it's not a factory item but as I said there are several additions to my car that aren't factory.

The only real issue I have is with another member claiming that it looks stupid.

Someone should make Pontiac specific air cleaner call outs. Base them off the 455 HO stickers. That would be way cooler than the Buick stickers.

I thought for sure these would "go away" as more people called them out as "wrong" on forums and even at shows, but instead they have become more common.

The level of Pontiac purists who subscribed to the highest level of originality (#s crowd) is in decline, and its a new "hobby" now.

Its more about what the owner likes, and driver cars....nothing wrong with that....I guess, though it is a little sad to see out of respect for the history of the great Pontiac line....

All thing hobby related "trend and cycle" as new people come in...this is just an example of one of the trends that has stuck.

I personally like "custom made" call outs on driver cars, better than a wrong make/model call out.....just my opinion, and to each their own.

The coolest air cleaner decal is the factory 455HO one! Beyond that, if a red callout feels good, great, do it! I mean it is something that takes 5 minutes to remove, so not like some hacked out rear wheel openings in factory 1/4 panels that ain't no easy fix, so who cares what people stick on their cars? I prefer to keep factory issue items on my car, although on some subtle items I cheat from other years (72 shoulder belt holders in my 71 as they look vastly better than 71 style exposed storage deal) (second example I like 72 honeycomb center caps with red arrow over 71 plain ones, so I run 72). To each their own.

I only see "travesty" on pedigree very rare cars that have historical value to veer from original, but again, if it is yers, paint it pink, who cares....

[QUOTE=bird72;5199559]The coolest air cleaner decal is the factory 455HO one!

I was thinking the same thing! I too have always liked the 455 HO decals. Gives the engine compartment a little "excitement" in my opinion.

I'm not offended by the non-stock decals, but not something I'd install on my '69 Judge restoration, simply because I've tried to make the car as original as possible.
However, to the casual observer, someone not into Pontiacs like we are here, would'nt know it wasnt stock on my car.

Like others have pointed out, its a easily reversible modification, so no biggie.

As for the sticker, I'm in the "It's your car" crowd. I don't mind them a bit, but don't have one on any of my cars. Personally the more popular something becomes, the less likely it is I'd do it. (It's why I've driven station wagons for the past 10+ years and am hoping they stay unpopular.)

I have to agree with the above comment and add how I think it's funny that people forget that "factory original" and "correct" can be worlds apart.

Buy two lids. One with sticker and one without. Problem solved.

Man your car is sharp looking! :cool:

I cant believe how much this decal bothers people. It has all the makings of a comedy...

" Tonight on TBS, watch grown men argue about a $10 decal on the air cleaner of an old car "

Well, as long as you drive Pontiacs, guess you`ll stay unpopular.;)

I don't have a dog in this fight, and I certainly am NOT offended by ANYTHING anybody decides to do to their car. Mine's not finished yet, and I may offend some of you by doing to it what I want to do.

Just don't go through life being offended by something somebody else does to their own property ... life is too short.

What's next? A poll on "Should those without Hurst Wheels on their PHS be allowed to put them on their car"?

My :2cents:,
Ogre

I've had these on some cars over the years but as the Pontiac community has gotten tighter they have really gotten out of favor with purists. On the other hand I am sure that they help perception by the general public. So it all depends. My vote is do what's right for your car.

At the moment the air cleaner in my 69 is bare. But since I have a 455 in it with a dual-snorkel I guess a repro 455HO sticker would not be much of a stretch.

I wouldn't use one simply because I'm not a sticker kinda guy....other than on my toolbox.

Should say 400-4 Big Block!

Forget stickers and put hardware on it.

This has become a pissing match. No one is telling people what to do with their cars. I've never seen anyone argue over this. When I have been involved in this conversation, it's usually some guy telling me his car is 100% all original. Then I politely say "do you know that Air cleaner decal was not from the factory". That is when the owner usually called me names tells me I don't know I'm talking about and walks away pissed off with the story to come on the Internet and post.

I would never tell someone what to do with their car unless they ask me for an opinion first. Life is too short to care what others do. It's only when that opinion differs with others that you have this crap come up. The original poll was simply asking what people thought of them not whether they should be banned from the face of the earth. Grow the hell up.

