[FortyNiner]

Welcome back flatty fans. Today's web episode is the Case of Gasping Flathead. A little background:

'46 Tudor - bone stock resto

A 59AB that has been recently rebuilt
- bored .030 over
- original cam and crank

Original 94 carb expertly rebuilt by our own Charlie NY.

Engine has was started and has been run a number of times - almost all under power moving the car during various shake down cycles (about 30 miles worth). Motor typically fired quickly and carb was adjusted to lower and smooth the idle.

All of this was done without the air cleaner in place.

[If this thing had audio, the background music would now change to a lower, minor key]

Seemingly finishing the debugging phase. I installed the original oil bath air cleaner that had been washed and refreshed.

Instantly, the engine was a very hard starter. After firing, it would not rev, would not develop any power, and would slowly grind to a halt.

I removed the top of the air cleaner. No change.

i removed the base of the air cleaner. Everything is suddenly happy - quick start, revs are back, power to move the car, and it maintains the fire.

So, since I would clearly want an air cleaner, my question:

What do I do to allow the engine to run with the air cleaner in place?