TicTocTach

Hey guys does anyone know if the lower base of the air cleaner on a w25 OAI setup is the same as your standard 442 NON OAI????

jensenracing77

They are differant. The snorkel is much bigger on the OAI setup. They also have 5 holes drilled in the bottom to let water out if it should get in there.

rcktdoc

The snorkel on a 442 is the same as a snorkel on a w30,only difference is the drain holes. I have an original 18000, mile untouched car at the shop and it is Identical to the W30 aircleaner except for the holes.

Greg

TicTocTach

I dunno greg. Not saying you are wrong and I'm no expert but it seems as though Jensen is right just from what I've seen thus far. There's a few other threads on here with the same question, one with clear as day pictures of the snorkel with a sizable difference. I was looking at one on eBay that was an original off the guys w30 and wasn't sure what the differences were.

11971four4two

They also used the wide snorkel air cleaner base on the 4 bbl 70SX cars. Those SX's did not have the 5 drain holes in the bottom like the OAI cars had

rcktdoc

Well I know Im not wrong! Like I said I have an 18,000 mile Original 70 442 at my shop it is probably the best original 70 that I have ever seen. The air cleaner is EXACTLY the same as an OAI except NO holes. The owner wanted to replace it because the original owner replaced the hood with a oai when the car was a couple years old because it didnt have the.drain holes. I matched it up to an oai base I had and it was identical except no drain holes.

Greg

2blu442

I don't know what is or isn't correct. But to help people in the future could you guys post pictures of what you have? Maybe even some measurements or two air cleaners side by side if you have it?


John

rcktdoc

I cant post pics on here. Besides that Im not going to go tearing apart a customers car just to show pics. Next time I just wont even respond.

Greg

11971four4two

righto

cdrod

I agree with John, such a small thing to get pissed about. Pictures and measurements would definitely help sort this out without the attitude.
Just my 2¢.

rcktdoc

if they are identically the same why would you need measurements?

Stefano

I also believe that most were the same as the local Parts Palace would buy up all the standard ones at local swaps drill holes and repaint them and sell as originals.

11971four4two

that would demean the facts

brddg

I would like to skip to the end of the book.

jensenracing77

If this is true it could only be in 1970. 71/72 were not. I admit, I only had 2 70 442s and one of them was an original OAI car. The other was missing the air cleaner. other than that all the 70s I had were W-30s. The non OAI 442 in 71 was a dual snorkel and 72 was the standard 4bbl base.

jensenracing77

I just looked up all 3 years and the 70 442 only does have a separate air cleaner base than an OAI or standard 4bbl. (going by the numbers, there are no pictures) From what you are saying I would assume that this is the big snorkel with no holes and the car you are talking about is a 70. 71/72 are deffinatly not the same snorkel.

edit... I just seen you second post and did say 70

brddg

What does the rallye have???

brddg

Are these stamped differently? Big snorkel, small snorkel, holes or no holes? Got my curiosity perked now. Thanks guys, probably won't sleep now...

Oldsmomick

Some pictures from my base, which is original (as far as I know) to my 1970 4-4-2, factory W-25. Sorry, I don't have a non-oai base with me to compare.
Mick

70Post

Non-OAI base for a '70 442 uses the same snorkel as the OAI base but without the hole in the end that Greg mentions. Same length, opening size, etc....they just punched that hole in the end on the OAI applications from what I can tell.

On a '71 non-OAI 442 I believe the snorkel is the same as the OAI snorkel as well (also the same as the OAI/nonOAI '70 442 snorkel) BUT the non-OAI air cleaner bases had an additional shorter/stubbier snorkel on the other side as well.

If you are trying to determine what's "correct" based on "for sale" car ads on the internet you are in for a lifetime of misinformation. It's a common mistake you see on ebay cars, etc....regular non-442 type 4 bbl air cleaner bases on 442s and OAI cars. Lots of "thrown together" cars out there and that's one sign of it....that and many owners just don't know what is correct as that's what was on the car when they bought it.

Paladin31

My 70 442 non-OAI, 8-18-69 build. Brett

Paladin31

71 442 Non-OAI, for comparison purposes. Brett

Paladin31

Patton, your witness...

70Post

Thank you Counselor Brett.

So.....Mr. TichTochTach, on the night of September 27th, you stated in your deposition that the defendant, Mr. Evilbay, sold you the following OAI items??.......

jensenracing77

We were talking about the 5 holes at the bottom, The one at the end of the snorkel I forgot about. Both of these could be had with or without that hole. That hole at the end of the snorkel is for california emissions. SOME but not all cars outside California got the base with this hole but still did not get the California emissions (35NA9). The parts book does not show the base with the hole (that I can find). I assume that they only carried the non California emission base and had to drill the holl if in California? The assembly manual shows a number for 35NA9 and without 35NA9. This hole is a little off topic but still related.

rcktdoc

All the oai bases Ive had and seen have had the hole at the end under the snorkle. Im not talking 1 or 2 I have owned 35 W cars and had qwite a few oai bases. The repro base doesnt neither does the 442 base. And no I dont have pictures. I should clarify that Im speaking of 70 cars.