My 70 GTO Race car has a Trans Am Shaker on it. I put one on Milt Schornacks 70 Judge race car we were building at the same time. I have endured negative comments for years. Doesn't bother me a bit. I'd rather have a shaker than a cowl hood. I think cowl hoods look stupid, that's my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

It's ironic someone said they got pissed when a comment was made that the sticker looked stupid... So it's only ok to think the stickers are fine? That makes sense? I think they look stupid too. Why should that matter to you?

We walked around Mecum laughing at cars for various reasons... At the top of the list was the Buick stickers placed prominently on otherwise bone stock restorations. That's the way it is... Why does it matter to anyone else what I think?

If you are going for a completely stock look and the car is worth a lot of money in stock form, you are the following...

A. Did not realize the sticker is not an original Pontiac badge.

B. Don't care much what others think.

C. Have made a concession in your mind.

D. Generally stupid.

Again, it's best to build cars or features/options that can be swapped out. That way you can be judged in a 100 point restoration, or drive the car as you see fit. Two air cleaner lids solves this debate.

That would have been the best answer. I do like the "grow the hell up" comment though. Use it........

It's the Corvette people that would be pissed to see them on anything but a Chevy.
This is the only one I've ever seen on a Pontiac in my travels.

I think what you may or may not have missed is that there are 2 threads going on here concerning the red sticker. This thread the poll is perfectly fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

The other thread has gotten nasty. It started with a snarky comment, then the sticker was called stupid because it wasn't stock and did nothing to enhance performance. Fine, I understand that but my response was what about all the bolt on's or add on's people have done over the years such as aftermarket rims or chrome valve covers which are akin to adding a non stock sticker. To which there was an arrogant response about dedication to the Pontiac hobby, a suggestion that I get the sand out of my vagina, and a claim that my car has a 4WD stance. So you see how the little dig about a sticker has been blown out of proportion??

To me it seems like I was the target of ridicule simply because a purist was offended that I chose to put a non stock sticker on my non stock car.

Purists may be angry or annoyed by my decision to add a $4.00 sticker which didn't come from the factory. Fine, but I'm not a purist. I've never cared about numbers matching or date codes. It's just not my thing. And as much as it's not my thing, I've never gotten on this site and called the purists stupid or ridiculed their rides.

I didn't see the other thread, nor will I look for it. This has been blown out of context enough already.

Go drive your car and forget about everyone else!

X2. The car looks great! All of the BS that you get for having incorrect parts goes away when you stomp on the pedal. Let the others care about date coded parts and correct chalk marks while you're blasting down the road with the windows down and the radio on!

If I didn't have a shaker I'd put the sticker on the lid and post up a few pics. It's fun watching their heads explode. :D

This is the problem right here. Go back and read this entire thread and find anyone who fits your description of "chalk mark" folks, I don't see anyone commenting that fits the description. But there is no shortage of guys making comments aimed at them. What did I say earlier... Oh yeah, GROW THE HELL UP! Lol

I won't take the poll, because I think it's stupid.

What I will comment on is, if I do see your hood up and something isn't right, I will comment to the person I'm with (most of the time I'll be talking to myself and shake my head). Case in point, went to the local car scene near me last Saturday. GTO, with the 455 HO decal and a RG air cleaner decal (incorrect usage and placed in the wrong area between the snorkels). Maybe he overheard me telling my daughter and wife what was wrong or maybe not. I didn't care as he was the one advertising. His problem, not mine.

I hate them because when I see one it immediately tells me that the owner doesn't know anything about Pontiacs. I know it's your car, but you don't have to show off your ignorance. You don't ride around with Oldsmobile or Cadillac wheels, do you?

"They are for Buicks and should be peeled off whenever spotted"

Well you can do that unless you want the owner to either pound the crap out of you, or do something more drastic the you both would regret. I've seen em and just stood there and laughed, then left. The gets the owner thinking that something could be wrong, out place, or not correct. I don't like raining on someone's parade.

So people who laugh, shake their head, and point out things that aren't correct at a car show just for the sake of doing it dont fit in that description? So what class would they be in then?