Is Your 70 AC Drier Short 'n Fat or Long 'n Skinny

Sometime around 69-70, maybe in the 70 model year, the 70 Larks equipped with AC went from a short 'n fat drier to a long 'n skinny drier. The long 'n skinny I know was in place in the 1971 model year cars. I think the short 'n fat was in place through the 69 model year. What is not clear to me is was there a mid 70 model year change over. So if you have a 70 with a short 'n fat drier that you feel is original let me know. Also, if you have a 69 with an original skinny I would like to know that also. These mount right behind your grille and in front of the AC condensor.

 

long & skinny

I am in the process of restoring my 70 skylark that has 36,000 original miles. Everything on this car was original except for the tires. It was built December of '69 and has the long & skinny drier.

 

Thanks Dan

What week in December was your car built?

 

I'm not quite sure how to tell. However, the door jamb sticker shows 12/69 & the schedule date in the upper left hand corner of the build sheet has 12-3. Not sure if this indicates December 3rd or 3rd week of December. It was built in Fremont, CA.

 

Does the cowl tag say 12A, !2B, !2c, !2D, or 12E?

 

The car is at my friends body shop. I will check tomorrow.

 

No rush, I appreciate the info.

 

Mine was long and skinny also. Car was an early car.. had the pointed lenses on the gauges.

 

Thanks do you remember the both and whether it was built at the Flint plant?

 

I have a late (03D) Flint-built GS 455 that is an air car, but the original dryer (and most everything else in the A/C system) is long gone. Interested in the answer here.

 

If your cross rods are straight and not curved to clear a fat dryer this should answer your questions I believe.

 

All of those I have seen in the last half of 70 had the long skinney drier.

 

That is an excellant point. Unless that went away from a curved rod too which is not so likely.

 

Jim,
I think you have the info reversed.

Long and skinny driers through 70. In 71, first year for short and fat.
The 69 Skylark I just stripped and the 70 GS455 conv I am building now both have long skinny. The other two 70 GS models w/AC I have also have long skinny. My 71 GS conv has short and fat. This is also the same on my 71 and two 72 Cutlass convertible models. o No:

 

Not according to the Buick Master Parts books and the Master pictorials and the Year One pictorials by model year. Short n' fat preceded long 'n skinny. I have a 71 also with the original long and skinny. But I think it is an interesting debate.

 

My '71 Skylark, built at Fremont has the long & skinny. Build date on the cowl tag is 01C. Third week of Jan.'70?
Something is telling me the braces with the curved section were '72 only?

 

My Flint built 71 Stage-1 built 03E is skinny with straight rods.

 

My cowl tag shows 12A

 

Thanks