Air cleaner box questions

Alex · #1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 10:49 AM

I bought an airbox at last weekend's parts jumble organised by the AROC over here in the UK. It was quite cheap but obviously needed a complete renovation. So I have some questions:

1. There are two straps, both of which appeared to have been plated at some point in the past. Which is original - paint or plate?

2. The larger of the two straps has a little screw to tighten it around the canister. Are these screws available new from any source? If not, would there be any interest if I enquired with a machinist friend of mine to make a few from stainless hex bar?

3. The canister appears to have been zinc/cadmium plated all over before being painted. Should I assume that the inside of the canister was unpainted?

4. The intake (at the far end as seen on the photo) is seized in position. Would this have been designed to swivel, or not?

5. Finally ... what's it from?!

Thanks for any help. Photos of correctly restored canisters would be great!

Alex.

pcleemans · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 11:06 AM

it's obviously from something with a high hood as the hole on your photo goes over the carb air intake, so it might be from a bus ?

Alex · #3 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 11:08 AM

I was wondering about that, too. Perhaps from a Matta? Giulietta Berlina?

pcleemans · #4 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 12:07 PM

Check page 117 of the Giulietta book by Anselmi/Boscarelli published by Nada,
looks very similar to yours.

threebyv · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 03:15 PM

Alex,

It's an air filter canister for an early Giulietta Berlina and TI.

All the best

Regards

Peter

Alex · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 03:23 PM

Peter,

Thank you for your help. The guy who sold it to me did mutter something about it belonging to a Giulietta but didn't say any more on the subject. I wanted to check here.

A brief search here and online didn't find any answers to my other questions, though. Can you help?

threebyv · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 12:45 PM

Alex,

The cannister and brackets should all be painted black and the air inlet does not swivel. The larger bracket looks complete to me as it contracts around the cannister where you can see the mark near the end where the filter fits, and the other end bolts to the engine cam cover.
To be frank I would not put a lot of effort into refurbishing the unit as while rare most berlinas and TIs still have them. This is because during their lives they did not get converted over to twin Webers like Spiders and Sprints. In the UK there are two cars it will fit. My one has it's cannister as you can guess and the other is going to be restored for rallying so the owner will most like fit something more free flowing. My advice would be to advertise it on eBay Italia - Aste online e shopping a prezzo fisso as this is the place where there may be interest because most berlinas and TIs were sold when new.

All the best

Regards

Peter