The air cleaner box on my 73 f-100 is rusted pretty thoroughly, so I'd like to get a replacement. But I am having the hardest time finding one. I see the air cleaners that are just open with a metal lid and bottom (like this) - but I'd rather get the whole air box unless that is not possible.

Anyone know of a possible replacement and where to get it?

 

You shouldn't have too much trouble coming across one on eBay eventually; otherwise keep at the junkyards. At the very least you can put a chrome air cleaner on, although you're better off with a stock type. While open air cleaners have the advantage of drawing in air from all directions, they don't have a snorkel and can only draw in warm underhood air. As such, they're really more for looks than anything else (despite all the misconceptions). Until I see numbers that prove otherwise, I'm sticking with this opinion.

 

I have a original aluminum one off a 79.. How much do you want to spend??

 

same here, now FTE says my message is to short, there!

 

Welcome to FTE

What size is the engine? 1973 choices: 240 or 300 I-6 / 302 2V / 360 2V or 390 2V / 460 4V.

There are myriad different air cleaners, some as the same as the cars, but without knowing which engine you have...it's impossible to help you.

 

Ram Air Box
A little $$$,but they work great

 

Sorry, I can't believe I didn't put that in my OP. The truck is a 360 2V.

I really don't know how much they are worth, so I can't yet say how much I'd be willing to spend.

Curious... this ram air box is from a mustang parts website, for a Ford small block from 1964-1973. Do you think it would fit? It's really quite expensive from what I expected :\

 

1965/79 V8 passenger car air cleaners are essentially the same as 1965/79 V8 trucks.

The snorkel tube may be different, but the actual round portion is pretty much the same.

The air cleaner paper filters are the same for cars/trucks.

For 1973, you'll want to get one from a 1970/79 car.

2V or 4V usually doesn't make any difference because the opening for the carb is the same in most cases.

You might contact FTE member camperspecial65 as he lives in the Sea-Tac area, scrounges all the junkyards, knows where lots of the cars/trucks are.

P/M or email me for his email address.

 

GreatWalrus - I was having trouble finding a replacement for my 73 F250 390 2v as well. I ended up getting one from a guy on eBay for $25. The air cleaner wasn't up for auction though. What I did was I searched eBay for the guys who are selling Fseries parts that fit our old trucks. I sort of figured that maybe one might have one laying around. So I sent a couple of them messages through eBay asking if they had one they would sell. Sure enough, it worked out. The one I came across was in really good shape too and a good price I thought. You might want to try that.

 

$40 + shipping. Excellent condition. Send me a PM if interested and I'll shoot you a picture.