Air Filter Swap?

[hades]

Can't seem to find it anywhere here on the site so here goes.
Can you put a paper style air filter on a solex carb that has the oil impregnated mesh air filter?

I would like to clean up the engine bay a little by doing away with the old oil style and all of it's hose/air duct work with a regular paper style but would like to know if it would affect the performance or not.
Thanks

[opelnut10]

Asking for trouble putting a paper element on the solex. The Solex is very prone to vapor lock from heat, hence the heatshield under the carburator, enclosed canister for filter and snorkel going thru the radiator support to supply cooler air to the system. Weber and holley can take the heat better if you are going to keep the solex keep the complete system and chrome it if you want it to look better You can find an element that will fit inside the canister that is less restrictive than others which will help.

[2 Fast 4 U]

As long as I drive Opel I've never had a car that didn't have the paper air filter, and people that I know who had the oil type went over to paper with out any problems [they all have Solex carbs]

[hrcollinsjr]

I'm not exactly sure I understand your question. All the Opels I've seen came factory with a paper element filter. The K & N style (cotton gauze sprayed with filter oil) you can swap as long has you can find another of the same size. As long as either will fit the housing you should be okay. Now if you are talking about the old oil bath cleaners then the entire breather will have to be changed out to a more modern filter style.

If you have the early GT filter with mesh all you have to do AFAIK is to swap the breather tops, not sure about the bottom part.

Hope I haven't further confused you.

Harold

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by hades Can't seem to find it anywhere here on the site so here goes. Can you put a paper style air filter on a solex carb that has the oil impregnated mesh air filter? I would like to clean up the engine bay a little by doing away with the old oil style and all of it's hose/air duct work with a regular paper style but would like to know if it would affect the performance or not. Thanks

OK, first, assuming this is a 1.0/1.1 OHV engine as they are the only post-'64 engines ever offered with a 'horse-hair', oil bath type element. Second, single 1-barrel Solex or dual 1-barrel Solexes used? Third, post-'68 1.1 engines were provided with snorkels (GT/Kadett) and normal canister filters using paper element.

As stated previously, GT canister element can be swapped for K&N E-2340 element . . . improves breathing!!

[hades]

OK sorry for lack of info.

1970 1.9 the snorkel kit has a gauze type mesh in the lid/top portion of the canister and there was oil laying in the bottom of the canister. Enough oil that it looked just like the oil bath type on our old ford tractor. That is why I am thinking that it is the oil bath type.

I am just starting to get this opel on the road after sitting for three years. I got it for my wife as a wedding gift for her. After spending to much time over in the "great sandbox" and working on my suburban it is time to get "her" car in road shape and eventually show shape.
Please bear with me because this is all new territory for me every thing is soooo small

[hades]

GT that is

[hades]

arrrgh....... 2 barrel solex carb

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by hades OK sorry for lack of info. 1970 1.9 the snorkel kit has a gauze type mesh in the lid/top portion of the canister and there was oil laying in the bottom of the canister. Enough oil that it looked just like the oil bath type on our old ford tractor. That is why I am thinking that it is the oil bath type. every thing is soooo small

As you've probably already guessed, the oil isn't supposed to be there. Either or both: You have excessive blow by meaning your rings are in sorry shape and aren't sealing and/or your valve cover isn't helping to evacuate the extra pressure created by the blow by. The larger of the hoses attached to the breather near the carb and routed to the valve cover is where the oil is coming from. There is a smaller diameter hose connected to the valve cover and to a vacuum port to the intake manifold. You may need to take the valve cover off and remove the cover inside and either clean or replace the mess inside. Do a search of this site and you will find out more and where to find replacement mess for the valve cover.

The GT isn't small it's comfortable and ergonomic, you can reach everything.

Use the search feature, it works really well and most questions have been asked already by somebody.

HTH and Welcome Home,

Harold

[hades]

Thanks Harold.
I was afraid of that just hoping that mmaaayyybbbbeeee that wasn't the case. The small vacum hose has been blocked off by the previous owner and I'll need to put a new nipple in place where the hole is to hook it up write (right . . . correctly?).
Thanks again and it is good to be home.

