Air Filter

[1971]

Buick Folks,
   I am unable to identify my air filter.  The car is a 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport.  However, the engine is a 425 (single carb) out of a 1966 Riviera.  The air horn assembly appears original to the engine.  The air filter measurements are; 2 1/4 ins. height, 13 7/8 ins. outside diam., and 11 1/2 ins. inside diam.  The filter fits perfectly in the air horn.  I contacted WIX and they don't have any air filters with those measurements.  Does anyone recognize this air filter with the above measurements.  Thanks, Richard

[Mark Ascher]

Hi Richard,

I didn't remove these from the boxes, but the attached photos show the part numbers for the correct air filter for a 65 GS. I did not look up the numbers for a 66 Riv, which I assume is a Quadrajet, not AFB.
Do not know if they are the same.

Mark

[Brian]

If you can post a picture of the air cleaner assembly, we can help you identify which filter fits it.  If it is the original from the 65GS engine or from the 66 Riveria engine, they are the same and take the A85C or the Wix equivalent that Mark pictured

[WkillGS]

Those dimensions don't match any of the '66 Buick filter listings I'm seeing.
Fram has a reference catalog online listing filters by size:
http://www.framcatalog.com/RelatedInfo.aspx?b=F&f=FRAM/FPR2012.pdf

Closest to your filter is a HPCA16 with 13.79" od, 12" id, and 2.13" tall.
It cross references to Moroso and K&N. I think it's just a 14 inch filter for the aftermarket chrome air cleaners. Doesn't appear to be an OEM application.

Either the previous owner put in the wrong filter, or it's not a '66 Buick air cleaner.

The '66 Riv with 425 and q-jet had a different air cleaner style than the Skylark GS and Riv GS.
Non GS Riv calls for a Wix 42084: 11.625" diameter, 2.36" high. Will this fit your air cleaner?
http://www.wixfilters.com/Lookup/PartDetails.aspx?Part=115046

[Brian]

Walt, what is different about the 66 Riv air cleaner compared to a 65 GS?  I have had one before and the only difference was the hole the base for the car was sized for a Q-jet instead of an AFB.  Other than that, they were the same and took the same filter?   The Riv one was chrome and had Wildcat 465 on top instead of being painted black and saying Wildcat 445 on the top, but both took the A85C filter.

[WkillGS]

Brian, there's a '66 -jet manifold/carb/air cleaner listed on V8 Buick:
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?301645-66-nailhead-q-jet-setup-intake-carb-and-filter-housing
Double checking my '66 Buick parts book, it shows air cleaner pn 6422189 for 60-8000 and 9000 series with 425 engine.
The one in the ad has that pn, so that matches. Pic is below.

The 65-66 Skylark GS used what they call the 'pancake' style air cleaner. Some earlier Riviera's used that as well. Similar version also used on 59-60 Cadillacs. Most had the smaller Carter AFB carb opening.

There was a 'pancake' style with the larger Q-jet carb opening. A chrome version was used on the '66 Riv GS, and a black one was use on the '66 Skylark GS with the optional Q-jet equipped 401.  I don't think it was used on the non-GS Riv.
I don't know if it was used on any other applications, I haven't seen any. It's a tough air cleaner to find.

[GS66]

For my Gran Sports I have had no trouble getting the right filter at O'Reilly's, sometimes they even have one on hand. I think the last one I got was a Wix. I even bought a K & N one for the GS.

[Brian]

Walt,
  The 66 Riv I had was a non-GS and it had the chrome air cleaner on it--identical to what goes on a 65 GS, except the carb hole fit a Q-jet.   Sold the air cleaner off of it to Wild Bill Burton back in the early 90s when I parted out the car.   I thought all Riv's had that style air cleaner--didn't realize they used the same tall style air cleaner as the Electra. 

[WkillGS]

I'm not even 66% sure the '66 Rivieras didn't use the pancake style (except for the chrome GS).
From what the first post is saying, it sounds like he has the trumpet style air cleaner, or something from a different year/make.

[1971]

To all you Buick Guys,
    Thanks for all the responses.  Last night I was using KN's search by size, so I should at least find something that works.  I'm going through all responses right now.  Now that I know more I can add more.  The air filter housing is a pancake type.  The chrome cover fits exactly over the air filter.  The pancake housing is 16 1/2 ins. in diam., and the chrome cover is 14 1/8 ins. in diam.  The carb is a Carter Thermo Quad with the following #'s on the top-rear of the carb, "6-2141" with an "11" just after and above the 2141.  I've tried attaching photo's but not having success, hate to ask, how to attach?  Again, thanks for all the help. Richard

[Mark Ascher]

Hi Richard,

I don't think GM ever used Thermo Quads. I don't recall that they did. That looks like a MoPar air cleaner.
MoPar used the Thermo Quad on a number of models. That air cleaner base looks like something made 1970
or after.

Mark

[1971]

To all you Buick folks,
    Looks like my photo attached ok, so I'll try to attach two more photo's. (I hope I'm not beating this subject into the ground but I know very little about Buicks and I told my wife I'd do my best to restore her 65 Skylark GS) thanks, Richard

[telriv]

The air filter housing is for a "Newer" car. As in '68-'76??? as a guess. It has the cutout on the side for the breather tube from the valve cover that attaches to the PCV filter. Also it has the hot air supply vacuum motor. It should also have an opening for the hot air tube. The air filter lid appears to be an earlier/smaller version as it appears to have "Ribs" on the side & not flat as a "Pancake" air cleaner lid should be.

[telriv]

Also, the chrome lid looks like it may be from an aftermarket chrome lid that comes with a 14" diameter open element air filter assembly.

[1971]

Telriv and all,
   Thanks for the help.
                    Richard