Engine evolution

I must be like some women and shoes; I just have to have more than one style....
I'm changing the look again, starting from the day I bought it:

then new Edelbrock carb, hipo valve covers, hipo air cleaner and new wires:

then some generic finned valve covers and a Monte Carlo bar:


then cast aluminum air cleaner & valve covers and painted block '65 factory black:


sold those and went back to hipo stuff:


but the chrome just didn't have enough contrast in the engine bay, so I'm returning it to the way it would have left the factory, stock gold air cleaner and valve covers. Found a nice air cleaner to restore and valve covers on eBay:


Hoping to end up something like this, only dirtier, 'cuz I drive mine all the time:

 

Last version looks nice.

 

Valve covers and new decal & paint for air cleaner:

 

eBay air cleaner arrived today, and it's in great shape for a 60 year old part; you can even see the original gold paint on the underside. Next up is sandblasting, gold & black paint and a new decal.

 

Good find - the snorkel is probably the toughest part to acquire

 

I added a second snorkel to my stock air cleaner with the hope of making easier breathing and to give it a faux factory Hipo look.

Locked out the warm air feature. The donor was from a different year/model but it seems this style of snorkel, parts are modular to make different lengths or configurations. I took it apart and used the same sections that my original had. Soldered it (!) back together, a little paint and there you are.

 

So did I. Post a pic of your setup.

 

Hey !! You've got a short one AND a long one
One for low RPM and one for high?

 

Scoff if you wish, but I bet my MPG has soared from 9.0 all the way up to 9.1!

There are GO parts and there are SHOW parts. This is probably less than 10% GO, but it has a cool factor.

 

Are ya SURE I was talking about the air cleaner??

 

Are YOU sure MPG stands for miles per gallon?

 

Almost all done. I like it better than the previous chrome stuff because it 'pops' in the black engine bay; the chrome reflected all the black:



I'm still searching for a 289 decal with the correct arc that matches the housing; this one doesn't, and it bugs me:

 

I wish you luck with that. I gave up finding a 351-2V decal with the correct radius for my OE 78 air cleaner.

 

Several people have suggested Jim Osborn Reproductions; here's one of his at NPD:
https://www.npdlink.com/product/dec...rch_terms=351%2B2V%2Bdecal&top_parent=0&year=

 

I ordered a second decal from a different supplier, but it’s exactly the same; they must all come from the same source. So I took a tracing of the air cleaner arc, transferred it onto the decal, then trimmed and used a marker to redo the top & bottom outlines. Close enough for me:

 

They all seem to have an inner radius of 5", about 3/4" short of a good fit. The width of 1 3/4" is OK.