Air Filter Question

no love for the foam air filter huh? I guess I'll just stick with a paper style equivalent like was in there before. Can't wait to get this thing on the road! First drive in 30 years.

I used to use foam filters in both my Giulietta Sprint and Spider. Then my Sprint developed a carburetor problem caused by it ingesting disintegrating foam.

the inclination would be to use a 'stock' type filter, otherwise, given the choice a switch to a K & N air filter element is the way to go. Many of the foams don't hold up very well exposed to a gasoline/heat/oil/dirt environment.

Thanks for the great input! You guys make the AlfaBB what it is. My initial thought is that the foam filter may let more dirt/contaminates through, I hadn't even considered the actual filter ending up downstream.

I'll try to see if I can find a paper type filter, any recommendations on manufacturer/part number other than K&N?

Hi Chad

I also prefer the paper type, but it does depend on what carb / carbs / filter housing that you are running.

A '58 Spider Normale would have had a paper type element in the back half of the original 'coffee tin' filter on top of a single Solex.

What set-up are you running on your car ??

Ciao
Greig

Greig,

thanks for the interest. My car has a single Solex carb with the air filter housing sitting on top, just as you described, with the remnants of what looks like it was once a cylindrical paper filter inside. However, the few places I've checked (International Auto, Centerline, parts guy down the street) don't seem to offer a paper filter. Any suggestions on sourcing one would be very helpful as I'm starting to get the itch to pull her out on the road with the weather turning up lately!

thanks again,
Chad

Greig,

thanks again for the helpful information. I have asked the local parts guy to cross-reference an air filter based on dimensions. Hopefully he comes up with something similar, especially with your idea of adding a spacer, I hadn't thought of that. It seems there should be a standard off-the-shelf option. If that doesn't work out, maybe I'll need to seek out someone who can make a filter as you suggested. I appreciate your offer. I'll update with progress if any is made!

Chad

A few years ago I located a pretty close substitute for the original paper element in the Baldwin catalog by using the "search by size" section.

I do not have the car anymore and haven't kept a note of the filter number, but you can work it out from this site ; go to "catalog information" then "size chart search". Hopefully this part number is still available. It was intended for some kind of industrial compressor.

Hastings AF 32 will work, with the addition of a 5mm rubber or foam spacer on the end.

Joe

Thanks Joe

Baldwin equivalent to the Hastings AF32 is PA652 - 6" OD, 4 5/8" ID, 3 7/8" L
If a 5 mm longer filter is needed then PA2064 - 6" OD, 4 5/8" ID, 4 1/16" L
should be awfully close.

Thanks, Yves.
I'll try that part number next time.
I never was too happy with need for the spacer

Joe

Thanks for the tips - I'll try to locate one of those Part Numbers. The filter I pulled out of there was about 4 1/8" I.D. X 4 1/8" Tall X 5 7/8" O.D.

I am reviving this thread to suggest that the original elements were a washable element, much like a K&N. The instructions on my filter housing are to wash the element in gasoline, and to replace it if it is "avariata," which means "spoiled," loosely speaking. It's not clear what spoiled means. I suspect that my car still has the original element. It's marked "FISPA" on the seal ring, and it is made of what seems to be steel mesh with short strands of some kind of fabric embedded. Unfortunately, I think that my element may be "avariata," as it is quite easy to rub the fibers off the steel mesh. Has anyone tried cleaning and reusing these, or know what it really takes for an element to be "avariata?"

I think the fabric oil filters are about as good as Hanes after a wet one. It only catches the chunks. Treat your engine as a temple not as a playground. Uncle

divotandtralee said:

I think the fabric oil filters are about as good as Hanes after a wet one. It only catches the chunks. Treat your engine as a temple not as a playground. Uncle

Click to expand...

Really? My understanding and experience is that the K&N filters are excellent, though not much, if any, of an improvement over good quality paper filters. The original Alfa one looks like it is a first rate item. The factory instructions are to wash and oil it. It's not an oil bath filter like the old Mercedes diesels ran, however.

Uncle, thanks for the offer. That's actually the exact filter I purchased. I believe I got it from Grainger, I can confirm if anyone needs that info. It did fit pretty well.

And, BTW Uncle, I responded to your PM before I saw that this thread had been revived. My apologies.