Wrong air cleaner?

[steveimpala]

I have a 1969 C20 with a 396 engine that I just recently purchase. I went and got all the tune up parts and filters and I noticed that the air filter is too large or the air cleaner is wrong size ? I'm pretty sure I have the correct filter, but I'll have to check on it, in the mean time, here are some pictures...

[davischevy]

Wrong filter element.

[BAD1916]

My 71 with a 402 has the shorter filter.

[steveimpala]

Ok, thanks for the replies !

[jimijam00]

If the carb stud is tall enough to put that on as is and tighten down with a wing nut, run as is to get way more air into the engine than through that chocked down snorkle with a shorter filter and top that completely closes.

[Warrens69GMC]

Your air cleaner looks like it takes a Fram CA136, and you have a CA3492 or equivalent

[3757chevy]

You probably need AC Delco A329C ,NAPA 2101.It looks like you have the equivalent to A348C NAPA 2098, they are the same diameter just different height.

[RustyBucket]

delete

[knuckle-nurse]

My 72 C20 402 (Canadian made) uses a taller element than the small block. The filter assembly is different than the small block one

[3757chevy]

You can use A212CW Delco or NAPA 2095 for a 14" open air filter, It's 14x3 . Or if you have room A697C Delco or NAPA 2096 is 14x4. That is what I use.

[steveimpala]

I went back to the auto parts store, they confirm it's the correct air filter for the 396BB, he believes that the air cleaner is for a 350 engine.....

[Warrens69GMC]

Orielly's lists this, which is one of the Correct ones for your truck

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...ckup-rwd?pos=2

[BAD1916]

I have 2 different lids for my air cleaner. One is flatter and uses the shorter filter. The other is taller and uses the larger filter. The taller lid came off my dads 70 with a 350 and the shorter one was on my 71 with a 402. I can take pics tomorrow if you want to see the difference.

[steveimpala]

Sure.... Thanks !

[jocko]

Originally Posted by steveimpala

I went back to the auto parts store, they confirm it's the correct air filter for the 396BB, he believes that the air cleaner is for a 350 engine.....

The filter in your first post is not correct for a 350 or a 396. You need a new parts guy…. Personally, I gave up on the standard parts stores some time ago - it’s worth your time to set up a rockauto account - put your truck data into the system, and learn how to use the website (not difficult, just lots of different makers and optional parts to choose from). Once you get used to it, it’s very helpful and you don’t have to deal with this kind of headache, the parts show up at your door.

[steveimpala]

Thanks..... it's not the first time that the parts guy made a mistake

[BAD1916]

Here’s a quick side by side showing the lids. I’m not sure what the tall one is correct for.

[steveimpala]

Yeah, you can see the difference.... Thanks for posting !

[palallin]

I have a lid like that. The cleaner came off an '80 or '81 van w/ 350.

[sick472]

Originally Posted by BAD1916

Here’s a quick side by side showing the lids. I’m not sure what the tall one is correct for.

The one on the left looks like the lid from the single snorkel breather on my 85 K20 (350ci).

[cericd]

My 1970 C/10 with a 307 and 2 bbl Rochester carb has that tall lid.

*Actually I just noticed that my lid is tall like the one BAD1916 posted but it doesn't have the ridges around the edge of the top like his.

Here's a pic.

[MJN]

Originally Posted by BAD1916

Here’s a quick side by side showing the lids. I’m not sure what the tall one is correct for.

The tall lid started on '73 and up C/K trucks. Cars may have used it prior to trucks adopting it.

FWIW Rockauto lists two different height air filters for '69 C-20 with a 396. The AC Delco A329C is 2.49" tall (Fram CA327 is 2.47", WIX 42101 is 2.489") and the WIX 42088 is 3.545". The taller one is shown for 'heavy-duty' air cleaners.