I have been researching the upper push rod boot for 68-72 A bodies. I have parts catalogs from Buick,Chevrolet,Oldsmobile and Pontiac. Plus a 69 Chevelle assembly manual. They all list Part # 399904 as an assembly (no retainer). Yet the aftermarket sells a boot with a retainer. Actually two different style retainers. By looking at the assembly manual there is no need for a retainer. My question is was the retainer originally built into the rubber of the boot or did someone in aftermarket just pull this part out of there ass, or what? To further confuse me I bought what I thought was an original manual shift steering column cover with a boot and the retainer. I saw the sticky showing the retainer and I am confident if these cars came with a retainer it would have the raised lip around the boot hole as shown. Does anyone have an assembly manual or other material that identifies this part ? Thanks Russ
This is the picture from the illustration catalog. Both my 78 and my 73 printings have the same pic. From the picture it looks like the rubber boot is just bolted to the cover with three bolts. They dont list a separate retainer. Your question is if the original 399904 had a metal retainer built in? Im not sure, and I really dont remember if mine has it separate or not. I've probably looked at it a 100 times too. If I go to the garage this weekend, I'll take a peek for you The seal is listed in Gr. 829 not .793 like the illustration manual says. Must be a typo.
Thanks for the reply. That's the same picture I have. In the steering column section of the assembly manual it looks like the boot is just sandwiched between the "steering lower cover" and the fire wall. It is listed in group 0.829 of the Chevy and Pontiac parts books also. The only listing I have found for a retainer is for 64-67 A bodies. I'd really appreciate you looking at yours when you get a chance. Russ
399904 is the part number for a seal under Group 0.829 for 3000 and 4000 series Buicks. 5000 and 6000 series cars have a different number. I show a retainer as a separate part number for 3000 and 4000 series throught the 67 model year. For 5000 and 6000 seies cars I show a separate retainer through the 70 model year.
That's what I've got too. Of course 3000 and 4000 series is the A body (Skylarks, Specials and GSs) and the 5000 and 6000 series are B bodies (Lesabre,Wildcat). Russ
The cars I've seen with retainers (64-67 a bodies, B bodies and early novas) had the retainer on the engine side of the firewall.
Here's your answer. This is a picture of my unrestored 70 Stage 1. As you can see, there is a retainer holding the original boot in place. So I have to think that the retainer is factory correct even though its not shown in the illustration.
