Original Air Cleaner

[pflaming]

I have an original oil bath air cleaner. I am about to modify it to put a filter in it. If these are hard to find, then I will not cut it up. I appreciate those who go original but I'm not one of those yet I do not want to cut up something someone wants.

Let me know. I'll wait a few days.

[B1B Keven]

I have an original oil bath air cleaner. I am about to modify it to put a filter in it. If these are hard to find, then I will not cut it up. I appreciate those who go original but I'm not one of those yet I do not want to cut up something someone wants.

Let me know. I'll wait a few days.

Not super hard to find, but.............

Maybe wait 'till ya found one that was rusted up?

[Todd B]

I could care less about original either, but what is wrong with the oil bath system?? Just curious.

[Rusty O'Toole]

Me too. The oil bath works well, seldom requires service and lasts the life of the car. No need to buy new filters, just a little oil every 2 or 3 years.

[TodFitch]

Me too. The oil bath works well' date=' seldom requires service and lasts the life of the car. No need to buy new filters, just a little oil every 2 or 3 years.[/quote']

If I recall correctly, the factory service manual for the '63 Dodge D200 pickup I once had showed a oil bath air cleaner for heavy duty applications in dusty environments. The paper element type filter was for light duty and on highway use.

My take was that the oil bath was better at cleaning the air. It could be that a paper element filter allows the engine to breath better (at least when it is not clogged up), but I came away thinking the real advantage of a paper element filter was that it allowed them to sell more parts to the vehicle owner when it came in for scheduled service.

[Scruffy49]

I know up through 1969 Dodge still had oil bath air cleaners available. If I could find one for the 318 in my 69 D100 I'd run it instead of a paper one.

Try swinging your oil bath housing by a heavy equipment shop. Odds are they'll have a replaceable element type that will fit right on. Then you have a vintage looking modern type AND a real vintage back up unit.

Just an idea.

[Dan Babb]

Heres one on ebay that might work.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1951-51-DODGE-MEADOWBROOK-OIL-BATH-AIR-CLEANER-/150854424977?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item231f9fd991&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_689

Contact the seller to confirm the size of the base opening. If its right, the cut this up for use on the truck.

[pflaming]

I'm going to use the one I have, but thanks anyway. Interesting how they work, it appears they create a cyclone of air so that the air as it rises drops the debri in the oil. The air is drawn down the sides into the center chamber where it is drawn up, then down the inside inside tube into the throat of the carb. Very interesting. They probably were discarded because they can be messy or as stated earlier, because filters are a good seller.