Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Hi All,


I have been reading a few threads and have noticed that there is a conversion to use standard paper air filters in the single 4bbl air cleaners for 55-56. I haven't been able to find if its possible to use paper filters with the dual carburetor setup? If anyone can point me in the right directions that would be great


Many thanks,

mathew

From all I have read the oil bath air cleaner is superior to the paper air filter. Go look at very expensive farm equipment and note they are all still using oil bath.
You have to keep replacing the paper filters when they get dirty. You must clean the oil bath and put a quart of fresh oil in it. Sounds much cheaper and more effective. Why did the car companies come up with the paper filters? To keep you buying refills I wouldn't swap out any of my oil bath filters, including my Caribbean, for a box full of paper filters.

Which is why I used a K&N. Baja 500....etc etc. 1million mile warranty. Better then paper and don't have to oil near as often as oil bath.

Nothing against paper personally.

Packard34, Should not be too difficult of a problem. Basically what you need is a modern pleated paper air filter element to replace the filter element in your oil bath unit. Just take the measurements of one of the original elements and match them up as closely as you can to a modern one. This entails going through the stock at your local auto parts store.

I have done this on my three Packards (115C, 2106, and 5542), and am most pleased with the results.

One of my least favorite jobs is servicing an oil bath air cleaner. This job requires a large container and a good amount of cleaning solvent in which to wash the filter element. Plus, compressed air is needed to blow the cleaning solvent out of the filter element. Not to mention the problem of disposing the old oil and cleaning solvent.

True, the oil bath air cleaners provide a superior air cleaning function, but the new modern pleated paper work excellently too, and without all the fuss and mess. If done correctly the new type filter element should not be obvious after the air filter unit is installed on the engine.

The photos show the job I did on my 1955 Clipper Super. Your air cleaners will be different, but you get the idea.

(o{}o)

Attach file:

---

  (21.38 KB)


  (31.72 KB)


  (26.99 KB)

Mat,

If you can't find something locally to fit you can try Mr Filter at 114-118 Toongabbie Road, Toongabbie NSW 2146.

Thank you for the help. The reason for changing is that the guy who originally redid the engine had the air cleaners powder coated and the particals from the powder coating was in the air cleaner mesh so naturally when the car was started this was all sucked into the engine which in turn with other issues constituted another rebuild. I have been able to find a suitable paper filter to use and now the car should run like a dream. Another lesson learned... The hard way!

What paper filter did you find to fit?

Don't blow compressed air into an oil bath filter, you can damage the filter material and make channels for unfiltered air to run through.

Just soak and swish in gas or solvent, let drip dry, and pour a little oil on before you install it.

The filter only needs service when the oil reservoir is full of dirt or nearly full. These days if you drive on paved roads, less than once a year, maybe as long as 5 or 10 years. Depending how much you drive.

Yes you can. I'll try to get a part number off of mine & post.

Right up my alley on this one:

Actual particulate capture data is hard to find.

The oil bath system is very good for high dust conditions. They are used extensively in heavy equipment because of the absence of underhood precleaning from a radiator fan.

When they talk about efficiency they are measuring how much of what has been thrown at the unit is being captured. They weigh the thing before and after.

98.5% of particulates are under .5 microns which is finer than cigarette smoke.

Supposedly paper was judged superior from auto racing longevity, but that is an extreme situation with different flow characteristics than normal driving. However, paper is cheaper than metal and that special fiber (I forget what it is offhand but it is special) so you can understand why it is popular.

Whether or not oil bath filters lose efficiency with age has not been investigated, however, the performance of the VW Type 111 indicates that the oil bath system is good because those motors performed well even without an oil filter. Some testing claims a 95% reduction in PPM oil contamination using paper over oil bath in commercial trucking. But those are two stage filters and not your run of the mill underhood gravel strainers.

For a conversion I would make sure the seal is adequate, and of particular importance note that the carburetor flange is designed for low pressure differentials and so putting too restrictive a filter in place of the oil bath unit may result in a breach and loss of filtration.

And even more importantly: Take a look at the oil fill cap.
It should be oiled if the car is being driven.

I don't know what kind of nut decided to powder coat an air filter, but they should only be refinished using solvents. And preferably not even sanded. I have pictures of brand new Packards with dented air filters. Here is a nice big dent on the assembly line.

Ditto the compressed air note. Just follow the manual or instructions on the decal. Gasoline is the specified solvent and can be stored and reused with a stabilizer. Air should not be blown through any filter regardless of type.

Attach file:

---

  (75.95 KB)