I bought a used air cleaner assembly recently; I want to strip and paint one to match my blue anodized theme, but also want to keep one stock & just clean it up.

I examined the pix of the one I was buying pretty carefully, and it looked identical to the stock one on my SA. But when it arrived, I discovered it was slightly different:

First and most noticeably, it has a threaded stud sticking out of the front of the lower housing. The stud is exactly the same diameter and thread pitch of the main carb stud that holds the air cleaner on:



Clearly, it was designed to provide more support to the air cleaner than was arranged for in my '80; only the central wing nut holds the air cleaner to my carb.

Secondly, it does not have a 4-digit part number painted on the intake, like my stock one does.

Thirdly and more subtle, the interior is "dished" somewhat more deeply than my original air cleaner is.



It still fits fine, and it has exactly the same hose attachments and thermal provisions that my original unit does, but the differences have me wondering what car it was originally from. If it's a rarity that someone might need for a restoration, I don't want to ruin it by stripping it and shearing the stud off.

Anyone know what year/model this is originally from?

 

Wow, over 20 views and nobody knows?


I don't feel so bad, now.

 

Well since I read this before I'll reply for the hell of it.

I THINK my friends 79SA has that lil stud

btw I lol'd at your pic when I viewed last night

 

Yes I believe thats a 79 air box, my friends 79 LE had some kind of bracket that it bolted to. Not sure of the purpose? I also thought it was an SA thing, if your 80 doesn't have it apparently not...
Oh and yea that picture is funny as hell haha

 

I think you're right... armed with your hint, I went trolling about the site for some 79 engine bay shots; only found a couple, none real close so far, but it does look like there's some type of bracket bolted to to the front of the air cleaner on them. Can't really tell what it goes to.

On the parts fiche, it shows a variation between the 79 and 80 airbox assembly; 8341-13-300 for the 80 (first four match the stencil on my original airbox), and 8871-13-300C for the 79. It does not specifically show the stud.

Also, it shows a part 8871-13-311B "support, air cleaner" that sort of looks like it could go there, but there's nothing about it being only on 79's. No such part exists on my 80. It doesn't show where the support bolts to on the engine, but I'd guess somewhere on the water pump, based on it's shape.

Okay, looks like mystery solved. Thanks!

 

The one on the right is a 79 or earlier. The one on the left is from 81 and up and uses a 160 or190 air filter(not sure)

 

Glad you figured it out, its good info to know. Strange that they changed things like that after only one model year. I'll have to look at my friends car next time I'm tehre to see where that bracket goes, as you said probably the water pump housing or off the air pump or something..

 

If it is a 79-80, I'd assume the deep dish is to provide some room for the charcoal canister that's inside the air box. It looks like a dome on the bottom of the lid.

 

SA stud
FB no stud

 

just another reason why SA's rule

 

The one on the left is from a 1980; the 8341 number corresponds to the '80 parts fiche.

That would be reasonable, but my 80 also has the charcoal canister in the lid - - the lids for these two airboxes (not shown in pix) are identical. The charcoal canister didn't move out of the airbox until 1981.

The difference is slight, but definite. I'll measure it tonight, and see what the difference in depth does. I did a quick test-fit of the studdly one the other night, and didn't see any obvious clearance problems.

Fun, but not how it turns out; 1980 is definitely an SA, but no stud.

But then, I've always known this car was female; behavior is all the proof you need, but lack of both a stud and a "******* bag" confirms it.

I wonder if older-school rotaries (REPUs, RX3's, etc) also had the stud? Considering how much was borrowed from those for the RX-7, seems possible.

 

Just grind it off and paint it. It's an early 79 SA hat. The bolt is there for a bracket to support the added weight of the charcoal canister I assume. I noticed before I got my Racing beat hat that the stock hat rattled without the bracket. SO I guess it was there to keep it firmly planted so it didn't jiggle and rattle.

 

my 79 had the stud, the tube from the charcoal cannister bolts to that stud.

the tube on mine is bent, so i see why they got rid of it...

if you look in the emissions control part of the fische it doesnt show it 13-650a is the hose

 

REPU had two studs. It's twice as manly.

 

true!

 

I think I missed this. What the hell is the ******* bag?



(Yes I know I just set myself up..)

 

The bag for the rear washer.

 

Then what's the e-brake handle for? All 1st gens got 'em, even FBs. Now I'm confused.

 

Glad I don't have a scrot-bag then.... er nevermind

 

That's for slowing down when you pass a cop, of course.

 

What is the black piece called that is attached to the newer intake? I dont have one, and I assume its there to provide cooler air to the intake? Anyone know where I can get me one of those?

 

I like that deeper dish.

 

Pipe, Air Intake
( AKA "Snorkel")
1757-13-351A

Junkyards, or ask around in the parts forum.