1959 Cadillac standard air filters?!

[gkhashem]

I gave everyone a warning about six months ago.

https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/index.php?topic=171167.msg548415#msg548415

Many parts seem to be out of stock. I suspect no longer being made. You better stock up on what you can get now since this is the new normal in today's world.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

George do you happen to have an extra for sale?

[gkhashem]

Tim

I have a 1959 Olds and a 1960 Cadillac that use that air filter and I have 2 or 3 left that I do not want to part with. I have 2 Wix and even 1 AC Delco one. I also have many 1959 Cadillac oil filters that someone passed on a few months ago. I sold my 1959 so these could be sold. I bet the oil filters become rare in a few years.

Also the prices have about doubled on Rock Auto for what you can find.

Right now you can get Hastings on Rock Auto. I would buy a few if I was you. Although not sure that looks correct.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

One has to remember that spare parts are only made whilst there is a demand.

The Factory only is obliged to supply up to 10 years beyond the completion of the model requiring the parts.  If there is a surge on the parts, there is no obligation to restart making them.

Unless some supplier is willing to come to the cost of making and distributing odd parts, us people wanting said parts will just have to make do with different parts to fill our needs.

Nobody is going to tool up for making parts to sell at a loss.

Bruce.

PS.   If I needed a replacement Air Filter, then I would cut up my old one, keep the upper and lower rubber rings, and trim the guts from something that looks like it will fit, and glue it all back together.   I don't think Judges are going remove the top of an Air Cleaner just to see what is inside.   They only have to look at the outside and see the exposed top rubber ring, be it Black or Red.

[Gabe Davis]

In October of 2023 I placed an order for the Wix 42092 air filter with Froedge Machine Supply in Kentucky. They are a Wix dealer and their website showed the filter as available. A few days later I received an email from them saying that they were in fact not in stock and that there would be a 4 week lead time.

I let them know to please keep my order and asked if they were actually able to order the part. This is their response:

"We can order the filters, we actually have quite a few on order already. WIX is very backed up in the warehouse currently so the lead times are a lot longer than normal.

I do not have an exact ETA at the moment. We are hoping to see them by the end of the year."

Fast forward to April 2024 and I finally got a response from them about the status:

"Unfortunately I just got word this filter has become obsolete. WIX will not be filling any open order for the filter.

Because of this, I have refunded your order. You should see the transaction within the next few business days."

So these parts are no longer being made. I'm sure that Wix was the original supplier for this part that was rebranded by many others. NAPA for sure was selling the 42092 as the NAPA Gold 2092.

So the question becomes, what do us enthusiasts now do to keep our cars running with clean air filters once what old stock is out there totally dries up?

[Cadillac Jack 82]

The filter isn't a very complex thing to make but since tooling, etc costs money I'm unsure if any of the repro companies out there would be interested in making these.  I still have the filter that survived my engine fire and it works as it should but it has some crispy rubber ends in places.  If anyone has any leads etc please let me and the others here know.

[TJ Hopland]

Maybe its time to come up with a 'pre filter' like you used to see a lot on lawn equipment?  Its like a foam band that usually gets lightly oiled that goes around the outside of the paper filter.  Idea is the oily foam will catch some of the dirt and it can easily be removed, cleaned, then re oiled. Since its not the main filter it doesn't have to be the perfect fit or perfectly sealed.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Another option would to 3D print some type of adapter for the other types of filters.

[gkhashem]

So the question becomes, what do us enthusiasts now do to keep our cars running with clean air filters once what old stock is out there totally dries up?

There is no old stock left. Do an internet search and they all come up the same. OUT OF STOCK

[Cadillac Jack 82]

How?  Was the old supply that limited?  I feel someone either horded the rest or recycled it...

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

When I was building my first Hot Rod, I created a Tripple 2BBL system for my 390 FE Ford engine, and had to make up my own Filter for the air cleaner, which was long and not that wide.

I successfully raided the local shop and got enough shaped filters to be able to cut and join 4 filters to make one.   As I said previously, the Judges aren't going to remove the cover to see what is inside.

If we want to keep on using our cars, we HAVE to get creative.   Just look how Cuba kept their cars on the road.

Bruce.    

[gkhashem]

How?  Was the old supply that limited?  I feel someone either horded the rest or recycled it...

My guess no one had any idea that they stopped making these filters a few years back and eventually the stock dwindles until gone.  It has probably been on that course for a few years and now its over.

[TJ Hopland]

So if its been 60 some years since a car was made that used this model and most of those have not been daily drivers for 50 some years?  Anyone want to guess how many of these cars still even exist?  And then out of those how often those get used enough to need a new filter?  My guess is a majority of them being sold are to people 'reviving' them that have been sitting for a very long time like barn finds almost and how many of those are there? 

With all the people that used to make filters if they all did a run of say 100 filters in the 80's how long would that have lasted?  And when they did finally sell out what are the chances they were still in business at all and if they were do they still have the molds and machines?  Probably not since I don't think any car has been made with a round filter since the 80's and they are not going to bother because brand B still has stock or machines to make more so not enough demand to make it worth retooling.  Even the people in sandals working for 2 cents a day need specific tools and molds. 

[TJ Hopland]

Also makes me wonder if any of the filter manufacturer websites have a way to search based on sizes?  Seems like the chances are good there is something else out there that is at least darn close or maybe half the size so you could stack them?  I have seen oil filer listings where you can search by thread, gasket, and micron sizes.

[Michael Petti]

From looking at the pictures of the right filter and the ones that are listed to "fit", the flange is the difference. I think that is the top sealing surface when the lid is put on. I hope if work arounds are found they will be posted to this forum. IMHO though, as stated above most of these cars drive less than 2,000 miles a year. I guess a filter could last 8 to 10 years at that rate. I would rather pay the $88.00 knowing that my expensive engine is protected than save a few bucks on a filter and have to deal with expensive engine repairs later.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Id love to find the proper orange rubber filter...or any filter for that matter.  One thing thats good about the earlier 50s cars...oil bath.  Sure its messy but rather deal with that then a non existent filter.