roverman Art Gertz Winchester, CA. (3188 posts) Registered: 04/24/2009 11:02AM Main British Car: 74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L |
SOLVED - Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner
Like on MGB "Roadmaster" No crazy ebay prices, please. Thanks, Art.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2019 08:51AM by MGBV8. |
MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4511 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215 |
Re: Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner
Art, the one on the MG Roadmaster is a copy. The real ones are big bucks. I believe Jim Blackwood found it on Ebay.
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MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4511 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215 |
Re: Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner
Twp real ones on Ebay. One for $800. the other for $1395.
[www.ebay.com] Then, there is this reproduction assembly for $500+shipping. If, it is still being offered. [www.buickperformanceclub.com] |
BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6468 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner
Yeah, you aren't likely to find a deal on one of these. Back when we bought it OEMs were going 5-6 hundred a pop and the repops were nearly half that. But I think the guy that was doing the repops quit doing them and as you can see, the prices went up. We probably got in on the end of it. The originals are fiberglass, the repops are cast aluminum. Guess that was a good investment.
Jim |
roverman Art Gertz Winchester, CA. (3188 posts) Registered: 04/24/2009 11:02AM Main British Car: 74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L |
Re: Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner
Thanks guys. Thing I'll reign-in my out-there design and go with vintage look blower scoop, to fit on 6v71. art.
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Spitfire 350 Phil McConnell Perrysburg, OH (Toledo area) (257 posts) Registered: 01/11/2010 09:19PM Main British Car: 74 Spitfire 350Chevy |
Re: Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner
Were the repops a good investment casting?
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6468 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner
Not really but it's hard to say without the original to look at. Looks more like a die casting in some ways but that's very unlikely given the limited production. The one we got did have a few minor casting flaws but was sound overall and not particularly thin though it isn't bad given the size. It came in two halves that had to be bolted together with 1/4-20 screws. The fit wasn't great and the threads were not tapped.
It isn't a good air cleaner in terms of airflow and needs heavy modification to flow more freely. Even then a relatively small K&N filter is the best you can do with it. The seat for the air filter tapers down on the sides instead of being flat like it should be which compromises the air filter. Rumor was that they were made in Mexico, and production had stopped before I bought ours, so they may be out of production for as much as ten years, possibly even more. The lower pan and other parts were no longer available from any source, though some repop knobs were out there at around $40 each. So once you had the air cleaner housing the work had just begun. In the end it worked out fine, even taking into account Carl's impromptu sanding job. I cut big holes in the bottom using holesaws to let the air in, and we needed a special custom high strength stud for the carb which I also made along with the octagonal nut. A silicon rubber cushion under the nut keeps it from wandering, which was a problem. With all that though, it is a very distinctive air cleaner, recognized by all Buick enthusiasts and many others, and immediately identifies the car with the Buick V8 engines and the big block in particular. Given MGs long standing Buick connection I consider that to be particularly appropriate. Jim |
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roverman Art Gertz Winchester, CA. (3188 posts) Registered: 04/24/2009 11:02AM Main British Car: 74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L |
Re:Un- Wanted: Buick Star Wars air cleaner
Bought a "bird catcher", sand cast, for top of 6v71. Finally putting together the blower motor. Big car, big power and AW4 trans.
Onward, Art. |