The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop air filter oilbath question

I removed my oilbath air filter, noticed the brill pad type hair thats in the filter element
this is coming out one hair at a time is it a concern and should it be all matted together?
It looked like this filtering material was stuffed into the metal rim, not really a disposable type element but a metal housing with the brill pad hairs enclosed, Are they supposed to be loose in there and is there any replacement suggestion Thanks for the help
Ken

It certainly is a concern if it's coming apart and could find it's way into the carb intake. I've never seen it for sale anywhere as a replacement part and a quick check of my catalogs doesn't show it listed by anyone. Perhaps you can wind or wrap it together loosly with some mechanics wire if it's coming apart that badly.

It's a great question and I'll be curious to see what or members ahve to say about it.

alabama1950, I recently purchased a filter element from Chevs of the 40's. I think it's the same thing your talking about. A perforated metal ring on both sides with a Brillo type material stuffed between the two metal rings?

http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/browse.lasso?&search=air%20filter&dept=car&skip=6

Hope this link works!

Bruce

My guess is that Ken is referring to the air cleaner in the lower right of this page (an oil bath air cleaner); and, Bruce is referring to the air cleaner at the upper left of this page (stock "spark arrestor" air cleaner).

Ken,

Is the air just sticking out, or is it crumbling and falling out? If it is just sticking out the bottom, soak it in kerosene or in a grease remover. If it is crumbling or clogged, you are SOL. Someone one posted that they took off the oil bath mesh/housing and put in a modern filter.

Tim

I used to run the old batwing air cleaners on 3 2-barrel setups with dry cartriges in replace of the mesh. Seems like I used 56 Plymouth carts. A parts could look it up by measurements.

"A parts could look it up by measurements."

Wrenchbender..you lucky dog, you must have a real parts house in your town. Try asking one of those 19 y/o's at Checker or Manny, Moe & Jacks place to "look up" something.

customer: do you have any whitewall muffler bearings?
parts dude: well, uh, duh,...did you see any on the shelf?
customer: no...
parts dude: well, uhh, then I guess we're out of them. :mad:

Thanks gentlemen for the help, it is the oil bath style in the options page you attached, the brillo hair mesh is coming out in pieces like human hair-hopefully i can find a modern filter to replace it with as the brillo hair is enclosed in a metal housing and looks nonreplaceable- will try the chevys40 link and ask the parts boy for a 56 pontiac filter and try my luck there
Thanks
Ken

We encountered the same issue with the horsehair breaking up and getting sucked into the intake.
I looked up a filter element in a Fram master catalogue by the dimensions and the only thing I could come up with was something from an English Ford or a Fiat from the 60's.
Try getting some parts dude to look those up for you. We cut the inside metal out and are temporarily using some foam but no oil.
If someone comes up with something that will fit, let us all know.
Fred