hey wetwillie, welcome to the garage ... it's not clear from your post if you have a 1st [AD style} or 2nd [TF style] series 55, and you maybe mean it doesn't have an oil filter? oil filters were optional back then, air cleaners were standard, frequently an oil bath style
we'll be lookin for some pics when you get that together, just put your storey in the DITY forum
Bill