Valve Cover & Mesh Filter Cleaning

[grslightng02]

Today I removed the valve cover and pulled out the metal mesh air filters which were gummed up beyond belief. I soaked them in some gas, and cleaned the plate and the valve cover with some steel wool and carb cleaner and then scrubbed them clean with hot water and soap.

After thoroughly rinsing and drying I put the filters back in place and put a new gasket on and reinstalled the valve cover and hoses.

Since there was sooo much gunk built up in the metal mesh air filters, I'm wondering what this would be a sign of ..? And what kind of performance issues this would have caused?

[traytodd]

You can replace the mesh filter with copper scouring pads (Chore Girls) from the local grocery store. The filter is part of the positive crankcase ventilation system. They get dirty from years of engine dirt deposits glued together by the high molecular weight (paraffins/sludge) molecules in the oil. After 35 years it is not surpising the filter is gunked up.