[Killer Texas GT]

Originally Posted by tekenaar OK, first, assuming this is a 1.0/1.1 OHV engine as they are the only post-'64 engines ever offered with a 'horse-hair', oil bath type element. Second, single 1-barrel Solex or dual 1-barrel Solexes used? Third, post-'68 1.1 engines were provided with snorkels (GT/Kadett) and normal canister filters using paper element. As stated previously, GT canister element can be swapped for K&N E-2340 element . . . improves breathing!!

Otto I have a couple of the oil bath air filters from the GT in my stock that is in discusion. The only way to run a paper filter is to swap out the top portion of the air canister(oil bath section) and replace it with the top section off the paper canister. The bottom portion of the canister is the same in both applications. I can get the part No.s off of each for comparison tonight it you want them. I have seen the oil bath section cut out so that a paper air filter can be installed, however the seal is not as good done this way. Need proper top section for paper air filter(?) have them IM and we can discuss.

[hrcollinsjr]

If you get one of the vacuum lines that has a thick wall then it will just fit in the hole, no need to rig something. There wasn't anything there from the factory to start with. Any decent autoparts store should have it. I think the thin wall stuff is usually prepackaged and is probably better suited for windshield washer hose.

Harold

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by Killer Texas GT Otto I have a couple of the oil bath air filters from the GT in my stock that is in discusion. The only way to run a paper filter is to swap out the top portion of the air canister(oil bath section)

I believe a proper oil bath filter has a fill to line on the bottom section of the filter housing. I'm sure there is a proper name for the filter you and me are talking about but I doubt that it is "oil bath".

Harold

[asdasc]

I think photo's are in order to make sure everyone is on the same page. Now I am confused as an 'innocent bystander'. Did Opel really offer an oil bath filter on the earlier GT's?

[hades]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr If you get one of the vacuum lines that has a thick wall then it will just fit in the hole, no need to rig something. There wasn't anything there from the factory to start with. Any decent autoparts store should have it. I think the thin wall stuff is usually prepackaged and is probably better suited for windshield washer hose. Harold

Thanks I figured that one out finally after sorting through dozens after dozens of stuff lastnight using the search mode. it took about and hour and a half before i realized that there was not a nipple on the valve cover but i do appreciate the confirmation

Plus I am a little confused also I thought that I read in a manual that some GT's had an oil bath filter also.I could just brain fried from working with kids all day too.

thanks for all of your all's help it is appreciated

[Opelkurt]

Originally Posted by asdasc I think photo's are in order to make sure everyone is on the same page. Now I am confused as an 'innocent bystander'. Did Opel really offer an oil bath filter on the earlier GT's?

Early GTs did have a non-replaceable mesh filter in the lid above where you would normally find the paper element. It's not an "oil-bath" type of filter though, it's meant to be cleaned occasionally with solvent, re-oiled, drip-dried, and put back in place.

Hades- there's a good chance the standing oil you found in your canister was put there by someone who didn't know it wasn't needed. I would try running the car with a cleaned and lightly oiled mesh filter, or paper filter if you change the cannister top (the bottom part is the same for both) and see what happens.

-Kurt

[hades]

Thanks Kurt
That is pretty much what I was going to do. Rebuild the carb and replace the fuel pump, change oil, gap points fix vacum lines and try her out to see what happens
Thanks for everybody's input and help

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by asdasc Did Opel really offer an oil bath filter on the earlier GT's?

The top of the GT filter housing has mesh of some type in it preventing the installation of a typical paper filter element. If no one posts a pic I have one laying around somewhere that I might could post a picture of.

Harold

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr The top of the GT filter housing has mesh of some type in it preventing the installation of a typical paper filter element. Harold

And a few days later here it is.

Harold

[asdasc]

Very interesting, thank you! And you say these were on the early 69 cars?

Interesting tidbit to note.

Thanks,

[hades]

The one on the left is what I have on my 1970 (actually it's my wife's but guess who does all the work)
Thanks for the pics

[wattiefan]

Most stock air filter housings i have seen have not had this type of "filter mesh" in the top portion. Are they that uncommon? 69 models only? I just saw my first one today on a junker gt. I did not look at it in depth but could they be taken apart and cleaned out? I presently have a weber on the my 1972 gt but i was just wondering.