Just cut the paper filter with a sharp knife (your going to change it anyway) and then soak it in wd-40 or use the knife between the filter covers and the filter.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

DaveH.  Welcome to the site.  I suspect that the 'rubber' surfaces at the top and bottom of the paper air filter element are just sticking to the upper and lower metal surfaces of the air cleaner housing.  I haven't had them stick as badly as I suspect yours is doing.

I'm guessing, but would try spraying the perimeter outside and inside air filter contact-to-housing areas with WD-40.  The inside perimeter area may be reachable through the carburetor air horn mounting opening.  Let the assembly sit overnight and then see if the 'rubber' begins to release.  Patience and more than one WD-40 application may be important.  Avoid attempting to pry the two housing sections apart to prevent distortion (bending) of the sheet metal housing sections.

Someone else may have other suggestions for you on this.  Let us know how you make out.  


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

how do you replace the paper air filter on a 57 tbird.  can's get the air filter housing apart.

Anyone who works on anything has problems like that come up. Murphy's law. If it can go wrong, it will go wrong. What is important is not what goes wrong, it is what you do after it goes wrong. You stuck with it and fixed the problem. Some call it persistance, I call it just being stubborn. It is the difference between those who accomplish things and those who never seem to get anything done.

Ron did the seat in my pickup. I bought a seat at carlisle one friday and went back to pick it up saturday. The guy I bought it from told me to go talk to him. It was a 56 custom cab seat and he wanted it for a pattern. Mine was just done in a gray vinyl. He did a great job, even bead blasted the frame and painted it.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

Thanks guys for the information about where I can find an air filter housing to carburetor adapter and upholstery for a 1955 Mercury.  This is a great site and maybe some day I can return the favor.   

buddy

For interior kits, try this guy



Ron's Auto Upholstery & Top

215-289-0557



He says he is the former owner of ABC Auto Upholstery (sold out to LeBarron-Bonney) and now make kits for 55-56 Merc's.



Never dealt with him.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Summit lists an air filter base for $11, with a 3/4 rise and 14" diameter. Ive made adapters out of them before for similar problems. Take a look an see if that would help. Sometimes takes a bit of cutting, welding and sealing, but normally it won't show.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

My 55 Mercury Montclair restoration has turned into a real challenge for a novice. The Thunderbird air cleaner not fitting was just a small setback. I had the engine bored .060 over and they had to sleeve one cylinder. I then built the engine and dressed it and the engine compartment for show but then noticed coolant in my engine oil. The sleeve the machine shop installed developed a leak. Had to pull the engine back out, strip the block back down and send it back to the machine shop to be re-sleeved. Now I've built it for the second time and so far so good. I've found there's lots of stuff available for Fords but but have not been able to find 55 Mercury stainless or interior kits. Am I jinxed or has anyone else had problems like this?

buddy

Further complicating the issue is that the 55 and 56 air cleaners were slightly different due to the location of the automatic choke. The 55 air cleaner will not fit properly on a 56 carb. The 56 bottom has an indentation in the choke area.



As noshortcuts said, the 57 air cleaner is a whole different animal.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