Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bill Balkie 24172 on October 11, 2016, 07:07:03 PM

Title: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: Bill Balkie 24172 on October 11, 2016, 07:07:03 PM
Hello ,
    I have been running my car for the last 5 years with the original Bat wing air cleaner using the oil system . About 6 weeks ago i was looking into the filter itself and was wondering about the horsehair element inside the pod . They suggest you use Kerosene to clean the element .  You can try to clean it but you can not replace it without destroying the pod .  After  60 years you might think it should be changed . Who knows the condition of that element inside that assembly that can not be opened without destroying it ? That is when i decided to convert to a paper air filter . I did not want to destroy the pods i had .  I was able to pick up a set on ebay at a good price . So i converted them . I chucked up the pods on a lathe and was able to cut away the bottom half exposing the element  . I trimed the pod to a length that would give me a good two inches of filter element. The inside Diameter of the pod itself is about 6.980 inside diameter . I used a wix filter # 42297 that is 7.000 inches on the outside that provided a good snug fit . I backed it up with a  1 inch thick aluminum ring for the filter  to seat on and make the upper seal . When assembled the Bottom of the filter rest on the inside of the oil pan .  I do not know for sure but i think my carbs were starving for air using those 60 year old filter .  Only time will tell . However i think it is better for the engine to breath a little easier  .  I still have the original filters , Somehow i just could not destroy them . I have added a few pictures .

    Bill
Title: Re: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on October 11, 2016, 09:37:34 PM
G'day Bill,

Very nicely done.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: Roger Zimmermann on October 12, 2016, 02:29:36 AM
It's not easy to turn the pods like you did because you cannot apply too much force to the jaws...It seems that you got them without incident. Nice work!
Title: Re: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: Bill Balkie 24172 on October 12, 2016, 05:58:44 AM
Hello Roger ,
   Thanks for the the compliment . The trick is to use soft jaws machined to the same diameter of the out dimension of the housing and machine a groove  in the jaws to locate and lock the lip of the pod in place .   i have added a few pictures that might explain it better .

  Bill
Title: Re: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: Roger Zimmermann on October 12, 2016, 06:10:13 AM
Interesting trick! Without it, I doubt it's possible to machine such sheet metal parts.
Title: Re: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: Bill Balkie 24172 on October 12, 2016, 07:04:29 AM
Roger ,
    Without the groove to retain the part . It would fly out of the chuck .  You would be better off using a hack saw .

  Bill
Title: Re: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on October 12, 2016, 08:06:51 AM
Ah ha.   I thought there was something totally different with the chuck jaws.   I looked hard at them in the first pictures, and couldn't figure out who would make such wide jaws.

Never heard of "Soft Jaws" but fabricating a set of jaws with the additional width to securely hold the piece is a masterstroke.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: Bill Balkie 24172 on October 12, 2016, 08:41:07 AM
Hello Bruce ,
     You take the standard hard jaws out of the chuck and replace them with free machining steel jaws . That gives you the option to custom turn the jaws to meet your requirements . It is like having a custom chuck . after years of turning  in a job shop environment you acquire  a large variety  of jaws for the chuck . The standard  Hardened jaws are very rarely used .
            Bill
Title: Re: Converted My 1957 Bat wing air pods from oil to a paper Air filter
Post by: Bill Balkie 24172 on October 12, 2016, 09:01:43 AM
I was very hesitant to do this , but a 60 year old horse hair  filter has to reach the end of its life cycle at some point . I was really afraid of it deteriorating and ending up in my Carburetors .    Pros and cons  on this subject ?  Does any one else ever question the elements life ? . i do believe the oil bath system is a good  system when working within its life cycle .

   Bill