A212CW Filter screen

[Mark D.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

Paulie,

You are 100% on the money. We (Piedmont) bought a bunch of three holers from All Nippon and you would have thought they were brand new, just off the assembly line. We also bought a bunch of them from Delta and they were the biggest pieces of **** out there. They flew sideways they were so bent.

Still a great old bird. The last 727/100 Piedmont retired was one they purchased form Northwest Orient. Piedmont named it the Mount Mitchell Pacemaker and it was the airplane D. B. Cooper did his swan dive out of.

I'm getting a little teary eyed thinking of the good ol' days.

[D S.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

I recently purchased a reproduction A212CW square screen. It has the look of being original and has the eight depressions on the edges but 1.) it's not wetted. Just an off-white paper filter. Any idea how it can be wetted without making an oily mess? 2.) the "Plastisol" is very shiny and feels like vinyl.

What was the purpose of oil wetting the filter back in the day? Would the non-wetted paper filter still do the job?

[Joe L.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

I recently purchased a reproduction A212CW square screen. It has the look of being original and has the eight depressions on the edges but 1.) it's not wetted. Just an off-white paper filter. Any idea how it can be wetted without making an oily mess? 2.) the "Plastisol" is very shiny and feels like vinyl.

What was the purpose of oil wetting the filter back in the day? Would the non-wetted paper filter still do the job?

Scott------


The oil-wetted paper filter was the "state of the art" back in the 60's and early 70's. It used a simple "torturous path" paper filter that was oil-wetted to improve particle capture. Improved filter technology succeeded it. It may not be possible to obtain the old-style filter material today and that's probably why the modern material is used for the reproductions.

Manufacturing a reproduction filter assembly is one thing, but manufacturing the original filter material on a small scale basis is quite another.

[Kenn S.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

I don't have an original to compare to, but I had a thought. I'd first test this on a cheapie filter from AutoZone or wherever. That one should make a good practice filter.

My thought was this. I wonder if some thinned motor oil sprayed onto the paper using a WalMart-special spray bottle wouldn't give the correct appearance. It may not be required for particle filtration, but I can understand wanting the repro filter to look more like the original.

I'm not sure what I'd thin the oil with, but something should do it. Mineral spirits perhaps.

I'd spray the oil on and then blow it out using compressed air to remove excess oil. If thinned to the point it could spray through the cheap spray bottle, it shouldn't clog the filter (or so I hope). Might be interesting to try on a $10 filter? If I get out, I'll try it myself.

And luckily you have a couple to compare to, if you thought of trying this.

If motor oil is too viscous or the wrong color, I'd try another oil, like machine oil...

[Terry M.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

The newer filters are made of a rosin impregnated paper that provides similar capture qualities to the oil oil wetted paper, however, the basic paper material is different between then and now. Simply spraying oil on the modern paper will still wind you up a long ways from the appearance of the original filter material. You may fool those younger folks who have never seen the "real deal" but us old guys who were gearheads int he '60s and '70s won't buy it.

[Ronald L.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

Oil whetting - don't do it on modern filters, it will clog the pores that are different that the original paper. Basically they are incompatible.

Modern filters made by these repro houses are generally OK as a filter to protect your engine, but, I've not done the filtration & air flow tests so use them like any part you buy at the local parts store.

If you were sharp to notice, there were a couple of cars at NOVI who's filters were turning greenish - sure sign of of someone trying to do this(oiling a modern filter).

On what to try? and to thin motor oil and all that, save your time, I've done all that and more, none of those things make the paper yellow. And if it does, you probably have a fully plugged filter. p.s. that original oil's not sold on the open market.

Paper, cellulose or polyester, etc. If from China, those fibers that make the paper could be bamboo, Central America, super hardwood (even endg. species), USA ().

On that $30 filter, the nibs are no way even close, and it is a cheap blown vinyl resin so noted by the voids. Its NOT plastisol.

Joe - in 1962 yes, that paper & oil was state of the art, but 1975 (not).

[Kenn S.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

The newer filters are made of a rosin impregnated paper that provides similar capture qualities to the oil oil wetted paper, however, the basic paper material is different between then and now. Simply spraying oil on the modern paper will still wind you up a long ways from the appearance of the original filter material. You may fool those younger folks who have never seen the "real deal" but us old guys who were gearheads int he '60s and '70s won't buy it.

Understood. It wasn't to fool anyone, though. The part is already a reproduction part, and most judges would probably spot it as such given how hard they are to find today (would merit closer scrutiny). I was only trying to think of a way to make it a better, more accurate reproduction part. Was just a thought. The engineer in me.

[Ronald L.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

Kenn, Solvent or water based dyes don't work either. Some of these things proposed might even get you a good fire if the car back fired when these things were fresh because they contain volatile components.

[Kenn S.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

Not one of my better ideas, apparently. I believe knowing how not to do it is important too, and thanks for all of the input in that regard.

[Don G.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

Ebay item #140606135301 of a A348C appears to be a 1971 version that has "BEST WAY TO..." and early diamond pattern (not the later expanded metal and wetted element filter paper. This, along with other examples, appears to support the design progression of A348C and A329C air filters and may apply to A212CW as follows:

• "BEST WAY TO...." and heavy diamond screen circa 1969-71
• "BEST WAY TO...." and soldered square mesh screen circa 1973-75
• "PROTECT YOUR.." and soldered square mesh screen circa 1975-77?
• "PROTECT YOUR.." and expanded metal screen circa 1978?
• "A348C" or A329C and expanded metal screen circa 1980?

[Ronald L.]

Re: A212CW Filter screen

Ken, Not trying to be hard, I have done all this to those $60 filters and it messed them up. Just tried to let those know its a waste of time. Plus that greenish look - just plain ugly on the car.

Don's on the right track! I notice that 348 too and there are a lot more 348, 212, 169's all in the 69 - 71 time frame with exactly the same first design diamond mesh out there.