NEED! 72 GS 350 air cleaner have 72 455 to trade [Archive]

RPM Mark

01-19-2011, 12:28 PM

I'm looking for a 72 GS 350 air cleaner. Any condition that is usable will do.

I got a 72 455 air cleaner in decent shape that could use paint on the scoops and has no foam gaskets that just won't fit properly on the 350 with the radiator shroud.

Willing to trade if needed. Located in Chicago.
Thanks
Mark
MarkRPMTA@comcast.net

Racerx88

01-19-2011, 12:32 PM

RPM Mark

01-19-2011, 02:04 PM

I am new to the GS side of the hobby, been on the Trans Am side for a long time, but from the pics I've seen, the actual snorkel portion is designed differently from the 350 to the 455. The 455 openings are the same shape and on the 350 the drivers side is more of a triangle shape while the pass side is more square. This helps the air cleaner clear the upper radiator hose since the 350 hose is different than the 455.
Basically my 455 air cleaner right now is the dual square opening style and the drv side is hitting my upper radiator hose since the engine is a 350. And I have a new hose and it is the same shape.

Am I missing something here?

hemikillerstg1

01-19-2011, 02:14 PM

70-71 had both square, 72 one side is triangular.
You most likely have a 70-71 air cleaner

Also I believe the support brackets are different between the 455 and 350.

V8Sky

01-19-2011, 02:36 PM

You need a 1972 350 (or 455) GS air cleaner that has the triangular shaped drivers side snorkle. This was so the air cleaner did not hit the AIR pump that some 1972s had. If you do not have an AIR pump on the driver's side, then you can actually use the 1970-71 GS air cleaner with no problem - the upper radiator hose makes no difference. My '72 350 did not have the AIR pump (I believe only the CA models had them) so I could have used any 1970-72 GS air cleaner but did eventually find a correct looking '72 air cleaner.

brmorr

01-19-2011, 07:40 PM

I would be willing to trade, but need to see pictures of yours 1st. I am located in the Chicago area as well. Got a nice 72 one, and always wanted to get a 70-71 one since my car is a 71.

Let me know or shoot me some pictures and a email to brmorr@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Brian

RPM Mark

01-19-2011, 08:15 PM

Pics sent to you Brian

RPM Mark

01-19-2011, 08:16 PM

free post so I can get to 10 to post a pic

RPM Mark

01-19-2011, 08:17 PM

Here's what I got on the car. Note how the drv side kinda squashes the radiator hose down and the pass side hits the edge of the fan shroud.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q127/marksirota/DSC02547.jpg

Racerx88

01-20-2011, 08:25 AM

Here's what I got on the car. Note how the drv side kinda squashes the radiator hose down and the pass side hits the edge of the fan shroud.

Looks like you've got the wrong radiator hose. The GS's used a hose that came straight up and out and then turned, so it would clear the scoops.

N360LL

01-20-2011, 08:35 AM

RPM Mark,

RacerX88 is correct. The radiator hose is incorrerct and you have a '70-'71 air cleaner.

There are several pics or the correct upper hose on the site and a couple of suppliers or reproduction hoses as well.

As for finding a '72 air cleaner I'd post it in parts wanted and see what turns up.

N360LL

01-20-2011, 08:37 AM

I notice that the car is missing the A/C compressor and the Air Pump and emissions parts as well. The '72 air cleaner is different so that it clears the air pump. If you are not going to use the air pump, etc. then you won't need a different air cleaner.

RPM Mark

01-20-2011, 08:41 AM

I'm taking the ac off the car, and I was not aware of it having an air pump.
Thanks for the info guys.

So if I have the wrong upper hose I wonder why the replacement one I got from Year One is the same?

Does anyone have a link to the correct one? I've done a search but am not coming up with anything.

And if this air cleaner will work, I wonder why it's hitting the fan shroud on the pass side?

