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FACTORY TRIPOWER AIR
CLEANERS This page is here to help muscle car enthusiasts to identify the
original air cleaner used with their original GM tripower. OK, for all you
non-Pontiac people, these are technically three two-barrel setups. I believe
Pontiac was the only company to identify them as tripower. And while we might
have some of these for sale, this page should be regarded as an information
only page. I will list what I currently believe to be true. I WELCOME any
DOCUMENTED corrections or additions. At one time or another, in alphabetical order, Cadillac, Chevrolet,
Oldsmobile, and Pontiac all used the three two-barrel setups as factory
equipment. To my knowledge, Buick never had a three two-barrel factory setup
(although they did have a two two-barrel setup called compound carburetion in
the early 1940’s). The first GM division to my knowledge to offer a multiple
carb setup would be Cadillac, which offered a two one-barrel setup on both
the V-12 and V-16, and a two two-barrel setup on the later V-16’s. Also,
Buick offered a highly unsuccessful "compound carburetion" (2 x 2)
setup in 1941 and 1942. But I have digressed. Back to the factory three
two-barrel setups. Most, possibly all, of the service instructions were originally
silk-screened onto the metal air cleaners. However, silk-screening is quite
difficult for the individual enthusiasts, and shipping costs preclude an
enthusiast shipping the painted air cleaner to a specialty company. We did
silk-screen when we were still restoring tri-power air cleaners, but since we
no longer do so, we have disposed of our silk screens. Decals seem to be
accepted by most, probably all, judging authorities. 40 years ago, we sent
photos of much of this data to a decal company. We have pictured decals for
clarity on this site. DIVISION INDEX
SECTION CADILLAC1958 – Cadillac part number 1553946 1959 – Cadillac part number 1554277 1960 – Cadillac part number 1554277 CHEVROLET1958 – Early Chevrolet part number 1553222 1958 – Late Chevrolet part number 1553863 1959 – Chevrolet part number 1553998 1960 – Chevrolet part number 1553998 1961 – Chevrolet part number 1553998 OLDSMOBILE1957 – Early (oil bath) Oldsmobile part number 1553091 1957 – Late (paper element) Oldsmobile part number 1553292 1958 – Oldsmobile part number 1553399 1966 1966 W-30 PONTIAC1957 – Pontiac part number 1553222 1958 – Standard Pontiac part number 1553402 1958 – W/Air suspension Pontiac part number 1553854 1959 – Pontiac part number 1554060 1960 – Pontiac part number 1554060 1961 – Standard Pontiac part number 5645517 1961 – W/AC Pontiac part number 5646090 1961 Super Duty 1962 - Standard Pontiac part number 5645517 1962 – W/AC Pontiac part number 5646090 1963 – Pontiac part number 5646090 1964 w/389 – Federal Pontiac part number 5646090 1964 w/389 – California Pontiac part number 6419728 1964 w/421 – Federal Pontiac part number 9776733 1964 w/421 – California Pontiac part number 9776734 1965 w/389 – Federal Pontiac part number 6421204 1965 w/389 – California Pontiac part number 6421205 1965 w/421 – Federal Pontiac part number 6421206 1965 w/421 – California Pontiac part number 6421207 1966 ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION SECTION CADILLAC 1958 1553946 was used on 1958 Cadillac. The lid was the “starburst” design. Snorkels clock at approximately 1 and 9. Both snorkels are the same length. All three carburetors are of the smaller size
1959 1554277 was used on both 1960 and 1961 Cadillac
CHEVROLET 1553998 was used on 1959 through 1961
Chevrolet. The lid is of the “smooth” design. Snorkels are clocked at
approximately 1 and 9. Note that the 9 o’clock snorkel is approximately ˝ the
length of the 1 o’clock snorkel. All three carburetors are of the smaller
size.
OLDSMOBILE 1957 1553091 was the first design aircleaner used on the 1957 J2, and was the only oil bath factory air cleaner used on the three two-barrel setups. This was a delta-wing design, differing from the batwing design used on several GM dual quads. All three carburetors are of the smaller size.
1553292 was the second design aircleaner used on the 1957 J2. This aircleaner, like all of the other GM three two-barrel setups except the first design Oldsmobile, used a round paper element. All three carburetors are of the smaller design. Snorkels clock at approximately 10:00 and 12:00. Note 10:00 snorkel is much smaller than 12:00 snorkel.
1958 1553399 was used on the 1958 J2. Snorkels clock at approximately 1:30, and 11:30. Note the 1:30 snorkel is much shorter than the 11:30 snorkel. All three carburetors are of the smaller size.
1966
PONTIAC 1957 1553222 was used on the 1957 Pontiac. Lid is of the “starburst” design. Snorkels clock at approximately 10 and 12. Both snorkels are the same length. All three carburetors are of the smaller size.
1958 1553402 was the standard 1958 tri-power air cleaner 1553854 was the 1958 tri-power air cleaner with the attachment for the air suspension pump. 1959 and 1960 1554060 was used on 1959 and 1960 Pontiac. Lid is of the smooth design. Snorkels clock at approximately 11 and 1:30. Both snorkels are the same length. The center carburetor is of the smaller size, while the two end carburetors are of the larger size. Note the fitting on the drivers side for the air suspension pump.
1961-1962 5645517 was used on 1961 and 1962 Pontiacs without air conditioning. The lid is of the smooth design. Snorkels clock at approximately 10:30 and 12:30. Both snorkels are of the same length. The center carburetor is of the smaller size, while both end carburetors are the larger size. Note the center line of the three carburetor “stacks” is offset from the center line of the air cleaner.
5646090 was used on 1961 and 1962 Pontiacs with air conditioning, all 1963 Pontiacs, and 1964 Federal Pontiacs with 389 engine. Lid is of the smooth design. Snorkels are clocked at approximate 12:30 and 2:30. Both snorkels are of the same length. The center carburetor is of the smaller size, while the two end carburetors are of the larger size.
6421204 has the same snorkel configuration as 5646090, but has a chromed lid
1961 Super Duty (don't know part number). This air cleaner was used with the aluminum super duty manifold in 1961. The air cleaner has no snorkels. Basically 5645517 with the snorkels removed, and seven oval slots the same size as the snorkel openings along the back side of the air cleaner. The slots measure 4 1/4 inch wide by 1 7/8 inch tall spaced 3/4 of an inch apart. The lid is of the smooth design. The center carburetor was of the smaller size, while the two end carburetors are the larger size.
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