Ok, been doing a lot of research on this one and I believe I found out what the filter is. There was a similar thread going over at the VCCA site about three years ago and one member apparently had all of the parts books and pulled the chronological listing together.
The filter that I picked up was an AC #SC-655, pn.5573580, circa 1955 to 58. They no longer had a drain plug in the bottom and the tee fitting was different from the earlier filters because of the (1/8npt) for the oil sending unit rather than the pressure line to the gauge.
The reason the inlet is in the front of the body on mine instead of the back is because the lower hood-line required that the air filter be moved off the top of the carburetor and to the front corner of the engine. Because of clearance and service considerations the filter was mounted on the rear portion of the intake manifold.
According to the source the first year that the passenger cars came from the factory with a filter was 1962 and the factory installed filter was black.
From what I gather the factory option for trucks were also always black.
1950 was the first year for the orange and blue, dealer installed filter, that would have been the AC #SC-649, pn.5572299. This was used through 1952.
For 1953 and 54 it was AC #SC-650, pn. 5572380.
From 1955 to 58 they were AC #SC-655, pn. 5573580.
In 1959 it was AC #SC-659, pn.5575218.
From 1960 to 62 was AC #SC-660, pn.5576528.
1970 lists an AC #SC353.
Now all that is missing from the puzzle would be pictures of the various models. So if any of you feel that you have one of these and no for sure what the model number is, we would have a fairly complete picture of what the AC canister line looked like through the 50’s and 60’s.
Now I gotta go put my head on this afternoon so I’ll have a place to hang my filter.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
