The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Oil bath doesn’t fit snug on carb.

When I tighten up the band clamp on my 52 gmc 248 the clamp comes tight on the oil bath before the carb. it holds the bath on, but allows it to wobble and rotate. Is this how it’s supposed to work? I feel like it didn’t use to do this. Did i lose a gasket or something?

Thanks.

My oil bath has an outer round clamp that is spot welded at one or two places.
Tightening the clamp causes the inner section to tighten against the carburetor throat.
I would take the air cleaner off and observe as you tighten the clamp.

It will clamp best if both the filter clamp and air horn are in intimate contact. Make sure both are symmetric. I was getting some movement on my 38 with the filter clamp tight. I discovered the air horn on the carb was out of round and the filter clamp was only making contact in a couple of places. A little gentle massaging of the air horn fixed the problem.

hmm. mine doesn’t look like that. it has a ‘v’ band. maybe it’s a GMC/chevy difference? i gotta go look closer at it. manual doesn’t show a gasket, but sometimes it skips things that it assumes we’re obvious in the 50’s.

My GMC oil bath air cleaner has a 'v' band.

It is a 2-barrel AA1 Zenith with externally adjustable main jets. That carburetor is from a (GMC 302) and it is installed on my 1960 261 (060 over-bore).

Ah yes! For jeeps and tractors that see a lot of rough terrain.

I couldn't find a picture of the GMC air cleaner.
Attached is a picture of a 50 GMC Zenith carburetor and a over-the-counter generic "V" clamp.
So, does the air cleaner base have "V" fingers than fit inside a "V" clamp?

I think mine has half a v on the carb and half on the air cleaner. i gotta go take a closer look. the clamp stays with the air cleaner and has a long bolt with a triangle bent in the end to make a handle. i was going to go look this morning but it was pouring rain.

i think i maybe am not putting the air cleaner far enough down onto the carb.

here’s some pictures of what i’ve got. v clamp is kinda built into the air cleaner. it can be removed and reinstalled, but not super easily. seems like it sits too low on the carb maybe? tightens completely on the air cleaner but is still loose on the carb. i’m worried it might bounce around and hit the choke lever.

yeahoner I think ive hit that you need a gasket that will become shaped like that v-shaped neck.That is a good joint especially for rough roads !!

yeahoner Your 52 has a stem with a triangular handle like a mopar,as I recall you would put your gasket on the carb and kinda pash it down on the upper v of the air horn .

seems like maybe i lost the gasket. can i just cut a bit of felt or cork to fit on top of the ‘v’ of the carb? or is that a gasket that’s available?

Be careful what you put in or around the carburetor that there is no possibility of it being sucked into the engine.

Your clamp looks like it has bottomed-out (see picture with red circle).
GMC parts WIKI, for 1950, shows "clamp - air cleaner tube" part number 2246836 (see picture with red triangle).
I could not find this GMC part.
Jeep has a Carburetor Air Horn Rubber Seal (see picture). Maybe you can try this. May need to trim the height.
Jeep parts website and here at https://www.ebay.com/itm/400712210310.
The Zenith air horn diameter for Jeep and your GMC should be the same.

You can also post your question in a GMC truck forum.

I'd love to find one of those clamps! Anyone know where one could be located?

On a 1950's GMC truck.

It's a large oil bath air cleaner typically used on big trucks.
Judging by the picture provided, it looks special-made.
The band or clamp may be spot welded to the air cleaner at a few points.
There are 2 square nuts held captive by the band.
The tightening rod is probably 8 inches long and threaded about 3 inches on one end.

You can find generic v-bands at parts stores or on the Internet. ​
They are used on plumbing for turbos (hi-tech engines) and exhaust pipes (tractors etc.).
Most likely you will have to modify the clamp to fit your purpose.