Has anyone ever seen a '68 Charger with an original dual snorkel air cleaner?

[Dans 68]

I'm starting to think that there were never any production 1968 Chargers with a dual snorkel air cleaner. Solely anecdotal evidence, mind you, as I have bought one dual snorkel that supposedly came off a '68 Charger (according to the seller). I have not seen any original '68's (including photos) with an original dual snorkel air cleaner.  However, I was looking at the Data Book for the '68 Charger this evening, and while the engine photo and subsequent description of the 383 4-barrel shows and describes a dual snorkel air cleaner, the specifications in the back of the data book state for "Air Cleaner, Engine" that the air cleaner is "...unsilenced on 383 4-bbl, 426 hemi and 440 Magnum".

What to believe, what to believe....   I welcome any and all evidence that points in any direction. 

Dan

[69CoronetRT]

68 Dodge data book clearly spells out and shows dual snorkel for Charger.

[Dans 68]

Yes, that page clearly shows and describes the dual snorkel air cleaner. Then we go the the specifications page and we get another story. 

Dan

[69CoronetRT]

Even factory literature contains mistakes. Congrats on finding one of them.

[Dans 68]

Doug,

Do you have an engine photo of an original '68 dual snorkel Charger? I would covet such a photograph. 

Dan

[472 R/T SE]

http://www.nicksgarage.com/aircleaner.htm


Not an engine photo:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOPAR-DUAL-SNORKEL-AIR-CLEANER-PLYMOUTH-DODGE_W0QQitemZ270480005113QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ef9dd57f9

[Dans 68]

http://www.nicksgarage.com/aircleaner.htm

Well, I'm guessing you mean the photo shown below, taken from Nick's website. Nick and I swapped emails last year about his '68 air cleaner photos, but I have not seen this one before. It looks authentic. I will get in touch with him and confirm the photo's pedigree. Thanks for the heads up.  To be continued....

Dan

[Dans 68]

Not an engine photo:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOPAR-DUAL-SNORKEL-AIR-CLEANER-PLYMOUTH-DODGE_W0QQitemZ270480005113QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ef9dd57f9

That is not the correct dual snorkel air cleaner. I believe the one shown on Nicks site is the proper one (see above photo).

Dan

[8WHEELER]

Hey Dan
I think that would be an exceptable air cleaner for the ''383'' 68 model year, I have a few more pics
for you if it helps  

Most people just take the dual snorkel units off, in place for the smaller unsilecensed unit, for looks.

Yes this 383 has a few wrong parts for a correct 68, like the manifolds, etc, the air cleaner looks
more correct, but I will keep looking.

Dan

[8WHEELER]

I do know this air cleaner came on this car, well ''edit'' 50% sure  

Dan

[8WHEELER]

This air cleaner came from the factory on this 68  ''for sure'' this time.

I wonder if there were two different units used on the 68, the snorkels look the same,
but the housing are a little different    so hard to tell on these cars sometimes,
as you have found out  

Dan

[Dans 68]

This air cleaner came from the factory on this 68  ''for sure'' this time.

I wonder if there were two different units used on the 68, the snorkels look the same,
but the housing are a little different    so hard to tell on these cars sometimes,
as you have found out  

Dan

Dan,

You da Man!    Thanks for all the photos! Now, how do you know that this car "for sure" had the dual snorkel as a factory item?    Just my curious nature coming through (I really want to know, though   ).  It sure does look correct. That second set of photos I believe has a '69 dual snorkel air cleaner as the take-off for the breather vent is off of the body of the air cleaner and not the right snorkel. The first set of photos also looks correct.

Dan

Edit - I think only the 3rd set of photos shows the authentic 1968 Charger dual snorkel air cleaner. The top relief on the air cleaner, where the wing nut holds down the unit, is a lot smaller on these air cleaners than those that accept the pie tins; they are distinctly different.

[8WHEELER]

This air cleaner came from the factory on this 68  ''for sure'' this time.

I wonder if there were two different units used on the 68, the snorkels look the same,
but the housing are a little different    so hard to tell on these cars sometimes,
as you have found out  

Dan

Dan,

You da Man!    Thanks for all the photos! Now, how do you know that this car "for sure" had the dual snorkel as a factory item?    Just my curious nature coming through (I really want to know, though  ).  It sure does look correct. That second set of photos I believe has a '69 dual snorkel air cleaner as the take-off for the breather vent is off of the body of the air cleaner and not the right snorkel. The first set of photos also looks correct.

Dan

Hey Dan
Yep you got me on that second unit, I missed the breather outlet      I will try not to let that happen again, I hope 
But other wise, it sure looks like it could have come on a 68, nothing newer in my experience.

