The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Oil Bath Air Cleaner

I have been thinking about putting my old oil bath air cleaner back on for a more original look. I stored it for about 10 years so it's very dry at this point. The horse hair mesh in the filter is dried out and some of it shakes off. Should I be concerned that some of this loose filter mesh will be sucked down the intake or do you think that it will be captured in the oil at the bottom of the base of the air cleaner?

Also I've been thinking of modifying the oil bath to a paper filter. I found this on a Ford site. Looks like it's a good modification.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1063658-drying-out-the-old-oil-bath-air-cleaner.html
Mark

A fram CA148 will replace the oil bath element nicely. No cutting involved.

I'll check this out. Thanks Ed.

How do you use a Fram CA148 without cutting open the oil bath air cleaner? I have a 1949 3100 with the 216 cu.in. engine. My oil bath air cleaner where the fiber filter is located is sealed.
Would like to see some photos.

Tim

It would need to be cut. At least mine would.

Thanks for the original post, and for the Fram part number. The air filter was always one of my least favorite engine parts on my 57 3100, that and the oil bath oil filter. I'll probably use a turkey baster to drain that one this time, though, instead of wringing out a rag 6 or 8 times like I used to do in high school.

Stovebolt search for this thread: Re: Removing the Oil Bath Air Filter?

Good descriptions and part numbers for paper filters. The link below is method I used in my 283. Happy with result.


http://home.comcast.net/~svwilbur/ChevyPU57_filter_Conversion.html

My air cleaner looks like this. I simply removed the entire filter element assy and replaced it with the CA148. Put cover back on and done!

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/51ctsm0677.htm

Guess they must have made different styles of oil bath air cleaners? Mine is definitely sealed. Would like to get rid of the oil bath, but really don't want to cut on the original air cleaner. I'll look for one that has a lid and is not sealed. Would this still be correct for a 1949 3100 1/2 ton with the 216 cu.in. engine?

Tim

Can't say if it's correct. Picture posted was from 48-51 shop manual.

There are three OEM options for the AD that I know of.
First is the small open element dry type:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8250844197/in/album-72157632186114015/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/15614673146/in/album-72157631868452754/
Second is the small oil bath common to the Thriftmaster Series it is called the 1-pound (some materials call it 1-pint) in the Salesman Data Books, R.P.O. 216D on a 3100.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/16336222880/in/album-72157631868452754/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129088452/in/album-72157631867396207/
The last common to the Loadmaster Series is this, referred to as the 2-pound (some materials call it 1-quart) in the data books, R.P.O. 216E on a 3100.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/12315093845/in/album-72157640522200463/
As Tim refers to here is the PVC equipped style.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129417263/in/album-72157631868452754/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129442056/in/album-72157631868452754/

There were at least three of the "third" style air cleaners - ones on big truck engines.

I have one from pre-54 that was not like the ones in 54.

1954 big truck oil-bath air cleaner (no PCV)
1954 big truck (especially 261) oil bath air cleaner

I see you have now added a third cleaner.

As I posted above, I also had a pre-54 big-truck air cleaner that did not look like the last one you posted/added.

There were 1lb, 2lb, and 4 lb oil bath air cleaners, not counting cleaners with PCV set-up.

Tim
Any oil bath air cleaner would have to be able to separate and disassemble to refill with oil. You may have a silencer/air filter that came on cars - not trucks. My 50 Chevy came with one and you could not disassemble it. The engine was from a 1954 automobile with a Powerglide transmission. The carburetor had an automatic choke and the air cleaner was welded together. Not correct for a truck. Fortunately the truck also came with a correct 235 carburetor and wire maze air cleaner.
Mike

Four pound picture?

HB. Thanks for posting the link. That is exactly the same oil bath air cleaner that I have.

Nope, no picture, just a reference: 1949 5000 series

5000 series = COE

I have a 54/55 GMC COE and it's oil bath air cleaner is an oddity, but it could be adapted to work with/on a down-draft carb.

Thanks, DADS50 (and, from my own web site).

One of the odd oil bath air cleaners I had was like tht 1508 air cleaner (Sedan Delivery).

The 5000 series air cleaner shown for 1950 is completely different from the one on my 54/55 GMC.

1508 type, I have seen a few retrofitted to trucks.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/14444182611/in/album-72157645229033704/

No problem.
You provided me those links 5 1/2 years ago

In case anyone is interested, here is one on my 54/55 GMC COE. It is probably a 1 or 2 quart air cleaner.

Thanks to everyone that gave me input! What air cleaner do I look for on my 1949 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton pick-up that will be correct?

Tim

Correct is the open element, 1-pint/pound or the 1-quart/2-pound I posted, your choice.

Brad thank you!! I guess these air cleaners are rare. I haven't found any in good shape where I have looked.

Tim

Hit a few good swap meets, I usually see a couple of the oil
bath types at most of them that I go to.
The standard "Flame Arrester" types show up once in a while but
they are being reproduced and sold by the vendors with a little
searching. Classy Chevy USA has them on their ebay store.
dg

A 49 216 with it's original A/C
Same 49 216 w/a replacement oil bath , date & type unknown. Got it off ebay.
I purchased another oil bath at a swap meet (no pic at this time) and it's different from the orange one but is similar in size.
Good luck
Dave

I just converted my oil bath air cleaner to a paper filter element. The oil bath was a two-piece filter (click) and I didn't want to cut it up, you just never know.....

I found a decent three-piece top on EBay for ten bucks and installed a NAPA FIL 2193. It's 4" tall and fills up the oil bath reservoir (click). adequately.

Hope this helps, good luck!

I have several of the stock 1950 half ton oil bath filters that I can part with if anyone needs one. I decided to keep watching Ebay for the original style Air type filters and replaced all mine with those using a new style filter. Like these:

http://devestechnet.com/Home/AirFilter

The document is obviously incomplete but has what I have done regarding this issue.