The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Oil bath Question w/pics

I have a 62 series 80 with the 348 or 409, not exactly sure wich yet. Anyway it has the oil bath cleaner. I searched fro oil bath cleaners and I have read for two hours about them. My question is am I missing something. My cleaner does not have the Wire Mesh i keep reading about. I took pics and hope they show up in enough detail to show what I am talking about. The only screen in mine is like 1/4 inch squares to keep the bugs out or something like that.
I think the air goes down through the oil and back up then the 1/4 inch screen then into the carb. Am I missing parts?
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Ibendcars/62Chevyaircleaner2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Ibendcars/62Chevyaircleaner.jpg
I hope these pics show up good enough to show what i am talking about.

Looks to be some type of paper filter material under the wire mesh in the first pic. Not sure but don't believe this to be original. The correct wire mesh should fill the area from the slots to the top portion of the filter top. (Or about where the paper filter is now. Does it look as if the filter assembly has been disassembled in any way and modified by a PO?

IBendDcars,

The incoming air passes by the oil, but will not go 'through' it in the true sense of the word.

Stuart

There is no paper filter in there. When I got it it was full of oil/sludge. The only mesh in there is about 1/4 squares. It doesn't appear to have been modified but I don't know as this is my first BOLT. The pics show up good on my cell phone but in the downloading and such they appear to have gotten darker/harder to see.

Atomarc That is why I am asking because it doesn't seem as if there is anything in there that would do any filtering,

IBenDcars,

There was a good explanation of how this type of filter functions not too long ago. The sludge and junk laying in the bottom of the oil bath are proof that this system works...that sludge is the junk the oil has trapped.

As the air flows through the filter it is required to make an abrupt turn. The air makes this turn, but heavier particles of dust and dirt are hurled into the oil medium. It looks like your filter is missing some of the mesh used in the filtering process.

Stuart

I am going to head down to my FLAPS and talk to one of the OLD guys working today. They should know if it is right or what I need to fix it. Thanks

IBend, if push comes to shove you can look for a replacement filter assy that still has the mesh in place. Place an ad on the Parts Wanted board, search Ebay, or hit swapmeets in your area. I have an oilbath from my 59 Apache 283 that I replaced which is in good condition but fits the 2bbl carb. Yours may be for the 4bbl. I know the bottom piece is different but not sure about the piece with the mesh.

Well they said "I haven't seen an oil bath cleaner on this counter in twenty years" After they got done laughing I asked if I was missing something from the inside and they agreed there should be some kind of media in there. They said get some copper scrub pads and just stick that in there for now. I got some and filled it with oil and fired it up, didn't have a chance to pull it back off to see how it looked agin but will next weekend.

LOL! Kinda figgered you'd get that reaction at FLAPS. You've done what I did with an old oil fill cap. I'd say make sure you use enough of the copper (or stainless) scrub pad (Chore Girl). Pack it in fairly tight but not too much so. Check frequently to insure its not slipping out.

They all had some kind of mesh. Some used metal and some used a kind of fiber.The grid is to hold the mesh. In the day we used to burn them out to clear the sludge from the mesh. The fiber ones would come up with no more fiber. Chore boy/girl would work.

I just got my first '50 Chevy PU, and it has the 'flammable' fiber you mention. (But it hasn't been burned out)

I'd like to hear how to tell, from the outside, whether I have babbitt bearings or inserts?

Insert bearings require higher oil pressure to work right. Measure your oil pressure. If you have something like 15 psi, I would say that you have babbit. If you have 35-40 or more psi, I would say you have inserts.