Car runs great without oil bath air cleaner.

[bigd1101]

Hmmmm.....I took the 53 out to the PO this morning and forgot to install the huge oil bath air cleaner and low and behold, she didn't hesitate like she has since I got the car. I was quite surprised. I did clean that filament on the air cleaner, new oil like they said, not over flow just what's recommended, when I got the car and it's been hesitating all along until this last drive. Not sure if that was it, but I did mess with the two air/gas mix screws yesterday to smooth out the idle, but didn't test drive it. The gasket on the air cleaner also fell apart and I cannot get it to sit right on the teapot carb now. Always something.

[Bored&Stroked]

Maybe you have an air-flow issue with the stock air cleaner? I'd probably find a different (modern) air cleaner and see if it stays the same. Screwing with the mixture screws will obviously influence the idle, but once you're off the idle circuits and into the main jets, they have little influence.

[bigd1101]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Maybe you have an air-flow issue with the stock air cleaner? I'd probably find a different (modern) air cleaner and see if it stays the same. Screwing with the mixture screws will obviously influence the idle, but once you're off the idle circuits and into the main jets, they have little influence.

My thoughts too. But what will fit on a two barrel teapot?

[RalphG]

I wondered if it was just my imagination but it seemed like my 52 accelerated better without the oil bath air cleaner too. I've heard that the oil baths can be converted to a dry filter if you don't mind cutting them up and modifying.

[bigd1101]

Originally Posted by RalphG

I wondered if it was just my imagination but it seemed like my 52 accelerated better without the oil bath air cleaner too. I've heard that the oil baths can be converted to a dry filter if you don't mind cutting them up and modifying.

Seems to be the case with me, so far. I'd rather find a new non-stock air cleaner and keep the old intact, but where do I find a modern one that will mount on a teapot carb? Anyone?

Don

[RKS.PA]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

bigd, you could substitute a small "hot rod" air cleaner with a dry filter element. Or as Ralph notes above, you could cut up your current oil bath and find a disposable (Wix makes a variety in different heights and circumferences.) that becomes the guts of your modified original oil bath.

If you want to retain the original nature of your air filter, however, maybe the culprit is that element you cleaned but over the years, it's still pretty full of dirt???

[Jack E/NJ]

Make one for your teapot to use the same element as your daily driver. Here's a cigarbox on my 97. Same element drops in as my Escape. So it's easy to find at Walmart. Nobody can tell with a closed hood anyway.


.

[RalphG]

That Holley teapot would take a pretty tall, maybe double stacked dry filters just due to the design of it. Does yours still have the little disk on top? I lost mine, had a new disk fabricated and I installed it either a bit too high or too low on the bolt, can't remember which. Whichever, it was in a position where it was blocking a lot of the air flow. I really question whether that disk is necessary anyway.

[Merc Cruzer]

How I converted my oil bath to a K&N filter for my 53' Merc:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...cleaner&page=2

[supereal]

I put a dry filter in all my oil bath type. I removed the "Brillo" air strainer and inserted the
new filter in its place. No oil mess, and much better filtering. I buy the filters at the local
NAPA store. Take your original filter with you, and they can match the appropriate new one. For my '47 convertible the NAPA number is 6210

[mfirth]

Bigd1101, I would follow Mercruzer'z lead. He is not "new" to these engines & air cleaners.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by mfirth

Bigd1101, I would follow Mercruzer'z lead. He is not "new" to these engines & air cleaners.

mfirth,

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Bigd1101,

Anything I can do to help, let me know.

I have tried mine:
with out the air filter on the engine.
with the original oil bath configuration
with a paper filter
and finally with the K&N filter.

The difference between no filter at all and the K&N filter is minimal, depending of course, when you last serviced your Oil Bath filter. (With the K&N, just spray it with the cleaner, rinse it thoroughly, let it dry then spray the oil on the filter, insert the filter and you are good to go). With the others, there is a noticeable reduction in performance.

K&H: #E-1290, ID-9", OD-11", 2.75" high.

I like this configuration since it still looks like the stock air cleaner. . Another point is that I live at 8300 ft., so I need all the air I can get into that Holley 1901 carburetor.

No "un-crimping involved". I simply cut down the frame of the mesh holder and now it serves to hold the filter in place.

[Ken/Alabama]

I don’t have oil bath air cleaners on none of my three 40 Fords or oil filters. No problem’s. Just drive. !

[Tinker]

I have oil bath cleaners in both my vehicles. Just no oil.

[bigd1101]

I took all the copper? Brass? "brillo style" pads out and cleaned them with carb cleaner, dried them and lightly coated them with fresh oil. Completely cleaned the whole unit. What I'm not doing is pouring more oil into the reservoir like it was. I figure the pads coated with some oil should be enough to keep larger stuff out and at the same time, improve the air flow without a saturation of oil all the time. I'm not driving the car much, nor am I driving down dusty dirt roads, so this should suffice.

[Scott52]

I have a 1956 Chevy with a 1967 Quadra Jet. I have a standard aftermarket "chrome" air filter on it and the 283 runs great. I wanted the original look so I modified an original 4 barrel Oil Bath air cleaner to accept a paper filter. I would idle but not run right and backfired, bogged down etc. I tried everything including running without the filter element, only running with the base on the carb so the top of the carb is wide open. Still did not run right. I am having a 4 barrel teapot carb rebuilt by the same guys who rebuilt the Chevy carb. (still in business 10 years later). I brought the Chevy down and ask them to look for anything obvious. Fit, clearance, interference with linkages all looked good to him. I don't have an air cleaner yet for the teapot, one of my upcoming searches. I will use an after market 1st then try to modify. Since it's already not stock, exact look not critical. Part of the fun. Ever go to a swap meet when you DON"T need anything, not as fun.

[estout81]

Just make one to your own specs. This is what I did.

[Ziggster]

Hmmm. Interesting. I remember one of my uncles saying oil bath filters were far superior to any paper filter when I was a kid. I always trusted him as he was a very smart/ handy guy when it came to cars.

[Robz51]

I put a modern one in my 52 merc. Just make sure you allow for enough airflow when choosing a filter.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by Robz51

I put a modern one in my 52 merc. Just make sure you allow for enough airflow when choosing a filter.

I cut out most of the inside walls on the back of the air cleaner, to allow as much air to go through the filter.