1950s Oil bath air cleaner

[Daffer]

Im currently in the process of completely detailing my engine bay after are a rebuild on my 331 engine on my 1950 cadillac but I'm at a kinda standstill. I'm wanting to soak it in super clean then repaint it, but how do I save this decal (photo below) literally the only decal that survived 75 years. I would replace it but I can't find a remake and when I had one printed it just looked super cheap as the original one I can feel the letters since it's raised. Any suggestions on what I should do to save it or any good reproduction decal

[Jay Friedman]

I have a reproduction decal like that on my '49's air cleaner, but I don't remember where I got it.  My suggestion is that you paint the air cleaner around that original decal which I would leave as is.

[Daffer]

I have a reproduction decal like that on my '49's air cleaner, but I don't remember where I got it.  My suggestion is that you paint the air cleaner around that original decal which I would leave as is.

I appreciate the advice hopefully it turns out good, would you or anyone know the best paint to use, I was thinking of using duplacolor high heat engine paint in a satin black? Also if anyone knows where I could find a reproduction of that decal please let me know incase i decide to go another route. Thanks!

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

Just a suggestion if I may on the oil bath.
I put a regular paper element in mine. A lot less messy, and you can't tell.

Enjoy.

[Saturnin15]

I think that Mcvey's have them

[Daffer]

Just a suggestion if I may on the oil bath.
I put a regular paper element in mine. A lot less messy, and you can't tell.

Enjoy.

Ive thought about that, i just heard the oil bath is somehow quieter. but even still ive thought of buying a spare one to modify take a paper filter.

[Suntuned]

That's not a decal no decal would last that long, That is screen printed  on there  it's paint. I would mask it with paper,if you masked it with tape it will remove the screen printing because it's so old.

[Jay Friedman]

Just a suggestion if I may on the oil bath.
I put a regular paper element in mine. A lot less messy, and you can't tell.

Enjoy.

Some years ago I bought a '49 air cleaner that the seller had converted to use a paper filter.  It worked as far as filtering went, but it was modified in such a way that when taking it apart to change the paper element all the parts became detached from one another.  This made it complicated if not difficult to put back together. After a year or so it annoyed me to the point that I went back to the original oil bath air cleaner.
It works fine; just have to be careful when changing oil to not spill any on the work bench.