My PHS "Firebird 400" package shows that a chrome air cleaner was a factory item for my 67 Firebird. Does anyone know what it looks like or where I can find one? Thanks!

Depends. The "normal" 400 Sport option came with the open element "pancake" style air cleaner similar to the GTO.

Cars built for California came with a black single snorkle air cleaner with a chrome top.

All the repro parts houses sell reproductions of the "pancake" air cleaner.

Thanks! My firebird is from California, so I guess I need the "black single snorkle air cleaner with a chrome top." Do you have a picture? Where can I find this?

There still can be cases of "the car is from California" that are different from "the car was originally built for California".

Did it have the A.I.R. smog pump on it? Do you have PHS documents that show the car was 1st sold in CA?

If so, then I hope you have some cash reserves on hand, 'cause there were only 1500 or so cars that fall into this catagory and finding the correct CA smog air cleaner is going to be a tough search. It looks like the chrome lid is reproduced, I found one over at PY's site.

The correct air cleaner looks a lot like the one listed on the web page below that is labled "1965 GTO AIR/California air cleaner":

Franks' Pontiac Parts

Yes, I have the PHS documents that show the car was 1st sold in CA. I think I'm good with the reproduction lid that you found on PY's site, because it will be hard to find, plus it will cost alot of $. So it looks alot like the the GTO air cleaner, but not the sames for a Firebird right? Thanks!

I am not totally sure, but it might be.

1) Somebody (Vikki) sent me a photo of the correct Firebird one long ago and it sure looks like that '65 GTO one. The photo is on my home computer.
2) Auto companies try to save money. So my thinking is that why would Ponitac develop an air cleaner for smog engine GTO's and have it different for the Firebird - especially since they were in a hurry to get the FB to market.
3) Look at the regular "pancake" air cleaner. Basically the same for both FB and GTO.

If possible, could you try to find the picture your have on your computer? As long as I know what is looks like, I will begin my search. Just searched Franks, PY and Ames. Is it the one piece bubble or the two-part system that is basically the top and base (pancake)? Alot of different variations!

Should be 2-piece. Bottom with tub and snorkel - black painted metal. Chrome plated lid.

I will try and remember to put up the photo tonight after work.

PS, I have never actually had one of these in my hands. My original CA "black plate" 400 had an aftermarket carb and air cleaner when I bought it.

Ok thanks again! No rush on the picture...

Here's the reference photos:

Perfect thanks Salmon38! Now I know what I'm looking for. It looks like you don't have it hooked up to anything. Was your car from California, but you removed the smog pump or ?

The air cleaner breather would hook up the the valve cover?

Also, the hose connector (tube underneath air cleaner)runs from the air cleaner directly to the pump right?

Thanks!

Those photos are not Salmon38's car. He mentioned those are just reference photos someone else sent him years ago.

Correct. My car still had the smog pump on and functioning (in order to pass California smog) but it had a brand new E-brock 1901 carb and aftermarket air cleaner. Alas, I was about 6 months too late after the carb had been changed out.

My car also has power brakes and does not have A/C like you see in those photos.

I found the air cleaner and bought it for $125 plus shipping! Thanks for all your help! Now I have more questions...

I need to repaint it. What is the oem color? Flat, semi, gloss Black? Also, where can I find the original or reproduction tubing that goes from the smog pump to the air cleaner, as well as from the valve cover to the air cleaner PVC breather filter?

I found the original crankcase vent pipe that runs from the valve cover to the air cleaner breather element! However, I need some help figuring out the options that originally came on my firebird. My PHS documents show it was originally sold in San Jose California. The actual list of options include the "Firebird 400" package, which included a "chrome air cleaner, rockers, and oil cap." It also read "Air Injector exhaust control and crank case vent closed circuit."

What did the original oil cap look like?

I think the air injector exhaust control is the air/smog pump?

What is the crank case vent close circuit? Is it the oil cap? If yes, what did the original look like?

Thanks!

Air Injection was indeed the '67 CA only smog setup and the closed ventilation was all those tubes connected to the air cleaner instead of the crankcase venting to the atmosphere,

The chrome oil cap was kind of hit and miss. I and at least 1 other here got oil caps painted engine color.

Salmon38,

Thanks for all your help! Please have patience with me...

So since I had the closed ventilation (vent pipe from valve cover to air cleaner) I wouldn't have the chrome oil cap?

Or is the chrome oil cap refering to the other valve cover?

Or the Firebird 400 packags shows a chrome oil cap, but that didn't apply to 67 CA setups?

OK, it appears that I have been thrown off by what was on my car at the time I bought it.

Diagram 6D-7 in the '67 Service Manual shows how it's supposed to work. Flat, screw-on non-vented oil cap on 1 valve cover and a grommet with a tube to the air cleaner on the other.

Since my original air cleaner was gone, so was the tube from the valve cover and in it's place was the painted oil breather/cap. I still have the flat screw on cap also.

So it looks like you did not get the chrome oil cap.

Beautiful! Thanks for your time!

Now that I think about it - I wonder how in the world my previous owner passed the smog inspections with an open element aftermarket air cleaner and an open valve cover cap/breather.

Is there part numbers on the air breather container and chrome lid? The lid looks similar to one for SS camaros and some Zs, and the base is for a manual car. Has any one compared them?

The part number was located on the air breather container, near the snorkel. It was a decal and the part number is 6423271.

I just received my original air cleaner and I'm having a hard time finding the correct air filter for it. The decal shows a AC Delco A427C. It's a little too tall, so the chrome lid won't close all the way. I believe the A 212CW was the replacement air filter. I have tried Fram and Wix, but had the same problem. I tried a K&N E-1650 and it was better, but still didn't close all the way. Most are 3 inches in height, but I think the width of the filter itself is the key. If its slimmer, the rise in the chrome lid allows it to close more.

If your are using this air filter, what brand and part number are you using? Thanks!

If the part number for the air breather container was a decal, then it would difficult to find a correct one by using the no. alone. Is the position, 3:00 oclock, of the possible correct one in the photo the actual position the air breather container is suppose to be pointing? Did firebird have an option of a air breather container that was just flat, like the chrome top, or at least without a snorkel??

The correct positioning of the air cleaner was about 7 or 8 oclock. In that position, the decal was originally placed about six inches to the right of the snorkel on the side of the air cleaner. I don't recall a flat air breather container, except for the non california model which was a flat pancake style open filter. One is for sale on ebay right now if you want to see what is looks like.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251040048262?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I feel pity for the person that shells out $100 or more for that thing. The reproductions are very nice.

Agreed! salmon38, can you help with my post from yesterda at 9:53am?

I pulled up a request at O'Reilly's.com for air filters

For California Emmissions it lists:

MicroGuard MGA 136
Wix 42095
Fram CA 136