Guys...I recently scored what I think is a pretty good deal. I know there has been chat about this option but cant find it...( OR basically too dern lazy to search ) Anyway, Someone (buicFrank maybe? o No: ) was looking into OR producing parts for, this rare COWL option. Here's what I spotted on eBay: after a week listed, there were no bidders...the bellows was not obvious meaning it was there, but not easy to spot in his pix, so I inqured. The seller wasnt exactly sure WHAT that rubber bellows was, and advertised the air cleaner as 70-72 GS. From additional pix he sent me, I indentified it as indeed a 69 and WITH the cowl bellows, an original ribbed valve cover hose and pre heat connector, all included. I made the seller an offer and he accepted. :Brow: yay. The appearance on the very nice cutout on the back of the 69 base looks professional, and the boot fits tight. GOOD CHANCE this is prolly an aftermarket application since I ONLY rememeber hearing or reading this was a 68 option only? uzzled: but the conversion cut out on this 69 base was very well done and not all ragged out... gnome say'n? There are two small holes on each side of the bellows cutout, prolly for a HOLD type clamp bellows surround bracket? maybe? Anyhow, this bellows is incredible soft and supple, not brittle, no tears..and I believe it is a real Buick part from the late 60's. However, I cannot find ANY ID numbers. CAN someone tell me FOR CERTAIN. . .IF this COWL BELLOWS option was also an option on 69 GS's??? or did I just purchase a 69 GS air cleaner WITH A HUGE HOLE in the back, and got real lucky with the 68 COWL Bellows??? ou: Wheelz, Tampa Bay
wheels it was only available over the counter and designed for the 68 GS. Interestingly enough I used one on my 69 GS stage2 car when i was racing it and picked up nearly 2 tenths over the factory hood ram air set up.I wonder if thats my old setup that i sold many years ago?? gary
Gary, the seller, from Huron Ohio, said he thinks he remembers buying it a long time ago from Buick guy at some swap meet... DID you epoxy the bellows into the base??? Wouldnt that be be just too COOL if it was yours!?!?! Wheelz, Tampa Bay
Dennis, It's a 69 air cleaner with a 68 optional and REPRODUCED ram air bellows. Yes, Frank M reproduces the entire kit-rubber piece, inserts, etc...:Smarty:
Dennis u izzzzzzzzz dee man! How cool! I have a copy of some factory paperwork on that option from a Buick Engineer stashed away somewhere if I can lay my hands on it. Seems like he mentioned they were told to discontinue it (TOO good?) but was a long time ago.Manner will know. If I can find that print I will post it or send you a copy. Very cool duuuuuuude:TU:
Ah, no luck so far but as I was digging I remember the paperwork included a template to determine where to cut through the firewall into the cowl. He had a NOS kit!
Ok. well. SO now, with all this incredible info being tossed around on this thread, HOW do I know if the bellows I have, is an original or Frank Repop? This one I have appears heavier than what I can see in the pix IF THAT makes any sense??.. Ok, it just looks beefier... but I dont see any numbers... Can someone out there tell me where to look for a P/N on an original GM bellows?? or IF there are P/N at all??? I just noticed mine has a MOLDING EDGE flange where two molds would've been joined together during production......does that help? Wheelz, Tampa Bay
Sorry I'm a little late. I knew I had some pics, but it took a while to find them. This kit was on ebay many years ago. Maybe some info or pics here that will help.
I'm so tempted to do this to my 69 but I just cannot bring myself to hack a hole through the firewall and anyway it would be incorrect for 69. I don't doubt that this induction method is WAY more effective that the 69 variety. For my 69 I flip the air cleaner lid because otherwise above 10 or 20 mph the carb is gonna die of suffocation.
Research has led me to this posting from November 2005 article, Marcel stated: 'Hey guys, I have the NOS one that Chris mentioned. It came in a GM box with original installation instructions. The box says GR 3.417 1394349. My Buick parts books reads 68-69/ All with ram air. I am not sure if all the pieces are included. It has the rubber boot similiar to a shifter boot and a single metal ring that doesn't fit either end. I figured the ring was installed inside the boot to prevent it from collapsing.' According to that info, the GM PARTS BOOK state 68/69 ALL RAM AIR, 69 was indeed an option...point is, my unit is a69 air cleaner which SHOULD qualify it as an original or dealer installed option... AM I ONTO A REAL DEBATE HERE???? Im NOT trying to start a war or arguing over whom or which is right or wrongly deciphered, I am only trying my best to determine if my 69 GS COWL RAM AIR cleaner COULD HAVE BEEN A DEALER INSTALLED option, making it correct for a judged show...K? Wheelz, Tampa Bay
The thing is, all 69 GS cars came with the cool air induction hood with the snorkel air cleaner. So not sure the dealers would approve this option on a 69 because that seems like an overkill/redundant option. Since no 69 Skylark came with a BBB, this might have been able to be installed on a 350 Skylark with a standard air cleaner? Question would be "why?", because anyone buying a 350 skylark would most likely not be interested in air induction of any kind. So that leaves the bigger cars with the 400-430 engines. And this setup if I am correct was designed for the Skylark in order for the bellows to reach the cowl properly and for that matter probably designed specifically for a 4 barrell air cleaner housing only, which some 350 Skylarks had, but again, was this system meant to be offered for those cars in 69 or for the 69 GS Snorkel to be bastardized to accept this mod? No clue.
its 68 only..but it doesnt mean a person couldnt have a shop or the dealer install it... if it was a dealer installed option in 69 its prob for a 350 4 bbl car mon GS for maybe class racing.....why would GM invest so much in a cold air hood and offer cowl plenum too...just doesnt make sense..no matter how you spin it...its a 68 piece that found its way to a 69 ram air breather.. im sure it didnt take long for racers to figure out the cowl plenum was about 99% better at inducting cold air...but by 69 it was about scoops and decals....
Since I barely remember what I had for breakfast take this with a grain of salt BUT if my memory serves well the GM engineer I spoke with (had a NOS unit) said they were going to use these in drag racing applications but the NHRA banned the use of them because it was an add on item or something along those lines. Don't wear me out if any of that is incorrect just the only other pieces I had to the puzzleo No:
