1955 Fuel filter removal. . . Opening the fruit jar.

[Pete986]

I'm still new to the world of Thunderbird, so please forgive me if this is a dumb question.

After I undo the fittings for the filter, how do I move the two metal bands that clamp the top to the bottom?

I haven't even attempted this for fear of breaking the glass.

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[jack-in-sac]

I'm still new to the world of Thunderbird, so please forgive me if this is a dumb question.

After I undo the fittings for the filter, how do I move the two metal bands that clamp the top to the bottom?

I haven't even attempted this for fear of breaking the glass.

I believe this is the procedure.: First loosen the knurled nut under the fuel bowl. Second, the bale holding the glass bowl to the metal top of the filter holder can be swiveled out of the way. Third the fuel bowl can then be tapped gently, it is glass, to remove it. Fourth remove the filter, it is just pressed up to the metal top. Last reverse the process after cleaning sediment from the glass bowl.

 

[biddle]

The only dumb question is an unasked one.

 

[Pete986]

I believe this is the procedure.: First loosen the knurled nut under the fuel bowl. Second, the bale holding the glass bowl to the metal top of the filter holder can be swiveled out of the way. Third the fuel bowl can then be tapped gently, it is glass, to remove it. Fourth remove the filter, it is just pressed up to the metal top. Last reverse the process after cleaning sediment from the glass bowl.

Is this to say that I wouldn't need to undo the line fittings?

 

[doug7740]

The fuel filter for your Thunderbird is located inside a glass bowl which is in the fuel line directly above your fuel pump on the driver's side of the engine compartment at the front of the engine. To insure that your car's fuel system is working properly, it is important that you periodically change the fuel filter.

When changing your fuel filter you will be working with gasoline. Please use caution!

I purchased my fuel filter from one of the Thunderbird parts suppliers who advertise in our newsletter; however I was told that it also can be purchased locally through NAPA. Make sure the new fuel filter comes with the rubber gasket for the glass bowl. The rubber gasket slides over the filter element. The filter should have a bit of material protruding past the filter element so the rubber gasket presses against it and holds the filter element in place against the filter housing.

Before replacing the fuel filter, make sure that your car is on level ground and the engine is not running. Now find the glass bowl. The glass bowl is held in place by a wire harness with a wing nut at its base. By loosening the wing nut at the base of the glass bowl, you can push the wire harness over to one side and remove the glass bowl from the fuel filter housing. Be careful to catch any gas that may spill. The following tip is not necessary, but I found that it made replacing the fuel filter much easier.

Using a 1/2" and 9/16" wrench, loosen the two brass gas line fittings which connect the fuel filter housing on both sides to the fuel lines. You will only need to loosen the fittings enough to allow you to swing the filter housing upside down so that the fuel filter element will be facing up, directly at you. Once you have rotated the filter housing, remove the fuel filter element. Next, install the new filter element with the paper side towards the fuel filter housing and install the new gasket over the filter element being careful not to fold or kink it. Make sure the gasket fits evenly in the recessed channel of the filter housing. Reinstall the glass bowl and place the wire harness back in its original position around the glass bowl. Tighten up the wing nut so that the glass bowl fits snugly into the fuel filter housing. Make sure your gasket did not shift out of the channel in the filter housing. Turn the filter housing, with the glass bowl attached, back into its original position so that the glass bowl is underneath the filter housing. Now re-tighten the brass gas line fittings on both sides, start the engine and check for leaks.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[jack-in-sac]

Is this to say that I wouldn't need to undo the line fittings?

No real need to undo the fuel line fittings. Be careful not to drop the sealing gasket that goes between the glass and the metal top. The filter just pulls off and the new one pushes on.

 

[Douglemmo]

Just a word of caution. When tightening the thumb nut when reassembeling the glass bowl, do not tighten the nut any tighter than you need to to prevent gas from leaking past the gasket at the top of the glass bowl. Tightening it to tight can distort the metal top of the filter and thus the fit between the glass bowl and metal body.

 

[cokefirst]

The original filter media is not easy to find. The replacement is a paper filter which probably works as well or better than the original material. However, if you want it to look like it did from the factory, you can buy the original filter from Ecklers Corvette. Look for the late 50's early 60's models and they have a reproduction of the filter. I believe that the original filter is made of sintered bronze.

 

[jack-in-sac]

I find Eckler's through their subsidiary "MAC'S" brand pricier than the other Thunderbird suppliers.

YMMV, john

 

[Pete986]

I find Eckler's through their subsidiary "MAC'S" brand pricier than the other Thunderbird suppliers.

YMMV, john

I wasn't a fan of Eckler / MAC.
About half the pages in the catalog only had items available for '58 and up.

I tossed it the day after I received it, which is really saying something because I have
Mustang catalogs from the 80s laying around.