VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 decal on the cleanerair cleaner servicing

The air cleaner on my 51 has a metal mesh that requires oiling per the decal on the cleaner.Not wanting to use gasoline as per the decal what is the best way to clean it and then re-oil it?

Kerosene, mineral sprits, brake cleaner, or the garden hose and engine cleaner.

Thanks Gene, didn't think to try brake cleaner-will give it a try.Should the re-oiling be done by dunking the element in oil and then letting it drip dry or should just a little be dabbed on the outer edge?

It could be dipped. I usually do mine by laying the element on a flat surface and oiling from above with an oil can, allowing the oil to run down through the mesh. . A little less mess than dipping.

Hey Gene, while we have your attention on the air cleaners, I have a couple of questions that you might be able to help me with.

I'm restoring a stock 1950, 3504 (216) and wanted to add an original oil bath air cleaner to top off the Rochester. A friend recently sold me a very nice oil bath and claims it is the correct one. Its in nice shape with no rust but 90% of the paint missing. I've cleaned it up and prepped it to paint, and was wondering if the original paint would have been a satin or semi-gloss black like the rest of the under hood items? Also is there a correct label (decal/sticker) available for this period oil bath air cleaner from any of the vendors?

I haven't been able to find any pictures of the optional small 1950 truck oil bath air cleaner in any of my literature. The Salesman’s Accessory Book only shows the stock flame arrester, the larger two quart, COE and one for the 1508. But the most common one that I’ve seen is similar to the one on the right end of the picture of the five in the VCCA Photos on the left. I believe it is the correct one for that period, can you verify that?
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I see that you got the message! Editing works pretty well.

You have about one hour to get any editing done on your posts. I don't think there is a time limit on moderators.

Denny, I will email answer and pictures a little later.
Gene

BOY WHEN THE MODERATOR SPEAKS, HE SURE SPEAKS WITH A BIG VOICE!!! Anyway, just ignore the first one reply. Now how long is it that you can edit your reply before your locked in????

Thanks Gene, the gentleman that I got the air cleaner from and I have been doing a bit of research today and I believe that the listings at Chevs of the 40’s and The Filling station both agree that the crescent shaped orange and black label is for this era, but I disagree.

We have an illustration in an original 1951 Salesman’s Truck Data Book and one in the 1949 reproduction Truck Data Book for option number 216D or 216. It clearly shows that the label on that oil bath air cleaner was rectangular not the crescent shaped one. The exact color is impossible to tell from the B&W illustration but the shading would be be consistent with the red background and blue lettering of the rectangular label. We also agreed that the black would have been a semi-gloss like the rest of the black under hood items.
None of this is cut in stone and I would still like to hear your opinion.
Thanks
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

You can edit your posting for up to one hour before it is automatically locked.

:) :grin:

Gotcha, I’ll have to type my correction faster next time.
tks.
Denny G

Denny,
I am having problems with my email...will keep trying to send the info.

Hey Gene, you can slow that pony down, I’m not in any hurry. I still want to here from ya and value your opinion and would like to have any aditional info for the reference file. But, I kind of made a decision based on my findings yesterday. I topped her off with some #50 this morning after force drying it in with heat lamps over night.

So this is my interpretation of the #216D one pound oil bath air cleaner option for my 1950 AD truck:
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2243123680098611668temCPY

Based on this illustration in the 1949 and 1951 Salesman’s Truck Data Books: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2397499170098611668MIYFgJ

The final product: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2066417410098611668ZHTplN

Thanks for the input.
Denny Graham
Sandwich IL

Denny,
Everything looks good. You made an excellant choice.

So does that mean that your not gonna deduct any points for my sticker??? Just joshin' Gene, thanks for takin’ a look and for your opinion. Do you have any input as to the years and application of the crescent shaped air cleaner decal that we see on a lot of the restored units?? I haven't seen any original literature that showed that decal.

OK, now I can get back to the cosmetics on the body. All I have to do there is figure out how to make four AD fenders look round again instead of like four bags of Walnuts then I'll feel the summer was a success!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Hi Denny

I just got a '50 Chevrolet Deluxe 4dr home last night. Car has been in the shed since the early '70's. All untouched and original. The air cleaner on it looks like yours, but the sticker on it is square, but with just orange letters, doesn't appear to be any background color. I'll get some pictures over the weekend and if your interested I can post em for ya. I realize that your working on a pick-up so I'm not sure if a car would match.

Don

Thanks for the offer Don. I'm really new to the VCCA and have only gotten back into trying to resurrect old rust buckets since I retired a couple of years ago. So don't count on me having any expert knowledge. Having said that it wouldn’t surprise me if the cars are different than the trucks. When I finish this ’50, 3604 I have a ’51 or ’52 passenger car on the bucket list. So yes, I would like to see a scan/photo of the sticker on yours. Actually I believe that a lot of the original labels were water slide decals. I know they were for sure on the early AD spark arrestor/air cleaners because I have an original with the decal that is all cracked from shrinkage.
It would be nice if you could post a link here to a picture so any one else that wants to see it can take a look also.
Thanks
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny, I'm a little late on this thread but the work you did looks GR8. Do you know if it would have been the same for a 1949? I have a 3600. Thanks, Lee

Again I’m hoping Gene will find time to jump in with the facts. But if your talking about the oil bath option I believe it was the same for the ’49. Your engine would have had a Carter W-1, No.684 and originally would have had the air filter/spark arrester on it. The bottom of optional oil bath air cleaner actually hits on the dust cover of the Carter W-1 which prevents it from fitting down all the way over the air horn like the spark arrestor does.
As far as dating the stickers using the information that the vendors list in their catalogs this is not always reliable and you need to do a lot more research into it your self.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Thanks Denny, I've still got the W-1 with it, and I like the way yours turned out enough that I think I'll go that way, too. I appreciate your reply.