Topic: What is the difference between 69 and 70 R code air cleaners?

[DaveF]

I have a 70 R code 428 SCJ. Someone told me that the air cleaner, or part of the air cleaner was for a ?69. I really can?t see the difference. Anyone?

[P3sons]

There is a slight difference in the bases between 1969 vs. 1970.
I believe the 90 degree elbow is metal in 1969, and plastic in 1970.

[JohnB]

I have a 70 R code 428 SCJ. Someone told me that the air cleaner, or part of the air cleaner was for a ?69. I really can?t see the difference. Anyone?

https://www.428cobrajet.org/id-main

[J_Speegle]

Just guessing but since someone suggested you have a 69 style you might have an early style (for 69) without the vent in the base.

[DaveF]

Actually, my car was a very early production vehicle (9-5-69) so that complicates things too. Can you elaborate on the ?vent in the base?. Thanks

[70cj428]

Hi Dave,
Your 70 doesn't use the small vacuum vent in the base that's mentioned above, that's a mid/late 69 CJ thing. (it delays the opening of the automatic choke on a 69, your 70 uses a manual choke cable)
The 70 base uses a plastic elbow and rubber grommet for the crankcase vent hose instead of the metal tube that the 69's use. The biggest difference (and what makes a 70 base such a pain to locate) is that there's an extra recess stamped for additional clearance around the throttle cable/carb linkage. I attached a pic from the 428 site to show this. (I circled the area in red) I have an early 70 (9/11/69) Metuchen Survivor/barn find/turd that's surprisingly original and it has this 70-style air cleaner base so I'd bet yours is supposed to have the 70 style also. The air cleaner is part of the approved emission system so I'd be surprised if Ford would use 69 model year parts on a 70 ... Hope this helps, John

[70cj428]

Completely unrelated to your question, but since my car was built a week after yours at Metuchen, here's a Pic or two ... I think Metuchen regular production started the first week of September so your car is probably one of the first.....

[Bob Gaines]

Hi Dave,
Your 70 doesn't use the small vacuum vent in the base that's mentioned above, that's a mid/late 69 CJ thing. (it delays the opening of the automatic choke on a 69, your 70 uses a manual choke cable)
The 70 base uses a plastic elbow and rubber grommet for the crankcase vent hose instead of the metal tube that the 69's use. The biggest difference (and what makes a 70 base such a pain to locate) is that there's an extra recess stamped for additional clearance around the throttle cable/carb linkage. I attached a pic from the 428 site to show this. (I circled the area in red) I have an early 70 (9/11/69) Metuchen Survivor/barn find/turd that's surprisingly original and it has this 70-style air cleaner base so I'd bet yours is supposed to have the 70 style also. The air cleaner is part of the approved emission system so I'd be surprised if Ford would use 69 model year parts on a 70 ... Hope this helps, John

Thanks for updating me on some of the 70 differences. I am still amazed at all the many differences compared 69.