power disc brakes and factory air cleaner on 3X2

[tripower]

Hey guys, I just finished putting disc brakes on my 61' I really wanted to change the ride hight on my car. In order to achieve the look I was after I had to go with 2" dropped spindles and dropped springs. No one out there offers a dropped spindle that will allow me to use the factory drum brakes so I upgraded to disc brakes. I ended up with about a 4" drop in the front and 3.5" in the back. I also went with a adjustable panhard bar in the back to square up the rearend. In place of the 14 X 6 8.00X14 factory skins I opted for 18X8 with a 5.5 backset wrapped in a 245/40 BFG for the front and 18X9.5 with a 5" backset wrapped in a 285/40 BFG in the rear. Now I had the look I was after but the new duel master cylinder coupled to the 8" power booster presented a problem with the snout on the factory 3X2 air cleaner. I didn't want to go to the single element air cleaners because I wanted to retain as much of an OEM look as possible. To solve this problem I contacted Dale at show cars Automotive Inc. in New Ulm, MN. They manufacture a reproduction 3X2 air cleaner. I asked Dale if they manufactued an air cleaner or could index one that would work for my application. He said, they did not but, he would check with the shop and see what he could do. Well about a week later he got back to me and said that they thought they could help me out. I requested that they put two long snouts on instead of one long and one short and then center the snouts to the carburetors. Well I just got it installed Friday and here is what it looks like. The first pic is the factory air cleaner showing the snout interfering with the master cylinder. The second pic is the new air cleaner from show cars. 5518

5519

5520

[fatride]

Very well done car, kudo's to Showcars for a special order air cleaner.

[w ogden]

Tripower, that looks real sharp and a great plan for the air cleaner. Looks good. I did have a question though....can you get the valve cover off with the booster in place? My booster is very close to the valve cover and it appears that it will have to be moved to get the valve cover off.:dunno :dunno Walt

[tripower]

Walt, Your right. I am not sure if I am going to be able to squeeze that valve cove off without removing the booster.:dunno Its a tight one. Dan

[Ronnie Russell]

Dan, So very nice. You went the extra mile and it really paid off. Well done.

[jim_ss409]

I'll second what Ronnie said.:beerbang

[W Head]

Engineered Components, Inc. manifactures a booster bracker that moves the booster over 2" and up 1". Kind of expensive, $295.00, for a bracket, but who is counting when you have already spent thousands$$$$$$.

W Head

59 El Camino 348-3,2s
59 Impala 409-2,4s

[tripower]

W Head, Thanks for the info. I just love laying on my back up under the dash trying to look through my bifocals to disconnect that darn push rod.:cuss :cuss :rofl :rofl Dan

[dq409]

Man,, when I read you put 18`s on a 61 I had a way different picture in my head then what it really turned out to look like.

LOOKS GREAT !!!!! I think it has to do with lowering it and tucking them big puppies into the wheel wells !!

I have a bigger booster and have to take it off every time the valve covers come off. But what the hey,,, how offten do you do that and it only takes five minutes at best to do.
Are the 61`s different in that you have the keeper under the dash?
Mine on my 62 is right behind the booster so when you loosen the booster you can get right at the rod keeper.

,,dq

[tripower]

Man,, when I read you put 18`s on a 61 I had a way different picture in my head then what it really turned out to look like.

LOOKS GREAT !!!!! I think it has to do with lowering it and tucking them big puppies into the wheel wells !!

I have a bigger booster and have to take it off every time the valve covers come off. But what the hey,,, how offten do you do that and it only takes five minutes at best to do.
Are the 61`s different in that you have the keeper under the dash?
Mine on my 62 is right behind the booster so when you loosen the booster you can get right at the rod keeper.