Greg

jensenracing77

Both of there came from W-30 cars.

100_6539.jpg?t=1271117412

rcktdoc

The one on the right has been painted,the one on the left looks original Paint. Do you know for a fact the repainted base is the one that came with the car originaly? Not trying to be an *** just trying to get a point across that in 40 plus years lots of things can change. I have worked on and owned these cars since they were new at the dealers. I have bought,sold,restored and parted out so many of these cars I have lost count. Not saying I know everything No one does, Just saying I have a little bit of experiance.

Greg

jensenracing77

As do I. I have seen many original W-30s that did not have the hole. I have seen more Rallye 350s and W-31s that had the hole than W-30s. The hole was random outside of California.

Both of the above based were punched and not drilled.

EDIT... I mispoke on the picture. The one with the hole came from a Rallye 350 and Not a W-30. Same base but don't want to mislead.

rcktdoc

69 442 air cleaner bases are the same also,just missing the extra side hole for the valve cover breather. With the right tools the drain holes can be punched and look like factory. Like Stefano said there is a place around the Chicago area that modifies regular 442 air cleaners and then passes them off as Real oai. Not saying you didnt have any experiance,just stateing that Ive been involved with these cars since they were New.

Greg

TicTocTach

Yikes!! What a mess I started here. Lol. I didn't mean to get anyone's panties in a bunch as it seems there are a bunch of opinions here. At this point for me I'm asking a bunch of questions before I purchase anything that has be repoped or could possibly be fake after this whole situation I just went through with the re-stamped w30 carb I was told was original and real. I value everyone's opinion as I'm still learning here and restoring my car as close to original as I can. Everyone here is all out to do the same thing I feel. Help each other out. That's what I appreciate so again I hope I didn't get anyone too twisted up. on the other side.... I found these pics on another thread that basically started with the same question. This is what threw me to the fact that the w-25 lower was substantially larger. Is it possible the standard 442 that was purchased with the w25 option got the standard 442 base and the cars purchased with the complete w30 package because it was a "blue printed hi-po" motor came with this larger base????

TicTocTach

2nd pic

TicTocTach

Sorry here's the other pic

davebw31

ALL 70' OAI bases had the N9 option sensor hole "punched" in the opening of the snorkel. PERIOD! Olds would not have some with N9 hole and some without for 70' model OAI W cars. That would just complicate the building of a W car even more!

An engineering change order was issued just prior to 71' production to the "stamping dept." to not punch the N9 sensor hole as that "operation" was no longer required as the 70' Calif. emissions (evaporator/closed fuel system) was to be installed starting with all 71' models. Early 71' production A body OAI equipped cars got some of the 70' style to exhaust stock of those left over from 70' production stampings. From 70' Oct to mid-Dec there was a mix with and without that hole. Jan. 1971 on and through 72' model run I never saw an N9 hole in the snorkel opening.

rcktdoc

Dave thats what I was going to suggest because all the 70s Ive owned and seen have had the punch hole.

Greg

70Post

Same experience here with numerous '70 W cars...all had the hole in the end of the snorkel and were not CA emissions cars.

WTH!!!......go over to the Pontiac and other Abody boards (Mopar as well)...this stuff is no different than what they've been "arguing" about/discussing for years...minor differences in each model, model year, parts, etc of their cars. Besides, Olds people need stuff like this to "argue" about just like the other brands have.

70Post

You're continuing the "mess" with statements like the above quote

In 1970 (for purposes of this discussion I'll limit it to that) the bases on a non-OAI 442 and OAI car (both W and Non-W) WERE THE SAME THING dimensionally, size, etc. There is no "larger" base or "smaller" base when it comes to comparing the two...they both used THE SAME BASE/metal part (other than the drain holes and CA emissions snorkel hole).

The 3 pics you posted above are a comparison b/n 442 (OAI/Non-OAI) air cleaner snorkels and NON-442 4 bbl snorkels. Pics were taken here and that's my "Appliance Austin" yellow magnetic ruler......I need to go get that damn thing back from the guy that took the pics!! It does nothing but cause confusion each time it appears in a picture on the 'Net

davebw31

joe, that post verifies my post! At no time did I see (and I saw a lot of OAI W-cars as they caught my attention) a 70' model OAI W car without the N9 hole punched in the snorkel. Maybe a W-25 optioned 70', but not a W-machine. I doubt it! joe this time you are wrong.

jensenracing77

How can he be wrong if it still has the date stamp?

jensenracing77

I have a better one... I just so happen to have a 343 69 also and Mine does have the hole. Here are two made the same day, One with and one without and both from W cars.