SOLVED - Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner

Started by roverman, November 07, 2019, 07:44:16 PM

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roverman

November 07, 2019, 07:44:16 PM
Like on MGB "Roadmaster"    No crazy ebay prices, please.   Thanks, Art.

MGBV8

#1
November 08, 2019, 09:30:26 AM
Art, the one on the MG Roadmaster is a copy. The real ones are big bucks.  I believe Jim Blackwood found it on Ebay.
Carl

BlownMGB-V8

#3
November 10, 2019, 07:19:48 PM
Yeah, you aren't likely to find a deal on one of these. Back when we bought it OEMs were going 5-6 hundred a pop and the repops were nearly half that. But I think the guy that was doing the repops quit doing them and as you can see, the prices went up. We probably got in on the end of it. The originals are fiberglass, the repops are cast aluminum. Guess that was a good investment.

Jim

roverman

#4
November 12, 2019, 12:00:00 PM
Thanks guys. Thing I'll reign-in my out-there design and go with vintage look blower scoop, to fit on 6v71. art.

Spitfire 350

#5
November 13, 2019, 08:58:57 PM
Were the repops a good investment casting?

BlownMGB-V8

#6
November 14, 2019, 12:25:25 PM
Not really but it's hard to say without the original to look at. Looks more like a die casting in some ways but that's very unlikely given the limited production. The one we got did have a few minor casting flaws but was sound overall and not particularly thin though it isn't bad given the size. It came in two halves that had to be bolted together with 1/4-20 screws. The fit wasn't great and the threads were not tapped.

It isn't a good air cleaner in terms of airflow and needs heavy modification to flow more freely. Even then a relatively small K&N filter is the best you can do with it. The seat for the air filter tapers down on the sides instead of being flat like it should be which compromises the air filter.

Rumor was that they were made in Mexico, and production had stopped before I bought ours, so they may be out of production for as much as ten years, possibly even more. The lower pan and other parts were no longer available from any source, though some repop knobs were out there at around $40 each. So once you had the air cleaner housing the work had just begun.

In the end it worked out fine, even taking into account Carl's impromptu sanding job. I cut big holes in the bottom using holesaws to let the air in, and we needed a special custom high strength stud for the carb which I also made along with the octagonal nut. A silicon rubber cushion under the nut keeps it from wandering, which was a problem.

With all that though, it is a very distinctive air cleaner, recognized by all Buick enthusiasts and many others, and immediately identifies the car with the Buick V8 engines and the big block in particular. Given MGs long standing Buick connection I consider that to be particularly appropriate.

Jim

roverman

#7
November 14, 2019, 02:47:55 PM
Bought a "bird catcher", sand cast, for top of 6v71.  Finally putting together the blower motor. Big car, big power and AW4 trans.
             Onward, Art.
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