Hey folks I'm thinking about keeping and using my Oil Bath air cleaner on my 67 401M. I was wondering what does everyone still using them clean them out with? To really clean out the mesh. On the flip side of that has anyone gutted the oil bath and found a modern round air filter that will take the place of the original innards? Or could that even work? Thanks. Hope I put this question in the correct spot. Still learning
Clean out your old mesh with kerosene or gasoline. Let it dry in the sun. Re-oil it and re-install it. The procedure is detailed in the factory shop manual.
Go to the home page of this site and look for Tech Tips. Someone has done what you describe - replacing the mesh with an off the shelf paper filter.
Before I went to that extreme, I'd try to find one of the other types of filters offered on the stovebolt that had a removable mesh filter that can easily be replaced with a paper one like this:
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Oil Bath Air Cleaner Upgrade The ole oil bath air cleaner... fine technology, back in the day. And still works fine.... as long as you don't mind the gooey mess and junk that collects in it over time. Ah yes, there's a reason time and technology left the oil bath behind ... Nostalgia ain't what it used to be so if you want to leave the mess behind but keep the look, here's a 21st Century way to accomplish an ...
~ Peggy M 1949 Chevrolet 3804 "Charlie" - The Stovebolt Flagship In the Gallery || In the Gallery Forum "I didn't see this one coming. I don't see much of anything coming. :-O"
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Just a note that I will move/have moved this conversation to the Engine Shop as the on-topic place for further conversation as it is directly "Engine" related.
I think we all fall into the category "Still Learning" in some fashion or another. Now worries!
Dan
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Be sure the paper filter element you choose has enough swept area to handle the airflow without restricting it. Running a too small filter element will be the equivalent of keeping the choke partially applied all the time. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
My truck has a lot of the original parts, I'm trying to keep it that way. Still using the oil bath on the 283 V8, I have no issues with it, wash it with gasoline and replace the oil. They are a little messy when you have to work on it but does a great job.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
Bamafan0001 I just lay mine out on cardboard and let oil run off of it while I clean up the sump and re-fill it. With detergent oil it will drain off pretty clean,or dip it in solvent 60 years ago we used gasoline,kerosene,solvent,diesel fuel . It wont hurt if some dirt goes in the sump that is what it's for.
Thanks for all the tips really appreciated! I want to keep it like it is I mean they are unique and don't see them very often at all. Thank you Gdads51 for pointing me in the right direction.
Be sure the paper filter element you choose has enough swept area to handle the airflow without restricting it. Running a too small filter element will be the equivalent of keeping the choke partially applied all the time. Jerry
I started out using a K&N filter which was 1.75" tall. I then experimented with one which was2.5" tall. What a world of difference. RPM at idle dropped big time. So if you go paper, don't go too small.
Craig
My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
I have a 10 year old "Fram Product Reference Catalog" that I downloaded. I'm sure you could find a more recent version. It includes a paper air filter "by size" section. Or if you want my old .PDF drop me a personal message with your e-mail address.
Last edited by Bill Hanlon; 03/31/20239:36 PM.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
