59A air filter

if the cfm of an air cleaner does not match the cfm of carb then the mixture will be way too rich--it will get the cfms but thru the idle jets
 
My 1938 81A engine filter had been fitted with a 15cfm paper filter element when I got it. Plugs were always fouled and poor mpg. I took the filter element out and replaced with a free flowing gauze and the plugs cleaned up noticeably, along with much better fuel economy. I think my 221ci engine wanted about 150cfm at peak.
Don't do it.
 
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Out of curiosity, what was wrong with the stock oil bath air cleaner?

My personal experience .... I retrofitted with a washable K&N F060A6 folded tubular shape filter measuring 4-1/2" high x 7-1/2 diameter. It has a raw intake surface area of 106 sq. inches. Multiplied by K & N's conservative 4 cfm per sq. inch = a gross 424 cfm. Worked as well or same as stock oil filter but when accelerating thru gears and at moderate to high RPM's I could hear the carb taking-in air. Was loud enough that it became annoying so went back to the nice n' quiet stock oil filter. Using a vacuum gauge I didn't notice a difference in needle screw adjustment between the K & N or oil filter.
 
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