Air Filter Element

[Martin N.]

My 1974 L-48 was built approx. April 02 1974. The 73/74 J.G. (page 60 under paragraph 4.) says "around" March 1974 Chevy changed from the AC 329 C air filter to the AC 348 C air filter. When I bought the car 7 years ago it had the 329 filter in it. I know the 348 is taller and would require a differant air cleaner stud. Do I change it or purchase a new 329 and go with that? I'm not sure how judging would look at this matter.

THANKS for any input....Marty

[Joe L.]

Re: Air Filter Element

My 1974 L-48 was built approx. April 02 1974. The 73/74 J.G. (page 60 under paragraph 4.) says "around" March 1974 Chevy changed from the AC 329 C air filter to the AC 348 C air filter. When I bought the car 7 years ago it had the 329 filter in it. I know the 348 is taller and would require a differant air cleaner stud. Do I change it or purchase a new 329 and go with that? I'm not sure how judging would look at this matter.

THANKS for any input....Marty

Marty-----


You'll need more than a different air cleaner stud if you were to change to the 348C element---you'll need a different air cleaner to go with it. Forget it; if your car has an original air cleaner or apparently original air cleaner, then the 329C is the correct element. I would not worry too much regarding TIM information which says the air cleaner was changed "around" March, 1974, The "around" could mean April or, even, May.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Air Filter Element

My 1974 L-48 was built approx. April 02 1974. The 73/74 J.G. (page 60 under paragraph 4.) says "around" March 1974 Chevy changed from the AC 329 C air filter to the AC 348 C air filter. When I bought the car 7 years ago it had the 329 filter in it. I know the 348 is taller and would require a differant air cleaner stud. Do I change it or purchase a new 329 and go with that? I'm not sure how judging would look at this matter.

THANKS for any input....Marty

Martin
The housing was not changed in 74 and either filter will fit as you stated with a longer stud. If your housing appears correct and has the original label you should have a clue as to what you need as it is printed on the label. The air filter original to your car is configered different in many ways than what you would buy today. A NOS filter costs up to $200. today and Paragon has a reproduction but unless it has been changed it will lose points also.
Lyle

[Martin N.]

Re: Air Filter Element

THANKS Joe....Marty

[Martin N.]

Re: Air Filter Element

LYLE-
The housing has a partial sticker on it but the forward portion with the filter element number is gone. I'm stripping and restoring the housing and lid as we speak and want to make sure the finish and filter is correct. The PARAGON element was the one I would purchase to replace the cuurant one.

THANKS for the input Lyle....Marty

[Harmon C.]

Re: Air Filter Element

Would the part number of the label be readable?

[Martin N.]

Re: Air Filter Element

LYLE-
The front 2/3 of the label is missing and the remainder is REALLY faded. I can pick out some "verbage" the GM logo and then stacked one above the other "AC" - "GM" - "DELCO" with the Delco circle on that last space.

Hope this helps your thoughts.

Marty

[Joe L.]

Re: Air Filter Element

Martin
The housing was not changed in 74 and either filter will fit as you stated with a longer stud. If your housing appears correct and has the original label you should have a clue as to what you need as it is printed on the label. The air filter original to your car is configered different in many ways than what you would buy today. A NOS filter costs up to $200. today and Paragon has a reproduction but unless it has been changed it will lose points also.
Lyle

Lyle----


The 1974 AIM indicates that the air cleaner assembly for L-48 and L-82 was changed with a revision date of 2/15/74. I would expect this change to have occurred, if it occurred at all, on the assembly line sometime after March, 1974. This may be what the reference in the TIM refers to. In any event, if any change in the air cleaner element occurred for the 1974 model year, I believe that it would have been coincident with the change in the air cleaner assembly. In other words, I don't think that the original air cleaner assembly was used with the 348C element even though it may be possible to use that element with the earlier air cleaner if a longer stud is also used.

[Don G.]

Re: Air Filter Element

I have a 1974 VIN#26647 that I purchased in 1985 from the original owner. It has a 329 filter. Don't change a thing!
Effectve dates on changes are usually estimates and if it is a "use old stock" change versus a "scrap old stock" change, the assembly line might go into and out of the new design without a clean break point. An example of this is side marker lights going from pot metal to plastic housings circa 1976.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Air Filter Element

Lyle----


The 1974 AIM indicates that the air cleaner assembly for L-48 and L-82 was changed with a revision date of 2/15/74. I would expect this change to have occurred, if it occurred at all, on the assembly line sometime after March, 1974. This may be what the reference in the TIM refers to. In any event, if any change in the air cleaner element occurred for the 1974 model year, I believe that it would have been coincident with the change in the air cleaner assembly. In other words, I don't think that the original air cleaner assembly was used with the 348C element even though it may be possible to use that element with the earlier air cleaner if a longer stud is also used.

The change that I know of was the location of the breather vent square hole and a change in the metal tube to a straight tube from the S shaped tube. The 75 MY had the newer style housing and it may have started in late 74 but I have not seen one. The taller filter would not have required the change.

[Martin N.]

Re: Air Filter Element

Don-
Per your car VIN and air filter element number I think I'll leave mine with the 329 filter in it and restore it's housing.

THANKS....Marty

[Joe L.]

Re: Air Filter Element

The change that I know of was the location of the breather vent square hole and a change in the metal tube to a straight tube from the S shaped tube. The 75 MY had the newer style housing and it may have started in late 74 but I have not seen one. The taller filter would not have required the change.

Lyle----

I agree; the taller element would not have REQUIRED the change. However, IF the taller element was used at all for the 1974 model year (and, I really don't think it was, but IF it was), then it was used with the second design air filter (for L-48 and L-82 only). This also assumes that a second design air filter actually made it to PRODUCTION for 1974. I don't know if this happened, or not, but the AIM implies that it might have. I believe that this air filter assembly would have been the 1975 configuration, if not the exact 1975 assembly.

[Colin B.]

Re:1963 Air Filter Element -- stock, paper or foam or both?

Re:1963 Air Filter Element -- stock: paper or foam or both?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Air Filter Element -- stock, paper or foam or both?

Re:1963 Air Filter Element -- stock: paper or foam or both?

Colin------


The originals were foam. The SERVICE replacements for the last 40 years, or so, were paper.