The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Modify air breather to use paper air filter

Hello, wondering if anyone has ever converted their oil bath air breather to a paper filter using the original breather. I have read of some pros and cons about using a air filter vs. the oil bath but I think in the end a paper filter is cleaner for sure. I like the look of the oil bath breather so I was hoping to use it instead of changing it out. Any thoughts? Kevin

Much info and advice on the subject.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1125144/Re:_Oil_Bath_Air_Cleaner.html#Post1125144

A good thing to do unless it's a super rare one. Paper is much better. This is a very common modification. The modification differs depending on oil bath. The mod is straight forward. Tear out what you don't want and leave what you do. Find a round style paper filter that fits.
There are lists on the web with sizes and part numbers.

Paper is easier to deal with.

"I have read of some pros and cons about using a air filter vs. the oil bath but I think in the end a paper filter is cleaner for sure."

I think that the oil bath air cleaner is at least as effective in cleaning air as any paper/dry filter. And, they have a non-clogging advantage over other types of filter elements.

Thanks, It appears that the fiber material on the breather is sealed in place and can't be opened to remove the fiber. Am I wrong? So if I wanted to remove it I would have to cut it out and find a paper filter to fit inside? Any other thoughts?

Kevin,

My oil bath air cleaner was a mess. The engine kept drawing the oil out of it, causing all kinds of rough running issues. Recently, I learned there should be a rubber gasket in the bottom of it?

I removed the oil bath filter element and purchased another late model Chevrolet air filter top. Next, I went to my FLAPS and purchased a NAPA Gold 2193 air filer.

The new air filter works great and no more oily mess!

Here's a part no. for a Napa filter that fits the standard shorty truck air cleaner late 30s to ???. #2373

Thanks for all the input. I made the conversion, was very easy and love the results.....on to undercoating!!

Thanks for all the input. I made the conversion, was very easy and love the results.....on to undercoating!!

I have a filter like Andy pictured above. I replaced the entire center section with a Fram CA148/equivalent. No cutting involved and I have the complete center section intact if I ever want to reuse it. Simple.

Not sure I understand how that fits. Did you leave out the original top/filter-mesh and fit a new top as Andy described?

Just use the base shown on right in Andy's picture and the original top. Filter is 3-1/4" tall an 1" is exposed with the top on, similar to Andy's completed picture.

I remember seeing the remains of Olds and Cadillac engines from cars that ran at Daytona back in the early 1950's when they were still running on the beach. Even with the best oil bath air cleaners available at the time, there was a layer of sand in the oil pan. That was just the stuff that had managed to get past the piston rings! Those engines were totally worn out after only 500 miles.
Jerry

In the spirit of the rancher in eastern Montana who had my truck, I improvised as shown but had to buy Mrs. Wally a new cake pan.
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Modification for a Paper Air Filter.
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Do you have a picture of yours? Or is it basically identical in appearance to Andy's?

I really like the cleanliness of the paper, but the thought of cutting up my original oil bath air doesn't appeal to me. Yours is a much simpler solution.

Appearance the same as Andy's except I used the original cover. The paper filter simply replaces the washable oil filter element. I'll see if I can figure out how to post a picture.

There is a really good Tech Tip about this subject if you take a look.

If you read through the short discussion in the link below, you can drop down to something I posted that slightly adapts the original Tech Tip with a K&N filter. It works great.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1173889/Re:_Question_about_Oil_Bath_Ai.html#Post1173889

Matt

Air filters by size. Click the down arrow then click Air Filters to get started.

My air cleaner does not have an integral top and mesh filter. Rather it's 3 parts; base, top and filter element. That would explain why my conversion was so straight forward and simple. I have a 49 3100 with a 52 216 and I don't know if the filter is a 49, 52 or neither.

That explains a lot............as the Fram CA148 is about the exact same size as the one piece stock filter element on my '50 GMC.

if you want to convert a Task Force era air cleaner that looks like this:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6tg8mypxamp1qb/TF%20air%20cleaner%20bath.jpg?dl=0

into one that uses a paper element instead of the oil bath, cut off the top flush along the underside of the upper domed lid, so you end up with what looks like a typical air cleaner lid like this (underside shown):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8dlphzm976xrss3/TF%20lid.jpg?dl=0

then get a WIX WA10094 paper element, and put it in place instead of the oil bath basket and you will end up with this:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8drvhntstcm5kmz/TF%20aircleaner.jpg?dl=0

it looks great, like it was made this way. i found some black air cleaner foam and wrapped the white paper element so it disappears into the shadow and appears dark like the original oil bath set up:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kj1up3rsb3r8gc0/TF%20aircleaner%20FOAM%202.jpg?dl=0

Wow, nice looking conversion. Great detail on the work. Thanks!!

I was interested in converting to a paper element but want to keep everything as stock appearing as possible. I may have missed it but I haven't seen any picture examples of modifying my type of air cleaner. It's what came on the truck when I aquired it but apparently was used on larger models. It is usually referred to as a Loadmaster style, 2 pound, or 1 quart model. Here is what it looks like.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/Hookalatch/IMG_4246.jpg

Fortunately the lid, base, and filter element are all separate so no modification is necessary and it can go back to oil bath simply by changing one filter element for the other. The paper element I choose, a NAPA part number 6192, comes with metal ends so I used spray adhesive to glue some old inner tube on both ends.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/Hookalatch/IMG_4255.jpg

The cover sticks up maybe 1/2" higher than stock but you have to look at just the right angle to see that it is not stock.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/Hookalatch/IMG_4256.jpg

Once on the truck it looks just like the oil bath did.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/Hookalatch/IMG_4261.jpg

Unrelated but since it's in the last picture, I switched to a Carter carb. Perhaps I just had a good Rochester but I can't really appreciate any difference. I rebuilt both or them and was happy with the Rochester but heard so many claims the Carter was better I thought I would try one. They both functioned great.

Chuck! You are my hero! This is the exact oil bath air filter I have on my truck and I just started down the path of switching it to a paper filter. You have now supplied me with the NAPA part number without the headache of trying to figure out which filter will I have to use to make this work!

BTW - Now that you are running with this setup, did you have to make any carb adjustments to dial it in or was it a simple swap-n-go?

Bruce

That is exactly what I was looking to do on my 58 Task Force truck. I found that the WIX WA10094 is for a GENERAC centurion 20KW GT999 generator. So, if you search around for air filters for that generator you can find other brands as well. I found one on Amazon for $12 vs the $25 for the WIX.

The NAPA 6192 I used is the same as a Wix 46192. Either should be easily available at most auto parts stores for around $15.
I did not make any carb changes.

Can you re-post your task force air cleaner conversion pics? The dropbox links circa 2017? are no longer available.