Topic: 69 Air Cleaner base

[Brian Conway]

     Both the CJ Registry and the Boss 302 sites, quoting the MPC, state the 1969 428 Ram air cleaner base as being 18.83 x 5.50.  My base measures 16 & 3/8" x 3".  My base with the mid-plate attached might be 5.50 ?  My mid-plate measures 17 & 5/8" across.  My build sheet, for the air cleaner,  states 9Z-E.  So nothing about my set-up is 18.83 x 5.50.  Little help ?  Thanks,  Brian

[cobrajet_carl]

My 70 is the same dimensions as yours. The 428 site says " One base I measured myself was about 16 1/2" wide by 2 7/8" tall."

[Brian Conway]

Thank you Carl for the interest and reply.  That post is dated from May of 2005 and on/from the CJ Registry site.   So it's been ten years and no additional information has been made available ?  Brian

[7Lscjracer]

I see you have the early base without the vent that the orange hose attaches too
If you need the later base I can do a swap

[Brian Conway]

Keen observation.  Thanks for the offer but this is the correct base for my September 68 car and I will be keeping it.  My real interest here is asking for and making availabe some accurate information for those with an interest.  Brian

[7Lscjracer]

I'll try and get some dimensions off my base over the weekend

[cobrajet_carl]

Thank you Carl for the interest and reply.  That post is dated from May of 2005 and on/from the CJ Registry site.   So it's been ten years and no additional information has been made available ?  Brian

The 1975 MPC gets referenced a lot and I have found it is not always accurate.

[Brian Conway]

Well thanks Carl and that may have some impact here.  I have gone through my limited print resource/reference materials and this air cleaner base, with these measurements, is not to be found.  So that maybe a starting point.  If your base has the same measurements as mine that makes at least two.  Brian

[J_Speegle]

The 1975 MPC gets referenced a lot and I have found it is not always accurate.

Always remembering that the MPC was based on what Ford carried that year (year of printing) that would fit/replace the original part. And get a sale

[Brian Conway]

Well I just had to know;  The air cleaner with the mid-plate on top/installed measures the MPC's 18.83" x 5.50".  The 18.83" is the long, front to back, measurement of the mid-plate.  So the air cleaner base actual dimensions/measurements don't enter into the equation at all.  Nor could I find a part number for the air cleaner base alone.  Go figure.  Brian

[J_Speegle]

...........Nor could I find a part number for the air cleaner base alone.  Go figure.  Brian

That's not a big surprised. Ford would have rather sold an owner a complete assembly (more money) than a small one and carry/inventory a dozen individual parts.

[Brian Conway]

Well it seems to be a stretch to call the mid-plate and the air cleaner base an ' assembly ' with its own part number C9ZZ-9600-E.  When in fact the mid-plate, scoop, mounting ring and seal is the assembly that attach's to the air cleaner base.  Marketing you got to love it.  Brian

[jwc66k]

Well it seems to be a stretch to call the mid-plate and the air cleaner base an ' assembly ' with its own part number C9ZZ-9600-E.  When in fact the mid-plate, scoop, mounting ring and seal is the assembly that attach's to the air cleaner base.  Marketing you got to love it.  Brian

It's not Marketing, it's that there is only so much storage space in a dealership or distribution center for service items, so it's "practicality" to keep a complete "assembly" like an air cleaner instead of its component parts. The ultimate in a service "assembly" would be a complete new car (that does happen). Also, in the murky world of logistics, two or more piece parts make an assembly. They can be permanently attached or separate. But, by definition, a piece of wire cut to a specific length for an application is classified as an assembly. It does not need to be terminated. You might say there is no difference between the piece of wire and a bolt, but the bolt is "finished" part and ready to use, the wire is measured and cut from a bulk spool, which is the difference (that also does happen, but not often). Those are the instructions followed by many institutions to keep spare "items" available. If you have to throw away a perfectly good part of a service assembly, so be it. It's aggravating, but there are reasons. (Besides, you don't want to deal with Marketing people, they're deranged.)
Jim