Gents!
With the very kind assistance of Josh Maloney, he has hooked me up w/ an ''87 cowl hood and is taking much of a Saturday to meet me for the drop off (KUDOS AND THANK YOU!).

Alas, the airbox off the car is a bit mangled- the box bottom is separated from the rest of the box. I tried buying one online from a salvage parts online site but the one they had is 'defective' and the order was cancelled.

As we know, the cowl hood airbox has an open top and three side mounted tie down fasteners to hold the top.

In '87, the airbox does not have a side mount Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor, so I know I have to cut a hole and come up w/ a grommet or sleeve to mount the sensor that is a part of my '86's set up. The hole will be a 'I'll figure it out once there' thing.

The bottom line is I need to keep my '86 sensors (MAF and IAT) stock, or I'll risk screwing things up in areas I have no technical knowledge.

Here is my current '86 airbox. Note IAT on the right,


-So I need a cowl hood (open top) airbox.
-The airbox and the mount (that attaches next to the battery) needs to be intact/decent shape.

By comparison, here are pics of a later airbox from Ron's thread-

http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i338/1987oldschoolmaz/DSC00409_zpsad874b2b.jpg
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i338/1987oldschoolmaz/DSC004101_zps74006fc7.jpg

Of note is the IAT on the left side. If such a box was available, I suppose I could remove the left mounted IAT and mount, and ccver the hole w/ electrical tape or perhaps a fiberglass path. Kindy cheesy, I know. Depending on how that mount and clip is installed, maybe I can move it to the right side via a new hole.

So, any thoughts on the subject as well leads for an '87 (ideal) or '88/'89 (as in Ron's find) airbox will be appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving all!



(Quoting a past member)-"Never underestimate a First Gen"

Let me do some junkyarding buddy.I probably can find one that will work and out of gas tonight.I had two very long days trucking and layed over both days.I am not on que with thoughts.Find I probably can with a simple swap with maybe some added wiring to reach to your sensors connect point.

Very cool of you, as always Ron. Hey, take it easy and relax- enjoy the Holiday. and rest your bones. The cowl hood project can take it's time.

Happy Turkey day.


(Quoting a past member)-"Never underestimate a First Gen"

If you get an 88 or so you could just move your IAT to the other side. I would think there is enough slack in the wires to move it that far.

88 and later won't mate to his intake duct. They have an oval shaped opening. He needs a round opening like his for the MAF sensor. Only 87 has that.

Ok here is the air box I got steve.It is exactly like what Johns car should have.In the pics he showed it was upside down or side ways and with it up right and it DOES have the sensor facing towards the radiator side with the ROUND opening to hook up.Unless I am thinking wayyyy to fast this version is exactly like the 88.-90s stuff literally I have compared.I soley got steve the best one in condition but the setup is identical.So in short finding one should not be a issue for me to grab soon.I may plan taking a vac day in wk or two to go junking around and get some parts.

Ok stuck foot in head after re checking.The sensor on the 86/87 must be on the battery side only.NO big deal because with a longer harness to go several inches further is cake to mod.I can just get the harness with as much slack to be butt connected and heat shrink the connector wires to the existing plug(unless it will reach uncut).TO me it is the same box aside from the mount of the iat sensor just relocated to the opposing side.The original rubber hose should connect to a newer air box bc they are the same!Same mount points and brackets now gm kept this identical.Correct me but my pics and johns are the same generally and any box will fly newer with one change wiring harness.

Ron are you sure 88 and later are identical to 87-86? I have one from my 89 parts car and the outlet is different. It won't mate to my MAF sensor because it has an oval opening.

Hey Guys,

Thank you both for your onging help and input. Josh- I booked my room and will email you directions to it!

Now, I have been looking at Ron's '89 airbox (a lot) past few days. It does indeed has an oval (not round) duct opening on the interior wall of the box, just as Josh has noted.
But....as you exit the box, and go to the exterior side, where the first metal adjustable clamp rests-would not the duct reduce taper and become round at that point? I think the clamp would have a hard time there if the duct did not become round.

http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i338/1987oldschoolmaz/DSC00409_zpsad874b2b.jpg


What I an thinking is when viewed from the inside, we have an oval opening on the interior wall to accomodate the 'bend' as the duct exits and veers sightly left. Then, as you exit the box, the duct becomes round at the metal adjustable clamp.

Ron, no hurry, but if you can find and '88/'89, see if the duct is round or oval at the clamp. If that is round, I may be able to use it and it's existing left mounted IAT hole via extended wires (there is little slack on the exisiting wires- would not be able to cross over as is)

Hope you guys had a good Thanksgiving!


(Quoting a past member)-"Never underestimate a First Gen"

In looking at the part I received from Ron and in examining the stock airbox on my '86, there are differences between them. You guys are right in that the '86 has a round opening and later is oval. This will have to be accounted for because the MAF is required on the '86 and cannot be bypassed. Since the MAF attaches directly to the airbox, I may have to remove the clips from the new housing and tack-weld (or other method of affixing) them on the stock unit. Then the "cap" with the circular opening can be used which will mate-up with the hood's "cowl seal."

Well I guess there are some subtle differences for sure.I will try and compare any 86/87 to the newer styles so for comparison.I may try to hit the junky pile this wk and hope they have something.Guess gm altered it a touch and def want these to work on a car that did not have the hood setup,so it works correct.Learning more every day on here!

Steve Dennis wrote:In looking at the part I received from Ron and in examining the stock airbox on my '86, there are differences between them. You guys are right in that the '86 has a round opening and later is oval. This will have to be accounted for because the MAF is required on the '86 and cannot be bypassed. Since the MAF attaches directly to the airbox, I may have to remove the clips from the new housing and tack-weld (or other method of affixing) them on the stock unit. Then the "cap" with the circular opening can be used which will mate-up with the hood's "cowl seal."

Hey Steve- is the '88 airbox duct opening round at the point where the metal adjustable clamp is applied?
If so, try and see if the solid plastic '86 MAF duct will mate to the '88 box That is really the bottom line. If this is a go, that is 3/4 of the battle. Then, we will have not one, but two options

1. Use an '87 box and somehow add an IAT mount (we need a bit more than a hole to securely hold a threadable IAT sensor)
2. Use an '88/'89 box and extend the existing '86 IAT wires so they can come around to the left side of the box


(Quoting a past member)-"Never underestimate a First Gen"