,,dq

dq, The 61' factory booster had the clevis pin behind the booster. The CPP booster has a 3/8"-24 shaft mounted to it with a hex coupler and a 3/8'-24 hex nut that is used as a locknut. This gives you the adjustment on the brake pedal. On the brake pedal side of the hex coupler is another 38"-24 shaft that screws into the clevis and then the clevis pin attaches through the brake pedal. It actually is very easy to remove. I'm sure I can have it out of there in ten minutes or less. Like you said "what the hey" how often do you have to do that.
Also, thanks for the compliment on the wheel & tire combo. I agree, stuffing those puppies is the ticket and there is plenty of room to spare.
Here are a couple pics of the factory booster and master cylinder,note you can see the clevis pin, and another view of the 61'. I originally wanted to us the factory booster but, it is a Moraine. The Moraine booster has the master cylinder piston attached to it so, when you separate the booster and the master the piston stays with the booster. Also the master has 4-studs instead of two. Dan

[hotrod 409]

Excellent car, you are to be commended for your fine work :bow :bow :bow

[tripower]

hotrod 409, Thanks. Yours is very cool too. I was looking at it this morning.:brow Dan

[Rolf]

It takes effort to retain the "factory" look, and you did it. Looks excellent.

Being the retro guy that I am, I am not a huge fan of larger than 15's for wheels, but your car pulls it off just right.

[Dick MacKenzie]

Dan,
I don't know what I was doing when you posted the pics of your car Monday, but I missed them (brain fart on my part I guess). Your 61 is OUTSTANDING!. :bow

[tripower]

Rolf & Dick, Thanks for the complements. I got to take it out today fro the first time since I made the up grades. Took it up to have the exhaust tweaked. Got caught in a little rain but it was still fun.:brow Dan

[RCE1962]

Tripower

You wanted "to retain as much of the QEM look as possible".............

...........Well...the detail, on the engine and the engine bay, looks great! BTW..hats off to Dale at Show Cars for being instrumental in the revision to that air cleaner. You guys might be setting a precedent with this modification.

Anyways, you should be very pleased with the overall outcome. Well done.

RCE1962

[tripower]

RCE1962, I am very pleased with the out come of the air cleaner with the exception of the finish. Its a little to flat so Dale sent me another AC Delco decal and I am having the air cleaner powder coated in a little more glossy finish. If you notice in the pics of the original has a more glossy finish. I can hardly wait to see the reaction of some of the onlookers this next summer as they comment on whether or not the air cleaner is original...:dunno :rofl :rofl :takethat ...:cool: Dan

[mac1]

RCE1962, I am very pleased with the out come of the air cleaner with the exception of the finish. Its a little to flat so Dale sent me another AC Delco decal and I am having the air cleaner powder coated in a little more glossy finish. If you notice in the pics of the original has a more glossy finish. I can hardly wait to see the reaction of some of the onlookers this next summer as they comment on whether or not the air cleaner is original...:dunno :rofl :rofl :takethat ...:cool: Dan


I just received my OEM air cleaner for the dual quads from Showcars. The finish was very dull, but I was able to polish it out with my Wizards finish cut and polisher. It's better and somewhat shiny, but acceptable. I had the same issue that you had with the snorkel coming into contact with the dual master cylinder/booster. What I did was carefully loosen the crimp seam around the base perimeter, and rotate the snorkels about 30 degrees clockwise. I had severe reservations about doing this, but it really was easy to do. I sure wish the 62's had the snorkels symmetrically positioned like the 63. :(
Must be nice to be retired at 50 Dan!

[tripower]

Mac, Thanks for the info. I have a 61' original 3X2 air cleaner and did not want to mess with that, didn't want to decrease the value. The 61' has the two different size snorkels as well. I thought it would look better with the two long snorkels and centered that is why I contacted Dale at show cars. I told him about the dull finish and he said they should of sent it to me unfinished. I have been using a powder coater here for about the last ten years and he is very reasonable. He is only charging me 30.00 to powder coat it. Dan

[mac1]

I agree. I'm going out to the garage right now and tweak those snorkels around some more so there centered. I've got nothing else to do. :brow