Oil Bath Air Filter

[baceves]

Greetings all.

I have the original oil bath air filter for my 47 ford and I'm wondering if anyone knows of a place/person that can restore/refinish this type of item.

As far as I have researched, I don't believe any vendors make/sell as new. For now, I have an itty-bitty air filter that sits on top of my 97 Stromberg carburetor. This has always looked a little strange to me, not proportional, like a little head on a big body. I would like to install back the original oil bath air filter as it really completes the look on the V8 Flathead.

Thanks.
Brian.

[corvette8n]

If it’s like the one on my ‘41 it wasn’t very hard to disassemble. Then clean it with brake cleaner and spray it black and reassemble.

[RKS.PA]

Brian, I think they were painted black...mine is a gloss black, but not sure it's the original finish. Also, the original service decal copy is available.

Not that you asked, but I converted mine to a replaceable Wix filter from the old oil bath style. There are some earlier post on how some members here have done that, in case you want to go in that direction as well. (Mine did involve modifying the "innards"!!)

I'm with you in that I like the looks of the original on my '47 vs. the small chrome aftermarket.!

[Kube]

Originally Posted by baceves

Greetings all.

I have the original oil bath air filter for my 47 ford and I'm wondering if anyone knows of a place/person that can restore/refinish this type of item.

As far as I have researched, I don't believe any vendors make/sell as new. For now, I have an itty-bitty air filter that sits on top of my 97 Stromberg carburetor. This has always looked a little strange to me, not proportional, like a little head on a big body. I would like to install back the original oil bath air filter as it really completes the look on the V8 Flathead.

Thanks.
Brian.

Very easy to disassemble. They were gloss black originally. And has been stated in a previous post, the decal is readily available.
If yours has "dings" I'd suggest you simply fil them with body filler.
If you are not experienced with refinishing, know at least one thing... CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN prior to any application of filler, primer, paint.
To strip, I would do this with a paint stripper (chemical). Do NOT media blast.

[Lawson Cox]

... CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN prior to any application of filler, primer, paint.
To strip, I would do this with a paint stripper (chemical). Do NOT media blast.[

Whazzup about don't media blast? ESPECIALLY if you follow the initial quote?

[Kube]

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Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

... CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN prior to any application of filler, primer, paint.
To strip, I would do this with a paint stripper (chemical). Do NOT media blast.[

Whazzup about don't media blast? ESPECIALLY if you follow the initial quote?

It is VERY difficult to remove all of the media. Me? I won't take the chance.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

I'm with Kube chemical paint-stripper is what I used, gloss black paint.

GB

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by Kube

It is VERY difficult to remove all of the media. Me? I won't take the chance.

There are a lot in the media that should be removed, which would be hard to do.

Oh, Never mind, you seem to be talking about the cleaning kind of media, not the ones that perpetuate Russian misinformation and hang around newsrooms.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

There are a lot in the media that should be removed, which would be hard to do.

Oh, Never mind, you seem to be talking about the cleaning kind of media, not the ones that perpetuate Russian misinformation and hang around newsrooms.

Extremely sensitive subject, Lawson, no matter from which point of view.

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by Kube

It is VERY difficult to remove all of the media. Me? I won't take the chance.

Yes, as Kube said. I do not media blast any part that involves a breather or air cleaner. Or any component that I know I can't get all the media out of when done. Could have catastrophic consequences.

[3twinridges]

When I restored my 52 air cleaner, I used aircraft stripper to remove the paint. Soaked in kerosene to clean the inside - agitate and keep dunking it. Then I removed surface rust by soaking in evaporust and then painted with black bill hirsch engine enamel. New sticker - take a photo of your sticker beforehand for proper reapplication position.

JB

[mercman from oz]

1946-1948 Ford & Mercury Oil Bath Air Filter as used on Australian models.

[maverick_is_dangerous]

i converted one to paper element just to have less maintenance (not necessary), but an option if you want to try a different route

[wga]

An engine builder with a 'hot tank' or a hi temp parts washer should be able to get
it squeaky clean. I had a shop clean all the parts of engines for painting when I lived elsewhere. You're in LA County, so should be a few around.

[baceves]

Thank you all for the responses. Have a great weekend.