air cleaner

[alzink]

I know this is an odd question BUT I can't figure out how ,to stop the air cleaner on my 55 331 to stop from rotating. Mine has a cork gasket between the carb and air cleaner....that's all. Concerned about over tightening the wing nut

Thanks

Al

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

Mine does the same thing.

[Lexi]

I know this is an odd question BUT I can't figure out how ,to stop the air cleaner on my 55 331 to stop from rotating. Mine has a cork gasket between the carb and air cleaner....that's all. Concerned about over tightening the wing nut

Thanks

Al

Hey Al. Warning! Same problem with mine. In my case that issue was always there and years of over tightening stripped the thread in the carburetor body where the threaded rod goes. In my car this is a blind hole, (probably same in yours), but not sure how thick the wall is in order for it to accept a thread repair, as with some systems you must open up the area with a drill bit to accept the new thread. What happens if you break through the zinc casting there? Especially if not drilled perpendicularly as with a proper drill press. Options seem to be: 1) Remove rod and put a slight bend in it, to cause some horizontal friction when re-installed and torqued down 2) Try blue thread locker 3) Try red thread locker 4) JB Weld only threads, perhaps only partial, at the bottom, (may have to break clean one day). 5) Thread repair using an insert that accepts a smaller diameter hold down rod so as not to damage zinc wall as no drilling required 6) Heli-Coil repair with drilling 7) Obtain a replacement carb body with good threads. Clay/Lexi

[J. Gomez]

I know this is an odd question BUT I can't figure out how ,to stop the air cleaner on my 55 331 to stop from rotating. Mine has a cork gasket between the carb and air cleaner....that's all. Concerned about over tightening the wing nut

Thanks

Al

Al,

The way I did mine '56 was to use a small rubber hose and slice it length way (one side) and slide it in the air cleaner base. The hose was small diameter allowing it to clear the air filter to be place on the carburetor bowl cover lip.

Others may have used other alternative to keep the "galloping gertie" from bouncing. 

[Big Fins]

Hey Al. Warning! Same problem with mine. In my case that issue was always there and years of over tightening stripped the thread in the carburetor body where the threaded rod goes. In my car this is a blind hole, (probably same in yours), but not sure how thick the wall is in order for it to accept a thread repair, as with some systems you must open up the area with a drill bit to accept the new thread. What happens if you break through the zinc casting there? Especially if not drilled perpendicularly as with a proper drill press. Options seem to be: 1) Remove rod and put a slight bend in it, to cause some horizontal friction when re-installed and torqued down 2) Try blue thread locker 3) Try red thread locker 4) JB Weld only threads, perhaps only partial, at the bottom, (may have to break clean one day). 5) Thread repair using an insert that accepts a smaller diameter hold down rod so as not to damage zinc wall as no drilling required 6) Heli-Coil repair with drilling 7) Obtain a replacement carb body with good threads. Clay/Lexi

And just imagine the filings going down the throat, only to be sucked into the cylinders. 

[Lexi]

Another method that I have seen, is to drill a small hole in the bottom & rear of the air cleaner, and run a brace to an outside bracket at the back of the engine to stabilize it. Hope the bolt never leaks oil from the housing out. Not really a fan of this option. I did try various "liners" around the carb's horn, still got movement which resulted in a "cutting action" into the custom rubber gasket. Could work but I think it would depend on how shot your threads are and how much holding power you need. Other problems can arise. Any drilling in the carb should be done on the bench with a properly set up drill press, for the reason the above poster gave. Clay/Lexi

[alzink]

Thanks all !

[Bob Kielar]

What I did to stop the air cleaner from moving on my 55 was to make a large O ring out of buna rubber. The O ring is 41 1/4" long and 1/4" diameter then you heat the ends and hold them together. It fits the around the base and the top of the air cleaner to fill in the gap. It hasn't moved in 500 miles of driving.

Keep Cruzin,
Bob

[jwwseville60]

It makes my 55 FW engine seem as if its alive and sentient....