Oil Bath air cleaner for the Model A

J

JesseD

Junior Member
Hey guys

I have a nice 1930 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan. It was restored some time ago but is still really nice. Anyway with that being said where I live in PA there are quite a few dirt roads that I travel and many people have dirt driveways and parking lots. With that being said I am concerned about the dust getting in my cars engine without it having an air filter. I know that this is a touch subject but I want my car protected too.

I was wondering if anyone has adapted an oil bath style air cleaner to work on the stock model an and if so how it was done. I know oil bath filters can be messy but growing up on a farm I am used to them.

Any advice is appreciated
 
I remember seeing an adaption of one to a model A engine in a tractor about 15 years ago somewhere on the internet.
It was big, bulky and looked Mickey Mouse. Not something that would look too good on a car.
They don't work all that well either compared to a simple K&N sleeve.
 
An oil bath filter may work well on a Model A as I think they do not have very much restriction to air flow. The Model A carburetor float bowl is vented to the atmosphere so that if there is a lot of restriction then it will act as a choke and enrich the air/fuel ratio. I think all oil bath filters are down flow so it may be difficult to adopt to a updraft carburetor. I see where Pete is right that it would become a plumbing nightmare. There may be an updraft oil bath filter off a tractor that you could use.
 
Last edited:
About 52 years ago I adapted an oil baith oil filter off of a 2 cylinder Wisconsion engine that I mounted to the fire wall and used a radiator hose to connect it to. I never could tell it had a flow restriction and ran the same as with out. The person I sold it to 6 months ago took it off.
 
I think the oil bath would have more restriction than a K&N or the paper ones they sell.
BTW when the A was first introduced most of the roads they traveled on were dirt.
 
For your info this photo shows the optional air bath oil filter sold for use on 1932 heavy duty 4 cylinder trucks. The tube extending down to the carburetor is not shown.

Charlie Stephens
 

Attachments

  • Card1 005.jpg
    Card1 005.jpg
    58.3 KB · Views: 63
If you were using your "A" on a regular basis driving long distances on dirt roads while following trucks, I too would be concerned about ingesting dirt particles into the engine.
If your A has engine pans I feel this helps to minimize possible road dust up drafts from affecting particle inflow to the carburetor. Airflow across the top and bottom surfaces of the engine pan should minimize or eliminate updraft airflow from the undercarriage.
 
I sent my Model B carburetor to Renners Garage and David did the necessary machine work to allow use of an air filter.

RENNER'S CORNER
EARLY FORD PARTS

PHONE: 1-734-428-8424

IF WE ARE OUT OF THE SHOP AND DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE

LEAVE A MESSAGE AND WE'LL CALL BACK
AS SOON AS WE CAN!

EMAIL: DAVID@RENNERSCORNER.COM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top