Friday, June 14,, 2024
I took time yesterday to go over my 1956 Plymouth oil bath-to-paper filter conversion project with 320-grit sandpaper. It took care of the 180 sand scratches; however, I still ended up with several small areas where the primer failed to adhere, despite my earlier surface prep. I’ve decided the issue is most likely oil contamination still on the surfaces of the air cleaner. After sanding the chipped areas smooth, I washed the air cleaner twice in Prep All wax and grease remover. I mixed up some primer and sprayed a medium coat on the air cleaner lid and body. So far no lifting is evident, but the tale won’t tell its story until after it completely flashes off and begins to shrink.
The primer I have is supposed to be mixed 2:1, but I realized tonight that the first couple of batches of primer I mixed I dumped what was left back in the can, which helped to thin the primer before I mixed up the next batch using the 2:1 ratio. The last primer I applied seemed very thin, despite having applied what I believed were two wet coats, so that may explain the thinness.
“Back in the day” I used Dupont primer, and even after you thinned it, it was still pretty thick stuff. I purchased a quart of a 1k primer for use on the air cleaner. If the primer comes out ok, I also just purchased a quart of ready-to-spray 1k sealer. I’m hoping the careful wash with wax and grease remover will help adhesion and allow me to get this project under sealer.
I’m going to paint the air cleaner Massey-Ferguson Red, which was the closest color I could find at Tractor Supply, lol. I tested a couple of reds via spray can, so I need to buy a quart of paint, hardener, reducer and clear coat if they have one. I may omit the clear since its a single-stage paint. Its an air cleaner, not a Corvette!
HISTORICAL NOTE. The original air cleaner on my 56 Plymouth Belvedere has a red air cleaner, which seems to be the most common color that year. However, I have seen a number of yellow air cleaners. And interestingly, the original paint on the one I have modified was yellow. It was later painted red. I’m not convinced the lid was manufactured in 1956; it doesn’t have a smoot top like my original one. It may have come from a different Chrysler product equipped with a two barrel carb,, though the base is identical to the one now on my Plymouth. I’ve never done a deep dive to determine what color air cleaners were on which engines, but I may do that — once I renew my Plymouth Owners Association membership.