1955 Air Cleaner Options

Tater Salad

Tater Salad

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Thunderbird Year
1955
Im not a fan of the original oil bath air filters.
I understand there's a top cover that can be purchased and used with a dry element.
However, as I stated earlier, I'm not a fan of that look. I would like something that would show off the rarely seen Teapot.
Is anyone using or seen a newer or cooler looking air cleaner for the Holley 4000?
 

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Tater Salad said:
Im not a fan of the original oil bath air filters.
I understand there's a top cover that can be purchased and used with a dry element.
However, as I stated earlier, I'm not a fan of that look. I would like something that would show off the rarely seen Teapot.
Is anyone using or seen a newer or cooler looking air cleaner for the Holley 4000?
Click to expand...
I agree with you please let us know if you fine something. I’ll do the same
 
Oly Bob R said:
I agree with you please let us know if you fine something. I’ll do the same
Click to expand...
There's a couple of options that seem to measure the correct distances, but ive yet to see how they look or pull the trigger.
 
Can someone post a picture of what the air filter looks like with oil in it?
 
In order to "show off" the Teapot carburetor, you won't want to use an air cleaner with a drop base. Unfortunately, if you do not use an air cleaner/w drop base, you will have hood clearance issues if you use anything other than paper gaskets between the carburetor base and intake manifold; in which case, vapor lock could be a problem.

I bought a beautiful, 14-inch cast-aluminum oval air cleaner from Billet Industries. Oval air cleaners aren't available/w drop base. It really shows off the Holley Street Avenger carburetor, but it will not accommodate a carb spacer. If you experiment by trying to use a filter element that's less than 2-inches tall, there might be insufficient space between the lid and carburetor. A shorter element might also restrict air flow. For these reasons, I ended up buying A $29 Summit 14-inch round air cleaner/w drop base and 3-inch tall element. The drop base will allow enough hood clearance to use a 1/2-inch carburetor spacer.

By the way, every modern 4-bbl carburetor I looked at is 3.25" tall, from the carburetor base plate to the air-cleaner mounting surface/air horn. Although I haven't measured the Teapot, I don't think it's shorter (but it could be taller). If it's not convenient for you to measure yours, let me know; I'll measure mine.
 
Tater Salad said:
There's a couple of options that seem to measure the correct distances, but ive yet to see how they look or pull the trigger.
Click to expand...
Ok........this was many years ago, so I will try to remember, I also did not like the oil bath filter.......so I removed all the oil, cleaned out everything and purchased a, I think, filter that was a fine mesh type of "foam" cut a strip that was long enough, and wide enough to encircle the inside of the chrome cover, used a small piece of tape to hold it together... very lightly oiled it and then lightly forced it into place. I drove my "55 like this for about 30 years with no problems.......I just re-read the above.....hope it makes more sense to you than it does to me!!!!
 
It's possible that the fuel line between the pump and carburetor will have to be modified/replaced, if you install an aftermarket air cleaner, due to clearance issues.
 
Ken Carr said:
Ok........this was many years ago, so I will try to remember, I also did not like the oil bath filter.......so I removed all the oil, cleaned out everything and purchased a, I think, filter that was a fine mesh type of "foam" cut a strip that was long enough, and wide enough to encircle the inside of the chrome cover, used a small piece of tape to hold it together... very lightly oiled it and then lightly forced it into place. I drove my "55 like this for about 30 years with no problems.......I just re-read the above.....hope it makes more sense to you than it does to me!!!!
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Very innovative. Great idea.
 
I still use the oil bath. Not really a problem to clean it out once a year. heard that they were more efficient than a paper filter ???
 
paul5456 said:
I still use the oil bath. Not really a problem to clean it out once a year. heard that they were more efficient than a paper filter ???
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It's debatable as there are a few threads on here on the subject. If it works why try to fix it?
 
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