VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1961-1964 61 Chevy C10 Oil Bath/Filter questions

Hey all,

I got a couple questions! I was able to successfully replace my Fuel Pump after it gave out, but that has led me to a few areas I think I need to focus on as the truck still has a very very strong gas smell when it runs. Just a few minutes of being in the truck or around it when it runs my clothes smell of fumes.

1.) It currently has an oil bath and its pretty bad. Its the original oil bath from 1961 and has seen its day. I don't see any proper replacements for the oil bath so if I were to switch to say the air filter is it truly as simple as remove the Oil bath and put on the air filter pieces instead such as this. https://www.lmctruck.com/1960-66-chevy-gmc/carburetor-parts/cbe-retro-air-cleaner

2.) I drained out the oil and put all new in, but I do not see any oil filter. Is it possible mine did not come with an oil filter? On some parts sites I do see it listed for 60-66 so I am confused. https://www.lmctruck.com/1960-66-chevy-gmc/cbe-1960-66-oil-filter

Thanks all!

The oil bath ai cleane rwere very efficent. bY 1961 MOST cHEVROLET ENGINES HAD A PAPER FILTER, YOU MAY HAVE AN OIL BATH FROM AN EARLIER MODEL.

FOR THE GAS SMELL A FUEL LINE OR THE GAS TANK MUST HAVE A LEAK.

THE TRUCK DID NOT COME WITH AN OIL FILTER. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT JUST CHANGE THE OIL.

The 235 6 cylinder engines did not have a standard oil filter. A partial flow oil filter was an extra cost option for many years.

I agree with Gene about the gas smell. I assume that you have the stock tank vertically mounted behind the seat. If it is an older tank I expect it is leaking somewhere.

Hi neodome

You haven't said which engine you have (or if you have I've missed it).
The air cleaner you link to fits a 5-1/8 inch carburetor.
Is that what you have?

Also,
Are you saying the smell of gas only happens when the engine is running?
Or is it all of the time?

Thanks all. I can confirm the oil bath should be original, but I could be wrong. My truck sat in my great uncles garage and was rarely driven so its in wonderful shape and everything is original outside the fuel pump I had to replace. Its now starting to see wear and tear of course to most hoses and other things. So I only get the exhaust smell when I start it and it runs so would that be the same thing overall.

Im pretty novice in mechanical work so far so bear with me, but its almost like the exhaust is not properly working and its very very strong fumes. Not necessary gas smell just exhaust fumes bad.

Just saw your comment Stovblt its a straight 6, but unsure on the carb id have to look and research. LOL

The exhaust fumes will be strong, espedially duing warm-up compared to modern cars.

Your 1961 truck could have an oil bath air cleaner. It was option number 591.

Hi neodome

Our 1960 C10 is a Canadian truck with a 235, but it has an air cleaner like this:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/30500695981...53IXHggMVLyWtBh3vdwCmEAQYAyABEgJPpvD_BwE

Maybe Gene can tell us if this is the air cleaner that came as option number 591.
I do know however that it came on the truck when it was originally bought new.

I don't recall smelling exhaust fumes in ours, even during warm up.
Look for leaks in the exhaust system starting with the donut at the manifold and on back.
Also look for holes rusted through the floor at the outside edges ahead of the front edge of the doors.
Check under the floor mat in that area.
They like to rust through there and fumes could enter the cab at that point

Oh interesting. I may have to go out and try to take a picture of it tomorrow! I am worried if I do swap it over to air filter vs oil bath if I would get the correct one.

Mine is different than any I've seen so now I am curious. I have inspected for rust and overall its pretty solid everywhere. I wonder if its in the exhaust manifold or similar then. Even standing outside the truck on the side of it while its running its really really strong and can smell it on my clothes after just a few minutes.

Appreciate all the feedback everyone.

Note that the truck oil bath air cleaner sits on top of he cabureor and not like the Ebay picture which aI believe is from a Canadian Poniac with a CAR 261 engine.
also iN Canada THEY DID NOT USE AC FILTERS AND WILL NOT LOOK THE SAME AS US GM FILTERS.

Hi Gene

The Ebay filter I linked to is the same as the one that came on our 1960 Canadian C10 when brand new, with the small exception of ours not having the "relieved" or indented areas on the top surface.
I assume those areas in the Ebay filter are for hood clearance, which wasn't needed on the truck.

I never liked servicing the thing as it was a bit of a pain in the **s with a wing nut and stud UNDER the bowl where you can't see it and have to go by feel, as well as the one over the carburetor.

And I never liked the way it hung out off the side of the carburetor, balancing on that strut/support that mounted on one of the manifold bolts.
That support broke once on ours and had to be repaired.

PS
I don't recall if it said AC on ours or not.
I could look next time I'm on the farm.

I have a’61 Bel Air with 235. It has an oil bath air cleaner. The center bolt stripped out, it’s a stove bolt, and it was some fun getting the lower nut off. I finally managed to get the bottom oil reservoir off. My question is how do you get the wire mesh out to clean it or replace it. The shop manual is less than informative in regards to air cleaner service. A second question, is a wing nut used for the shaft coming out of the top of the carburetor. Mine came with a well patinad plain nut.

If it is an oil bath you can not remove the mesh. The mesh does get cleaned whn the oil slohes on it
There is rom for an ordinaey winged nut.

Hi Monte3

As I said above, this style of air cleaner is a bit of a pain in the **s. 🙂

I agree with Gene.
The nut above the carburetor should be a wing nut.
And, if you use a good detergent oil in the bowl, it will keep the mesh washed clean enough that you shouldn't have to actually wash the screen when servicing.
Do NOT try to REMOVE the mesh from the air cleaner. You'll never get it back in the way it's supposed to be.

I used to wash the mesh, but don't any more, unless it's obviously full of chaff or some sort of lint or something.
I just set the screen part right side up on a shop towel and let it drain while cleaning and filling the bowl with fresh oil.