I am restoring my 1970 W30. IF I had a choice between a 100% honest NOS setup for 1970 vs. going to a Fusick catalogue for a 455 air cleaner assembly, 455 foam seal, hold down springs, Vacuum motor, 1970 Base Assembly and the Air Cleaner Vacuum Assembly. Consider me a newbie. NOS on Table #1. Aftermarket on Table #2. I want NOS. If I am paying for 1970 NOS OAI what should I be looking for ? What are the differences between 1970 factory vs. the best of today’s aftermarket ?

 

Either way I'd test both of them. You'll need a hot air gun of some kind for the air cleaner sensor and a vacuum pump to test the flapper and snorkel actuators. You'd have to get input from other members but I heard all the OAI snorkels were drilled for CA emissions elbow.

 

I have access to both as I am helping friend restore his W30. I don’t remember seeing the snorkel drilled on either? Maybe the main circular body is drilled? I’ll have to check next time down at his house if I remember. The metal snorkel part is slightly different on the reproduction. Maybe a hair shorter. Unless you have both together you will never notice. The plastic upper part has very minor detail differences but again it’s not really noticeable. I wouldn't hesitate to use the reproduction. All comes down to the price.

 

First is factory with the little vacuum gizmo. Aftermarket has none.


Second is reproduction

 

First is original. Repro is pretty close

 

There's mold lines in the flapper that are different between the two.

 

I recently asked a similar question. Good info in this thread. OAI air cleaner discussion

 

ask and ye shall receive. Unless you have 15 year old eyes you ain’t going to know. Difference is negligible.

 

We’re there any differences in the Air Cleaner Base Assembly by year ? Was 1970 different ? Some have said that 1970 was slightly different due to the California NA9 emissions option.

In Jungle Cats pictures there is a hyphen between Auto Therm AC on the repro but not on the original ? Why ?

 

You'd have to ask the people that reproduced it.

 

I have an NOS adapter and vacuum motor available if anyone is interested. Feel free to PM me.

 

PM sent.