Does anyone who owns a 69 GT500 have an original air cleaner tray that they can measure for me? I would also appreciate a picture. As those of you who are looking for these parts already know, the prices out there for "original" and even repro air cleaner bases are extreme. Just want to be sure I'm paying for the right item. The Ford Master Parts Catalog lists the air cleaner assembly for the GT350/500 as part number C9ZZ-9600-B and describes it as 18.00" in diameter and 4.98" high. But it doesn't list specific component parts and the diagrams section doesn't show anything for 69 GT350's or 500's. The book "Shelby Mustangs" has a sidebar that describes two Ford "Parts Lists" - 9393-400 that "provided guidelines for modifying a Mach I to Shelby specifications" and 9393-500 that "directed the factory input to the GT500 package". The sidebar states that "The Cougar-style 428-4V air cleaner for Ram Air (C9ZF-9600-D) was slated to replace the C9ZF-9600-E Mustang unit". Does anyone know where I could get copies of these Ford Parts Lists? The air cleaner tray is the item I'm interested in. The "snorkel", the S-tube, and the heat shield are standard 428CJ parts (still pricey in their own rights), but they are well-documented and good reproductions are available for the S-tube and heat shield. I've ordered a Lincoln-Mercury Master Parts manual that may shed more light on the Cougar C9ZF-9600-D air cleaner base, but if anyone can help me with this I'd sure appreciate it.
Matt, I didn't get any replies from anyone on the forum on this issue (no original air cleaners out there?). I did send the question to Vincent Laska, the SAAC registrar for 69 Shelby's. This is his reply: "try this http://www.428cobrajet.org/id-air-cleaner.html http://www.428cobrajet.org/id-air-cleaner-68.html this is the base that is on my car and I’m the original owner still today the measurements on http://www.428cobrajet.org/id-air-cleaner-69Q.html are correct for measurements only." Look at the pictures on the website (the 428 CJ registry). The prices I've seen on eBay are $500 and up, but sometimes the price includes the snorkel and s-tube and sometimes the lid, but only a few of these "Shelby GT500 Air Cleaners" looked like they might be the real deal. The Ford Master Parts catalog lists the diameter as 18", but I think that is for the whole assembly and includes the gasket that glues to the hood (the gasket is listed as 18" outer diameter and has to be larger than the base in order to make a good seal). I haven't bought one yet, and I'm still not completely sure what the real deal should look like. As of now, I think the outer diameter of the base is 17 1/4". There should only be one large rectangular hole for the snorkel (not 2 as you see on some air cleaner bases). And there should be an elbow for connecting a rubber hose to the oil filler mounted on the right hand (driver's side) valve cover. Also I see some air cleaners that look generally correct but for a raised rounded area surrounding the carburetor opening - I think on the correct air cleaner this area is flat. Given the cost of this part and the uncertainty of what is correct, I'm being very careful for the time being. This is a part that won't be needed right away for my restoration, so I would rather wait and get some more information than spend $500 or more on a fake. But speaking of fakes, I saw a while back in NPD's (National Parts Depot) catalog that they will be coming out with a correct reproduction in the near future. Also on this website (http://www.cougarpartscatalog.com/aircleanersmog.html) they offer a reproduction that is made from a converted 67 T-bird air cleaner base. Hope this helps. Since Vince is the original owner of his car, his info is probably correct. I only say probably because sometimes the factory just used what they had available if they were out of the correct part. Be nice to have matching information from more than one original owner out there. Amazing that for such rare and valuable cars there isn't more definitive information out there (you have to wonder what the concours judges are basing their opinions on). I have a whole library of Shelby and Ford books yet none of them have pictures or measured drawings of the air cleaner base. For instance, the "1969-70 Shelby Unique Parts Catalog" put out by Jim Osborn doesn't even list the air cleaner base, though it does list the air cleaner lid. I have both the Ford Master Parts Catalog and the Lincoln-Mercury Master Parts Catalog and neither lists the air cleaner base as a separate part. John
