Looking to add air induction to my 68 cutlass I have everything and assembly manual but documentation is not the best does anyone have or know where I can get some good instructions for proper placement of brackets and scoops thanks

 

The dimensions are shown in Section 0, Page 145 of the PIM.

 

I was at the Olds show in Dayton not long ago and noticed that of the OEM (original) scoops for sale, most had some tire damage from owners putting larger tires on which rubbed holes in the intake scoops. I guess the factory didn’t figure on owners putting bigger tires on as part of their scoop design specification.

You can get reproductions of these scoops from “The Parts Place”. I’ve run them for a few years on my ‘66 Starfire. I like them, but they don’t make any difference I can feel in the driver’s seat. Maybe mileage is up half an MPG. Maybe power is up a tick. I’ve never really A/B tested.

The reproduction scoops are accurate, but I found them a little long (fore-aft) for my ‘66 big car with oversize tires. Also you’ll have to make your own mounting brackets which is a slight pain.

Not too long ago I upgraded my tires & found that removing the frontmost 1.5” or so from the scoops eliminated the problem of oversize tire interference. Unless you go with NOS/OEM parts, consider doing this just so everything works right.

Have a look for posts in the last month or 2 on this under my user name and you may find some tips that will help you.

Cheers
Chris

 

Thanks for the tips

 

I have reproduction OAI air cleaner from Fusick and older fiberglass reproduction scoops on my 68 442. Layout really isn't a problem because there isn't much leeway as to where you can install the scoops anyway. I installed them inboard as far as possible which is about where the assembly manual shows them and puts them as far from the tires as possible. I run 225/70/15's on the front and they don't even come close to clearing. In a matter of fact they hit so hard backing up and turning that it almost stops the car. One of my projects this winter is to cut the entire side of them out where they rub and re-fiberglassing in a radius to clear the tires. I guess being able to easily modify them is one advantage to the older fiberglass reproductions

 

Ok I don’t think I’ll have a tire issue where as I’m running 14 still is it possible to send me a few pics from under and above would very much appreciate thanks Greg

 

The wheel size is irrelevant. It's the outside diameter and width of the tire that matters.

 

I see than in you

 

Dam auto spell lol thank you

 

Hopefully this helps you somewhat. I added the reproduction OAI system to my '69 442 several years ago. I can't say whether the '68 placement/attachment is the same as '69 but I suspect it's close. From my memory, the only modification I had to make to the car was to drill the large holes in the plastic inner fender wells. The '69 scoops have three bracket attachment points. Two 'long' legs near the inlet of the scoop and a small 'L' bracket on the circular neck. The long legs attached to existing points in the core support where the plastic inner fender wells attach. I believe the L bracket attached to the plastic well near the hole. The circular neck of the scoop goes through the hole, obviously. I found it interesting, at least on the '69, that the original plastic wells had small dimples formed into them in the location of the necessary holes. This was obviously done to aid the assembly guys in locating the features without the need for additional jigs. These may be on your '68 wells or they may be a hard lesson learned if the '68's didn't have them.
As mentioned, the assembly manual has the necessary details for the installation. You really need that to do it right - or at least to make it look original. With respect to tire rubbing, yes, there is a little. I'm running 245/60/15's on the front and there is a little rubbing at full lock but not bad. Definitely nowhere near as bad as described above. That may be a difference of the '68 to '69 scoop shape, placement of the scoops or both.
Also, don't expect any performance boost. This is underhood eye candy only. It does help the carb to draw in colder outside air and you should check your carb settings after install to make sure you don't go lean but it's more of a cool factor than anything. I guess to the average person I'm as bad as all the '70 owners who throw the fiberglass hood on their cars!

 

 

I would imagine my 225/70/15's with a diameter of 27.4" and your 245/60/15's with a diameter of 26.6" are a large part of the difference. I'd probably be time ahead just replacing my tires but I hate to give up with way the tire fills up the wheel opening as well. Cooper cobra's (what I have now) also come in a 215/65/15 which is a 26" diameter

 

Thank you the info and pics are very helpful I will be looking closely to see if I have those markings also thanks again 😁

 

it is relevant.

what’s the biggest tire diameter in 14” compared to 15”?

 

I put OAI on my 69 20 years ago, it’s always a conversation piece at car shows. People see the hoses coming off the air cleaner and follow them to the scoops, it definitely get attention.

I have no doubt they work. I have a Holley Sniper EFI, the IAT always reads about 7-10 degrees warmer than ambient temp. Disconnect the hoses, the IAT is a minimum of 30 degrees warmer.

Wheel offset is also a contributing factor on tire clearance. Years ago, I tried a set of crager 15x10 rear tires with 15x4 front runner tires. The diameter was almost identical to the regular front street tires, but the offset cause tire to contact the scoop. The tire will rub a hole almost immediately.

 

your comment is irrelevant but the answer is 26.7” & 30.1 (and you’d never run either tire on a 68 442…)

a relevant question would be what’s the largest diameter tire you can run with OAI on a 68 442? (The only reason 14” or 15” matter is there is much greater selection of 15” tires available.) based on the replies above the answer would be about 26.6”. Width and backspace also comes into play because, in my experience, wider tires will rub the sway bar.

 

Quite a few of the guys I work with are 'car guys'. I realize more and more how old I'm getting because 'classic' musclecars just aren't in vogue with the younger crowd. They all think they're cool and worthy of respect, but modern stuff, and especially turbo import cars, are more their speed. There have been many times when different guys have seen a picture of the front of my '69 and they're always curious about the scoops below the bumper. Almost 100% of the time they assume they're homemade cooling ducts for the brakes. When I explain the air induction system - used in the '60's - they're fascinated.