57 Thunderbird air cleaner measurement

[Ecode70D]

   I'm looking for the measurement of a 1957 thunderbird E code air cleaner element.   The one that I have is  17 5/8" OD  ,  15"  ID,  and  top to bottom  2 3/4".  I need one that is thinner like about 1" for my application.   I'm told that the  57 Thunderbird E code air cleaner is thinner than the others.   Thanks Jay     

[SkylinerRon]

The element you have is 2.88" high, 17.34" OD, 14.79"ID.
There is an element that is 2.12" used in pairs (7.125" outside diameter).
There is no 1" high element listed.
The 2.88 element cleared fine on my 57 w/an all factory 2x4 set-up.
You may be able to find something on a filter interchange crossreference but,
1" is very thin. I can't think of one that might use one that thin offhand.

Goodluck,

Ron.

[Ecode70D]

Ron
    Thanks for that information.
     It looks like I have to recalculate my measurements.  Maybe I don't need one quite that thin.   I'm using WCFB carburetors and they take up more of the free space between the hood and the stock air cleaner.
    That's my reason for looking for one that is thinner.  They say that GM made a thinner one for one of their applications, but I haven't been able to track it down.
     The person that I got this air cleaner from stated that it had been sitting around for about 40 years.  It's painted white and has no indication of ever having had the typical argent silver color.
Jay

[suede57ford]

I have both the passenger car and T-Bird filters here.  The T-Bird(similar to the GM one) is much shorter than then passenger car one.   I never thought about the carbs being higher as my T-pots seemed to be the same height as a regular Holly 1850.   The Lincoln t-pots are taller in the bowl area, but still the same base/air cleaner mounting.

Some one on eBay had repos of the original Passenger car filters about 6months ago.   I meant to buy a couple, but I haven't seen them advertised again.

Great score on the Air Filter!   I'm so glad you finally found the correct one, especially with your car being so special as a factory E-Code.  Can't wait to see it when you get the height issue figured out and a coat of Argent on it.

[Hoosier Hurricane]

Jay:

From the looks of the picture, you have a passenger car air filter on a Bird.  The Bird filter has taller domes for the carbs and a different base plate.  Since you don't have the original carbs, maybe you can find a couple of small aftermarket filters that fit the carbs and still clear the hood.  Do you have the phenolic spacers under the carbs?  Removing them will lower the carbs a half inch, although that may cause vapor lock in hot weather.  Also, some auto parts stores still have paper catalogs with air filter elements listed by size.  Maybe you can find one that will work.

John

[hiball3985]

Jay, Larrys T Bird has the filter listed, maybe call and see if they can give the dimensions..

[Ecode70D]

Jay:

From the looks of the picture, you have a passenger car air filter on a Bird. 
John 

     John.  Sorry if I misled you.   I don't have a have a Tbird.   I have a 57  passenger car with  WCFB  carburetors on it that are possibly for a 1954 Mercury.   That's why I was asking about the Tbird air filter elements because I need to lower the top of the air cleaner a little bit to give me more room under the hood.   Jay   

[Ecode70D]

Jay, Larrys T Bird has the filter listed, maybe call and see if they can give the dimensions..

    Jim
     Thanks for that link.    I got in touch with Larry's T Bird as soon as you sent it to me.   Jay

[Hoosier Hurricane]

Jay:

My bad.  I didn't look at the picture closely enough.  Sure, that's a '57 passenger car engine compartment.  Sorry.

John

[Ecode70D]

Jay:

My bad.  I didn't look at the picture closely enough.  Sure, that's a '57 passenger car engine compartment.  Sorry.John

       That's OK John....    I always felt that the 57 Thunderbird is a real cool car.  Jay 

[Jeff Norwell]

Nice Score Jay!...Happy New Year.

[RICH MUISE]

I never caught the fact the air cleaner was a recent aquisition, so ditto what Jeff said. Stay warm, my friend!!
Pm sent

[Ecode70D]

Jeff
   Remember I told you that  "The air cleaner I need is somewhere sitting in a garage under someone's workbench buried under a pile of stuff and has been there for a long time."   I think those are my exact words.  Well that's what happened and now I have it.  He knew exactly what he had all those years. ...   Just think about how much stuff for our cars is still out there.  Sometimes it's best to move the stuff along or carefully tag and identify it, because when we cease to be caretakers, most times it gets thrown out. 

Rich
   That's correct   
   I just found it a few weeks ago and it's one of the last major pieces I needed for my car.           

[Jeff Norwell]

Agreed Jay.