The last or third set, was taken off of the most loaded, original 68 383 car I have ever seen. That is the car with every power
option you could think of, and rear shoulder belts      I wish I had bought that car   

Dan

[Dans 68]

Well, all right! I am now a true believer in the dual snorkel air cleaners for the '68 Chargers. Dan, do you have any info on that loaded '68, such as build date or other goodies?

Thanks again for the photos...I will work on the 10th commandment. 
Dan

[8WHEELER]

I wish I had all that info    it came on ebay five or six years ago, and way to far away to check it out in person.

Are the two barrel and four barrel dual snorkels physically the same? other than the opening for the air horn?

Or are the two barrel cleaners a singal snorkel like this? this is original car as well. This 68 383 is correct.

Dan

[bull]

According to that Nick's Garage site Mike linked above the two-snorkel air cleaners were an HP thing so if that's true, by process of elimination, the non-HP cars got the single-snorkel cleaner. But you know they liked to mix things up a little in '68.

[Charger-Bodie]

This pic,Which 8wheeler posted is from my old jj1 68. I can tell you right now that I have no idea if its factory.....The car was sold new at Hollywood Dodge, So I went kinda Cali on some of the details. I bought that air cleaner assy on ebay and do not know its original application.

[y3chargerrt]

I know the above air cleaner was correct for 1969 with niose reduction package.

[triple_green]

I always though the chunkier dual snorkel was an earlier model year feature and they went to the unsilenced later in the model year. Mine is a late year build and had the unsilenced.

BTW from what I can tell no pie tins were on the 383 HP aircleaners.

3X

[Dans 68]

This pic,Which 8wheeler posted is from my old jj1 68. I can tell you right now that I have no idea if its factory.....The car was sold new at Hollywood Dodge, So I went kinda Cali on some of the details. I bought that air cleaner assy on ebay and do not know its original application.

Good to know. Thanks!

Are the two barrel and four barrel dual snorkels physically the same? other than the opening for the air horn?

Or are the two barrel cleaners a single snorkel like this? this is original car as well. This 68 383 is correct.

Dan

The 2-bbl snorkeled cars use a single snorkel air cleaner. And I'm guessing that as the carburator is smaller the opening in the base is also. I think they are the same overall diameter (I have a base plate for what I thought was a dual snorkel air cleaner that is exactly the same as another I have with the exception to having a smaller carburator opening. It will not fit over a 4-bbl carburator).

According to that Nick's Garage site Mike linked above the two-snorkel air cleaners were an HP thing so if that's true, by process of elimination, the non-HP cars got the single-snorkel cleaner. But you know they liked to mix things up a little in '68.

If I learn anything new from Nick's email response I will post it. 

I always though the chunkier dual snorkel was an earlier model year feature and they went to the unsilenced later in the model year. Mine is a late year build and had the unsilenced.

BTW from what I can tell no pie tins were on the 383 HP aircleaners.

3X

Yes, I agree that pie tins were not a factory option on the dual snorkeled 383 Chargers in 1968. 

Dan

[bull]

Were there any pie tins on stock '68 Charger air cleaners?

[NicksGarage]

This is all interesting information. Let me make a few comments.

First off, I don't claim to be an air cleaner expert. I started my identification page because people were constantly asking on various forums the same questions over and over. The page has been changing ever since as new information is sourced and as I have time.

Data books, the illustrations in data books should not be taken as correct representations of what you got on different cars. These were designed way in advance of the car introductions and many times have inaccurate photos. A lot of times they are a year off or they use a totally generic picture. Note in the example posted above that it shows a dual snorkel air cleaner on the Dart GTS 383. This is totally wrong.

The best source for information is documented survivor cars and even then there will be variations. Things changed during production and even incorrect parts got on cars while being built.

The '68-69 years have been more confusing than others because it appears that it was very inconsistent in application. Also since the main part of the air cleaner and the base are separate, some air cleaners have been composed of mixed parts. At least with the 1970 and up air cleaners, the base is the main component and the lids are pretty generic.

For the issue at hand, I guess the main sticking point is whether the Charger 383 came with a pie-tin. It would definitely clear things up if it could be determined 100%.  

I would like to use the pictures from the gold car above on my site if that's ok. I will add some text to explain the two air cleaners and what the theory is.

[Dans 68]

Thanks for the input, Nick. 

Dan

[NicksGarage]

There's got to be more survivors out there. If anyone spots one at a show, please take pictures. I'd also like to find a survivor Plymouth
Sport Satellite with the 383 4v as it is the comparable vehicle to the Chargers that aren't R/Ts.

[ITSA426]

I picked up a oval dual snorkel air cleaner for my 67 440 hp because it looked correct and had the correct number of ribs and the top will accept the pie pan size.  When I got it home I discovered it had a base for the larger AVS carb throat and not the correct AFB.  Same size and fits either base.  I just always assumed that it came from a 68.  Maybe not.