70455ht

01-20-2011, 08:59 AM

Maybe you are hitting the fan shroud because the radiator hose is preventing the air cleaner from fitting on there properly. The air cleaner looks to be cocked to the left (driver's side).

buick64203

01-20-2011, 09:25 AM

Year One would'nt know the correct hose for a 72 GS if it bit them in the a**. Contact Steve Caruso. He has the correct upper and lower hoses for a 72 455.

http://www.carusoperformance.com/Buick/radhose.html

N360LL

01-20-2011, 01:02 PM

The air cleaner is not aligned correctly. It is off to the drivers side enough to make contact with the fan shroud. Do you have the support bracket that attaches to the thermostat housing and is it installed correctly?

RPM Mark

01-20-2011, 01:09 PM

I do not have the support bracket. Is it crucial? Or will I be able to get by without it?
I think I might have found the correct hose in the small block section so I'm gonna try to get one of those and see if that prevents the air cleaner from sitting to the drv side.
Thanks

BTW, anyone have a pic of the support bracket. I'd like to see if I can make one.

hdpegscraper

01-20-2011, 05:46 PM

Does any one remake the support bracket? Im not even quite sure what it looks like, but I do know should have one.

RPM Mark

01-20-2011, 08:29 PM

So Steve at Caruso says he only makes a 455 hose.
I got a part number for a hose from Gates but that part number is the same for the 455 and 350 cars.
I'll keep the air cleaner if I can get a hose that will clear it.
Still looking for a solution.
Thanks

cstanley-gs

01-20-2011, 08:40 PM

350's and 455's use the same air cleaner in their respective years.

Here's how a 72 would look - seems you have the same upper rad hose.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/cstanley444/Buick/IMG_0065.jpg

And how a 70-71 should look
http://image.hotrod.com/f/8951523+w750+st0/985large+1970_buick_gs+engine_view.jpg

cstanley-gs

01-20-2011, 08:43 PM

Actually... from your other post it seems your car is a 72, so your upper rad hose may be correct.
Its the air cleaner that's wrong. 72 moved to a triangular drivers side as mentioned above.

RACEBUICKS

01-21-2011, 06:55 AM

Does any one remake the support bracket? Im not even quite sure what it looks like, but I do know should have one.

I reproduce the correct 455 air cleaner bracket and bolts.

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=184480

N360LL

01-21-2011, 08:37 AM

Yes, the bracket is required for two reasons; 1) it supports the front portion of the air cleaner so that the snorkels seal against the bottom of the hood scoops correctly; 2) it aligns the air cleaner assembly with the engine, radiator hose, etc.

Steve Caruso has the correct reproduction unit and studs with nuts. The ones from some of the other big name suppliers are not correct and do not came with the studs or nuts.

RACEBUICKS

01-21-2011, 09:03 AM

Steve Caruso has the correct reproduction unit and studs with nuts. The ones from some of the other big name suppliers are not correct and do not came with the studs or nuts.

I am the one who has made these for years. They are test fitted to an intake and air cleaner and I have the correct studs as well. Not too sure why you think he makes them but
I went to his website and he is not showing the aircleaner bracket and bolts....

http://mrbuick.com/BBBbracket.jpg
http://mrbuick.com/aircleanerstuds.jpg

hdpegscraper

01-21-2011, 02:58 PM

That bracket sure is nice lookin.

N360LL

01-22-2011, 02:03 AM

When I needed one 17 years ago I went to Steve to get mine. I got the N-25 exhaust tips, brackets, etc at the same time.

raresun

01-22-2011, 07:07 PM

If your going to use that air cleaner assembly you need the support bracket and 71 455 hose.

RPM Mark

01-24-2011, 11:03 AM

If your going to use that air cleaner assembly you need the support bracket and 71 455 hose.

Ok, maybe that's it then. It seems that the fan shroud for a 455 is different than a 350 and that is why my upper hose is being jammed. That combined with the 70-71 air cleaner. I guess I'll try a 71 455 hose and see how that goes.
Thanks

N360LL

01-25-2011, 07:55 AM

The fan shroud is very different between a 350 and 455. The '71 455 shroud is a one year item only. I don't remember exactly what the difference is for a '72 455 shroud. The '70 shroud has a pair of holes on the drivers side where the upper radiator support bracket attaches.

A 455 engine swap really does need a correct radiator, shroud and related parts in order to fit correctly and cool the engine properly.