[70badboy]

Hi everybody, does anybody have pictures that shows the difference in the air cleaner bases? The reason I ask, there is an auction coming up of a collector that has that has several firebirds and T/As with alot of parts from 1971 thru 1979. The only shaker base I have is one my 74 GTO. Which is the best to look for? Thanks in advance the help. Steve

[unruhjonny]

I recently took these pictures for an acquaintance;
I wasn't precise in my meaurement style, it was more ballpark to see the huge difference.

The Firebird bases were a "dropped" base for more hood clearance.


On the left is a 1975 Firebird base, on the right is a 68/69 GTO/full sized base.


the regular has has the carburetor seat aprox 1-1/4" up.


the Firebird base is aprox 2-1/4" - so the base is down about an inch from the regular air cleaner.

I hope this helps.

[70badboy]

Hi, unruhjonny, thanks for the pictures. Steve

[70badboy]

Hey everybody, is there a difference in 1973 air cleaner bases in the 4oo, regular 455 and the late year 455 SD and the same for the 1974 year? In that auction there is a 74 T/A 455SD, two 74 T/A's regular 455, a 74 T/A 400. A 1973 Firebird with 350 and a 73 formula 350. Maybe he has extra air cleaners and shakers. Steve

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

For most practical/generic purposes , all the 73-78 TA and Bird 4bbl Bases , are extremely similar in fit and function.
Including the 79 Pontiac Engine 400 cars.
You can use about any of them for either purpose.

The easiest things to keep an eye out for are the drop base feature (hi-rise center section) and the large indentation at rear that gives clearance around the distributor (due to the base sitting lower/closer to intake).

If you are just buying to resell - or stock up - buy all of them with those 2 features.
The early units from 70-72 with Dual Snorkels are the money pieces.

[necdb3]

Anything with shaker wing nut tabs would be an easy sighting and valuable.

[70badboy]

I emailed the lady and asked her if there were air cleaners and shakers in the parts and she said yes but asked s question. What is a shaker? I told her a hood scoop.. Can anybody give me a picture of the shaker wing nut tabs? So far the 74 SD is a $17,000. Thanks everyb0dy for your help. Steve

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Those are 70 71 72 for Shakers.
70 71 72 Non-Shaker (4bbl) are the same, they just don't have the tabs.

The tabs are just that - a metal tab on opposite sides (2) with a stud for a wing nut.
i think the tabs are now reproduced so any 4bbl base can be made to work with an early shaker. Ames catalogue might have pictures of them.

There has been quite a bit of internet chatter regarding the liquidation of that collection.
Are you going in-person ?

[70badboy]

I would imagine there is alot of interest. I am going, I live about 2 hours from there, so I am going to preview on Friday before the sale. So I can give info on what is there that is not listed and conditions of the cars if everybody wants to know. Steve

[Norwood]

Tab

[70badboy]

Thanks Norwood