I tend not to weigh in because i'm usually way off. However! There is a low cost time consuming alternative. Cast your own! I have always been fasinated with smithing, and I work in small scale casting. I have done some reading on sandcasting and it can be achieved easily with some determination. There is weath of knowledge from simple sources such as books by David Gingery, and Lionel Oliver. Net search or better yet local library. I intend to try some of these techniques sometime in the future. Imagine this; I cast that air cleaner from all my beer cans. Drink up! Just dont drink an cast.
More Cleaners You know Buick made some cool air cleaners as well as as Olds. Now there showing up on caddies and vettes too. I've always thought "special" air cleaners were cool. One cause they look neato, two cause they work. It guess it all started way back when, when I used to flip the air cleaner lid over on mom's Vista Cruser. Can you say VvaaaaRoooom!!!
Seems to me that you could fabricate something very similar out of sheet metal with a lot less effort and expense? Maybe the fins could be stamped as opposed to cast? Just thinking out loud here... I watch those guys on American Chopper build some amazing things out of sheet metal. Sam
Looks like a waffle iron! j/k- It seems like the Thunderbirds had something similar to those. Are they open in the back? Does the air get directed into the back via a cowl opening or reverse scoop in the hood? Some of the custom jobs that I have seen lately were made out of aluminum framing with fiberglass serving as the body. They are often painted to match the car. If you don't want to deal with all the expense of setup for cast work that may be an option. Seth
It does sort of look like a waffle iron now you mention it.As far as I can tell the air comes in from under on this one .I have included a couple more shots of one that is similar,maybe a latter version? As far as sheet metal,thats where I'm leaning,aluminum sheet metal.I will look into the sand casting too.
