Aftermarket air filter options

[Scott1953]

Hi all,

I have tried searching the site a few different ways and this has probably been asked but I'm not finding it. I have a 53 dodge with a single B&B carb and have been contemplating putting an aftermarket air cleaner on it. I just am unsure of how the aftermaket units attach. The B&B has the raised rib running around the outside of the throat that my original cleaner clamp attaches to. What are the options? I like the look of the Edmunds rectangular 'box' type filter or the tall edmunds round filter(looks about 4-5" around). I could probably figure out a way to adapt just about any air cleaner to the carb throat but if I don't have to go to that trouble I'd rather not. Any suggestions?

Thank you,

Scott

[desoto1939]

Scott: I have a 39 desoto with a napa paper air filter instead of the old mesh oil bath air filter.

I measured the height of the old filter and then whent to a NAPA sore and they were able to give me a modern air filter that fits. This is a lot cheaper and the car looks stock except for the filter. If you show the car then you can just chnage the filter at the show. You also get a better and cleaner air wit the paper and it is a throwaway.

My home email is desoto1939@aol.com. I can take a picture and send the number on the filter.

rich Hartung

[BobT-47P15]

Here's a chrome box filter. Would need to invent attaching part.

Just need to go shopping for something.

For only $50, you could get one of these German helmet air filters.....

Just stay away from these little size filters. Some say they do not let in

quite enough air for our old 6 bangers. (Some probably use them with no

apparent problem. )

[Scott1953]

Bob,

That's a neat looking little box filter. The German helmet thing is a little too gimmicky looking for me personally. And as far as the little air cleaner on the bottom, I'd heard that they might be too restrictive. That's why I'm looking for options. Just don't want to re-invent the wheel as far as fabricating some sort of adapter if there is already one out there.

Thanks for the reply.

Scott

[Norm's Coupe]

I went through a couple of different chrome air cleaners for my coupe in the 90's. Had no problem getting them to stay on. But........I just didn't like the looks. I thought they looked out of place in the engine compartment because they were too small. So.........I gutted my oil bath cleaner so I could use a paper filter in it.

That said, it's not hard to adapt any air cleaner to the carb. All you need to do to attach one is remove the clamp that is on the original air cleaner, and use it to clamp the modern one just like the old one is clamped on.

In my opinion, the only time the modern chrome air cleaners look right on our old engines is if you have a 2 or 3 carb setup on it.

[Norm's Coupe]

Bob,

That's a neat looking little box filter. The German helmet thing is a little too gimmicky looking for me personally. And as far as the little air cleaner on the bottom, I'd heard that they might be too restrictive. That's why I'm looking for options. Just don't want to re-invent the wheel as far as fabricating some sort of adapter if there is already one out there.

Thanks for the reply.

Scott

I think that box air cleaner is actually one off a motorcycle.

[BobT-47P15]

Here's some filters used by Suddensix.

Here's what he said at the time about them: Thank you all for the nice comments, it makes the project worthwhile. The air cleaners are from a local guy who has a business making things out of spun aluminium. He is also a hot rodder. I think he said the cleaners were meant for some kind of dual carb set-up on SBC's. I used the bases from a couple of the small air cleaners that are popular so they would sit on the B&B's. I drilled two holes opposite one another in the top of the carbs then made a couple of bales out of some stiff wire, coathangers, 1/4" threaded rod and long nuts then bolted them on. As they say "Bob's your uncle."

[BobT-47P15]

I think Reg Evans has these.

Mr Coatney has these.

[BobT-47P15]

It would appear Mr Lou Earle decided on a couple of cake pans....

Arthur 1947 decided to use this one.......

Attached this way---

[Scott1953]

Bob,

Thanks for all the replys. And the humor.

The last picture has me thinking about making my own again. I thought about it this winter but did not take any considerable action toward it. I might come up with something now that the wheels are turning again.

Scott

[BobT-47P15]

Another source of ideas is the HAMB. Some of those guys come up with

dandy ideas for air cleaners. Some wierd. Some just use standard stuff.

[hkestes41]

I used these from Langdon's Stovebolts. They are 7.5 inch dia and have a small plate that fits over the throat of the carb then the filter sets on the plate and all is held on by the wing nut. Would be easy enough to make a plate that fit the BandB.

Here is the photo from Langdon's online catalog.

[Dennis Hemingway]

Some of us use a newer type of filter. I don't know what it's off of it was there when I bought the Plymouth. I was told that the carb is off of a Falcon.

Dennis:cool:

[greg g]

Go to the housewares section of Wally world and look at their cheap pots and pans, or if they sell lids seperately. Couple stainless or aluminum sauce pan lids might lend themselves to your project. I made one using baking sheets for the top and bottom and added the deals from the bottoms of the universal 4 inch to connect them to the carbs similar to the ones shown above.

I bought a 2 inch high oval element of sufficient size to cover the dual set up.

Lots of options. Check Normscoupe website for his how to on gutting the oilbath filter to accept a modern paper elemet.

[Norm's Coupe]

Stainless steel mixing bowls work great too. My brother in law made one out of a stainless mixing bowl once, then polished it. Looked like the real McCoy.