Hello,
What size air cleaner can I put on top of the carb on my 6cylinder? Side to side clearance and hood clearance? I still have the original oil and mesh filter, but it is a pain to take off and reinstall, I'll use it for cruise-ins, but would like something easier to use for normal driving and tinkering.

thanks

Your air cleaner is a pain? Well welcome to the "House of Pain"!

Check with Patrick's and Stovebolt engine Company for aircleaners used with multiple carbs, They are smaller and less efficient than your original Air cleaner, then you can just change the engine when the dirt eats it up!

I would not change it, that is what I am getting at!

Yes, it is a pain. The filter assembly hangs off-balance, while trying to locate it and screw in and keep the oil in it while threading the nut is a pain. My 58 is not anywhere near show condition. I just drive it occasionally to keep it from freezing up. Nothing especially collectable about it except for the sentimentality and novelty of it.

I appreciate your reply, but don't need a lesson in engine maintenance. I have 200,000 miles on both of my current daily drivers, and 170,000 on my third vehicle. I also know plenty about filtration and don't use K&N air filters due to personal experience. OE style oil bath filters aren't perfect either.

I was a full time diesel mechanic for a few years. I found that most drivers have dumped the oil out of the air filters, and didn't know how to maintain them!! (I have found that the Amsoil 2 stage air filter is better at keeping out fine particles in my turbo diesel truck.)

In other words, I know enough about maintenance that I've never had to rebuild an engine due to poor maintenance. That's why I am asking folks on this website, I thought you'd be able to recommend a good replacement.

Morgan, The 62 235's use a conventional type air cleaner with a snorkel and paper element. I am sure you should have clearence with using it, the 62 had much lower lines. I think I have one if you are interested let me know and Iwill look for it.
John Mahoney

Thanks for the suggstion and the offer. I actually know where some early 60's model chevys are sitting right now, and will look under the hoods. If they aren't right for my application, I'll let you know.

Morgan, I didn't expect you would want to have dirt eat up your engine, but there have been those that removed the air cleaner and thought it was "cool' to not have one. When we get a question like yours here why should we think you have any prior maintenance experiance? Pleasr read your initial post once more, and see the lack of critical details. I would expect more from an experianced mechanic.
That is the reason for my answer, did you not see the part about Patricks and The Stovebolt engine Company?
I still wonder which air cleaner and carb you have on the 58, whether it has the large almost flat choke body of the last Rochester Carbs, with a screw that must be stabbed down vertically and screwed into the top of the choke body and the main bowl of the air cleaner hangs off to the side of the choke bowl? I do believe that is a pain..........been there done that, on a 1961, I didn't think a 58 was that different than a 53 six , guess it was........ Or the older model B and BC which clamped around the choke horn, like the 53 and 54. They are easy to remove and replace as you only have to loosen a screw clamp and twist off. no snorkle or anything, just a vacuum hose for the crankcase fumes. That is what came out on my 57 truck probably much different than your 58, I don't remember seeing a 58 with a six, The one I had came with a 348 engine.

Hi Morgan-

My six cylinder 58 panel delivery truck had the "oil bath" air cleaner that your car has, and I know it was an option on the early 50's sixes. The air filter that was standard equipment on those Chevy sixes was a dry filter assembly about 2 1/2" high and about the same diameter.

I believe there is a paper replacement element available to upgrade from the original copper mesh element in the standard dry filter assembly. That combination may be the solution to your problem.

Replacement element available here

Silvercove

Morgan,
The 62 engineering features said that the "new filter unit" on the 235's is 32% more efficiant than the ones used in the past.
John

John-
I'm not positive, but I believe the top of a 1960-62 Rochester six cylinder carburetor has an outside diameter of 2 15/32", and is stepped to accept the different style mount on the filter base that Mack describes. The earlier Rochester design used in 1958 had a top diameter of 2 9/32", and had a smooth area to accept the clamping filter base. I don't think the 1962 assembly will fit Morgan's car.

SPEEDLINE

Looks like your right, I looked up the part numbers and the air horn is the same 58-61, the 62 unit stands alone for the 235. Good eye!
John

I just checked a 59 BC carb, against a 62 BC carb and the difference on the air horn opening is that the 62 is notched to locate the air cleaner, other than that the look the same. The notch is the reason for the other part number.
John

As per 1970 issue parts book that covered years 1938 - 1964 air cleaner #6422819 will cover years 1958 thru 1964 all 6 cyl.This will be a newer "universal" replacment for the earlier year cars.1963 book lists air cleaner #5645261 for 58-61 6 cyl.(was later discontinued and replaced by #6422819) ..1963 book also lists carb. #7016213 for all 1958-62 6 cyl. stick cars.Hope this helps to clear confusion.

I just checked my parts book again, and it appears that light trucks used the old style carburetor up to 1959, and cars began the newer style in 1957. It appears that I was measuring a 58 series 3 truck carb against a 62 passenger carb. Foiled by Chevrolet's held-over truck parts system again! If Morgan's car still has the original carb on it, John is correct.

SPEEDLINE

Thanks for all the information gentlemen!

Yes, on my carb, the neck where the filter rests is about 2.5" in diameter. I had not noticed a step feature on it, but will look for that today.

I found a junked 58 in some woods this weekend (could see it off of the road since the leaves have fallen). I stopped to check it out. Missing the hood, engine and all glass and chrome had been vandalized. Too bad, no air filter either, of course. Floor pans were rotten too. 2door Bel-air I think. (2 tail lenses on each side. 4 "slashes" in the front fender, behind headlight, but no chrome inserts). My Del Ray has the 2lense tail lights, but only has 3 slashes in the front fenders, no chrome inserts.