Topic: WTB Cardboard Concours Correct for 68 no AC

[dkknab]

My plenum is showing it's age and could be replaced.  All the ones I found on NPD are plastic.  Need the proper cardboard one.

[Bob Gaines]

My plenum is showing it's age and could be replaced.  All the ones I found on NPD are plastic.  Need the proper cardboard one.

No one currently repros the plenum in cardboard. You would have to source a viable original one for that. That is the best way. Good ones can be 150-300.00. with time and effort a damaged one can be paper Mache repaired back into the running.  A alternative is to take the black plastic one and bead blast or sand blast it with course media to roughen up the slick surface. If done properly it can turn the the black plastic to a grey and give it a texture that may fool someone looking for the typical black plastic one. don't forget to protect the rivets so their finish does not get compromised. The results can vary depending on expertise and material used.

[dkknab]

No one currently repros the plenum in cardboard. You would have to source a viable original one for that. That is the best way. Good ones can be 150-300.00. with time and effort a damaged one can be paper Mache repaired back into the running.

Thanks Bob.  After I took mine out and noticed it was beat up I did a quick search and discovered it didn't appear one of available.  I put mine back in the car.  The good news is almost all the broken or previously repaired sections of the cardboard are out of sight.  Being under the dash helps.

I'll stay on the lookout for an original that could be repaired and still open to someone who has one they can pay with. The part number is C4ZA-18471-C. Does that mean the plenum fits in many year cars or does the ending C mean there are changes just for the 68?

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks Bob.  After I took mine out and noticed it was beat up I did a quick search and discovered it didn't appear one of available.  I put mine back in the car.  The good news is almost all the broken or previously repaired sections of the cardboard are out of sight.  Being under the dash helps.

I'll stay on the lookout for an original that could be repaired and still open to someone who has one they can pay with. The part number is C4ZA-18471-C. Does that mean the plenum fits in many year cars or does the ending C mean there are changes just for the 68?

Yes the same plenum fits 65-68 . There are typically ink stamped date codes but those are typically invisible once installed.  Ironically the last Ford service replacement before going obsolete in Fords inventory system was made of plastic. Most likely that is why the repro was made that way. It is the common MO initially for the aftermarket to take the last Ford service replacement before going obsolete and use it as a yardstick (right or wrong) to make the reproduction from. Since no one complained and they keep selling them there is no reason to change. Up until concours venues started to deduct for the plastic has there been a effort to educate the enthusiast about the historical difference. Hopefully if enough people complain about it being made of plastic eventually the aftermarket will have a incentive to change from plastic.