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Oil Bath Air Filter

Back on the project after working some massive overtime of late. I bought an oil bath air filter off of Ebay several months ago with the intention of turning it into a paper filter air cleaner. I think it is an old Ford air cleaner but it had the look that I wanted to put on the small block that I am going to use and the price was right. A few days before starting, I placed it in a vinegar bath to remove some of the slight rust in it.

The first order was to buy a filter and work around that geometry. I ordered a K&N filter but it didn't seem to fit very well in the old canister so I ended up finding two paper filter that we are a little smaller diameter to use. Once I had a rough plan then I gutted the old filter and cut out all the areas that I didn't need. On the top/lid I decided that I didn't want the filter visible when installed so I had to build a recess in it. I don't have a sheet roller so I build a simple wood buck and then I used a worm clamp to hold it while I welded it in a hoop and to the internal cap. I later cut the wood buck down further and used it to form the hoop that mounts to the carb.

I also thought I needed to increase the air flow so I drilled some holes around the perimeter of the base. Once I drilled the holes then they didn't quite look right so I determined that they needed to be flanged so I took some scrap aluminum and I bought a steel bushing and made a quick hole flange tool and flanged all the holes. I then drilled some holes along the bottom mounting plate (outside the filter perimeter) to give even more air flow.

Once I had it all welded up then I went in and roughed up the surfaces with some 120 grit and some scuff pads. I then shot it with epoxy primer (not shown in pics). I still have to do some dent removal and tapping and some bodywork before I shoot it with some hotrod black paint but it turned out to my liking.