Air Filters


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By Fred - 17 Years Ago
What air filters fit a 57 T-Bird 312?

I ended up looking at 4 filters that various sources said fit but were not the same as the old one.  Many reference guides are out of date.

Who makes the best replacements and what is the part number?

I would hate to have to order one from a T-bird place vs a local parts store.Smile

By sundance241 - 17 Years Ago
Fred,   I took my old filter into Wal-mart,  and matched it up !   Works for me................Sam
By 55Birdman - 17 Years Ago
motorcraft B7SZ-9601-M  Macs auto parts.com   $13.95 been using it a LONG time. exact fit. 55birdmanSmile
By paul2748 - 17 Years Ago
sundance241 (11/16/2007)
Fred, I took my old filter into Wal-mart, and matched it up ! Works for me................Sam




Make and number????
By sundance241 - 17 Years Ago
Paul,   I am  using a 57  t-bird air cleaner , slightly converted for my elderbrock carb...out side mesurement  ..11 3/4    in.  ....3/4  in. thick ........and 2 1/4 in.  high......I think the number is Fram..CA327............but not sure ,  i saved the number , but am working on different projects , and sometimes they get mixed up .....Hope this is some help.....Sam
By Daniel Jessup - 17 Years Ago
How did you need to convert the 57 Tbird air cleaner? I am going with an edelbrock carb on a 57 intake also, and was wondering about what kind of air cleaner to put on there. (all I have is the old oil bath 2 barrel air cleaner, and did not want to go with the joe-schmo type of typical air cleaner)

Dan

By GREENBIRD56 - 17 Years Ago
One method I've used of finding cross-over air filter elements - doesn't always work but its worth a try - is to go to the K&N filter site. There is a way to search their "data base" of filters by size and description. Takes some messing around with it, but you can often find a K&N "replacement" filter - identified by part number that then is traceable back to a specific vehicle and engine type. Then you can try looking for a pleated paper equivalent at the parts store if you wish.

The short length oval aluminum air cleaner I used on my T-bird actually shares its element size with some type of Renault and Volvo. The difference turned out to be height only with the "factory" replacement being 2 inches tall and the Renault part being 60 mm (2.36 inches).

By Nick Brann - 16 Years Ago
Hi Fred and all,

NAPA has a replacement element for the '57 T-Bird air filter, their p/n is 2063.  It is 2.2" high, better than some sold by the T-Bird parts houses which are only 2" high.

I haven't tried buying a K&N filter for my car, but their p/n is supposed to be E-1580. 

Daniel, I'm using a Carter AFB #9635 carb which is very similar to the edelbrock #1406.  I bought the edelbrock banjo fitting for the fuel inlet which is necessry to clear the T-Bird air cleaner.  The  edelbrock p/n is 8089, about $19.  Then you use a short piece of 3/8" rubber hose and convert that to hook up to the 5/16" metal fuel line.  As far as converting the T-Bird air cleaner to fit the edelbrock or Carter carb, a slight amount of trimming is necessary to get the base to sit on the top of the carb.  Also I had to bend a tab or two at the bottom of the base.  It's pretty easy to see when you try to install the air cleaner base on the carb.  About a 5 or 10 minute job with tin snips and pliers.  Totally out of sight once the air cleaner is on the carb.

At first I ran the 5/16" fuel line in front of the carb by the heater control valve, then back to the carb's fuel inlet.  But it suffered vapor lock, too much heat as the fuel line was close to the water passage in the front of the manifold.  So now I've got the fuel line going back on the driver's side, then across the back of the carb to the banjo fitting and 3/8" hose.  Works fine, no more vapor lock.

I think the '57 T-Bird air cleaner is a good choice for other Fords, (appearance wise) and it seems to flow OK.  The Carter carb is excellent, I prefer it over the Holleys I've used.

Don't know how to post photos, maybe someone can give me some tips and I'll add some of my carb/fuel line pictures.

Sorry for the long message- good luck!

Nick Brann, K.C., MO

By DANIEL TINDER - 16 Years Ago
"NAPA has a replacement element for the '57 T-Bird air filter, their p/n is 2063. It is 2.2" high, better than some sold by the T-Bird parts houses which are only 2" high."



Nick,



Since I would like to eventually upgrade my '55 Bird to a Blue Thunder intake/AutoLite 4100 and stay with orig. type T-Bird appearance, I am interested in finding the tallest K&N type filter element that will fit the '57 air cleaner and still allow the hood to close. If you ever try the K&N, or encounter anyone with my suggested setup using one, please get measurements/info and post the #s.