carb filter

P

poolnut

Member
Hey guys I hate to keep asking questions but if you dont know ,you dont know My carb on my 29 pickup has no filter or anything on the intake I bought it this way Seems like it would get a lot of junk in there without some kind of filter I think my carb is a zenith which i have seen a picture in mac's that looks like it but it does not show any filter on the intake ?
 
The Model A had no air cleaner when the left the factory. They run just fine that way.

If you live in an especially dusty area, or are otherwise concerned about it, there are aftermarket ones available. However, adding one may require you to play with the fuel/air mix.

Ken
 
Ford supplied filters as an accessory only for service in real dusty conditions. Not really needed for stock engines with occasional use. Adding one will change the classic Model A sound of the engine.
 
Air Filters:

Guess opinions are mostly based on the amount of miles one intends to drive per year.

With high usage, some of today's modern autos can exceed 250,000 miles & not burn oil -- same cast iron block & rings.

A good experiment to "really" answer your air filter question would be:

1. To buy a new car, remove the air filter, drive normally, & see how long it would take before blue smoke comes out of the exhaust; or

2. Go to a reputable engine rebuild shop & seek air filter opinions from several "veteran" engine rebuild mechanics.

It would no doubt be very interesting to see what one would find out about all "high use" engines without air filters.
 
I have asked some of the veteran model A engine rebuilders in Houston and Dallas and get the same answer . No filter needed driving on asphalt.
 
there is a real fire danger with a paper air filter element on an updraft carb. Just a little over choking or carb leaking and you have a paper bag full of gas right next to your exhaust system or a backfire also can ignite it.
 
If you drive a lot on dirt road's," maybe", If not, and you have both eng. pan's on you dont need one, And like above, they are a "fire hazzard".
Not worth the trouble for normal driving, JMHO.
 
The contrarian view: i will stipulate that the Model A did not come from the factory with an air filter. Nevertheless, I run a standard Zenith 2 carburetor equipped with a circa-1970's wire-mesh reproduction "Air-Maze" air filter. I lightly coat the wire mesh with engine oil, clean it periodically, and drilled two small (1/16") holes in the lower cap to allow drainage of any gasoline that might find it's way there (this has not been a problem in the past 35 years). Using an air filter (perhaps a generous description of the "Air-Maze") seems like a reasonable precaution and I haven't noticed any degradation in performance.

[I also have the engine pans installed.]
 
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