Thank you for the warning. I am under the hood of my cars all the time. A leaky
fuel line is hard to miss.
I have checked the gasket when I have had it apart and it really isn't swelled,
cracked or even brittle. This is in contrast to soft fuel line hoses on either
side of modern fuel filters that seem to disintegrate over a period of months.
It also seems to be in contrast with the fuel pump diaphragms that seem to fail
on a regular basis.
I have reasoned that the frequent fuel pump failure is due to problems with the
rubber diaphragm and the fuel that usually contains alcohol. One would think
that since the fuel pump is so critical to the operation of the vehicle that
they would have come up with a better material to use in new fuel pumps.
I am totally with you on maintaining this stuff so that it isn't dangerous. I
am actually planning on cleaning up that filter the next time I am working on
that car and will take your advice and replace that gasket, but if the old one
still looks like it has for so many years, I will probably hang onto it as a
spare.
Paul
In a message dated 2/24/2004 11:20:06 AM Eastern Standard Time, dickb@xxxxxxxxx
writes:
>
>
> Change the gaskets! The new oxygenated fuels swell and crack the old
> rubber used in these filters, and it will swell up so much that it restricts
> the flow of fuel into the carburetor. I have had them swell so much that
> the car will only idle.
>
> This problem is getting worse as the old rubber parts like fuel lines etc.
> see more and more of the alcohol laced fuels.
>
> You all need to be aware of this - it can also be a fire hazard. As I have
> posted on here at least 3 times before, inspect ALL the rubber that is in
> contact with fuel. If it hasn't been replaced in the last 5 years or so, do
> it now. The fuel hoses must be labeled "SAE 30R7" (or higher number) to be
> safe for use with today's gasoline. This includes any hoses at the rear of
> the car that connect to the tank.
>
> Dick Benjamin
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 10:44 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: Fuel Filter Insert -'56
>
>
> > Yes, there is a rubber gasket. Believe it or not, that gasket is also
> reusable. If you are really careful, it will last for many, many years. The
> new filter element comes with the gasket. The glass bowl is held in place
> with a metal "bail" that has a screw in the bottom that when tightened it
> pushes the glass bowl up against the gasket. Even when the gasket is really
> old, the glass can be seated against it well enough not to leak. It was a
> great design. You can even see the dirt inside the bowl without taking
> anything apart.
> >
> > I have had my '56 since 1972 and I still have the same gasket and element
> that it had when I bought the car. I may have to change it the next time
> that I take it apart, but when I worked on the '55 in 1997, I was able to
> reuse the gasket and that car hadn't been touched in over 35 years. It
> really is amazing! Some things were made to last!
> >
> > Paul
> >
> > In a message dated 2/23/2004 10:21:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> jsadowski@xxxxxxx writes:
> >
> > > Isn't there a gasket there that needs to be replaced when you open up
> the bowl for cleaning?
> > > John
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: RandalPark@xxxxxxx
> > > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 5:39 PM
> > > Subject: Re: IML: Fuel Filter Insert -'56
> > >
> > >
> > > The filter doesn't need to be changed as often as a normal fuel filter,
> but it should be cleaned and the bowl rinsed out occasionally (especially if
> the gas is bad).
> > >
> > > I bought an extra element and have kept it in the glove compartment for
> the last 20 years. The original element is still functioning fine. I rinse
> out the bowl when it has an accumulation of dirt in the bottom of the bowl.
> I suppose it wouldn't hurt to start with a fresh filter element, but you
> probably will not need another one for the rest of your life.
> > >
> > > Paul
> > >
> > > In a message dated 2/23/2004 5:54:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> JCantor791 writes:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Spent the afternoon yesterday doing that great man/car bonding thing.
> Boy is
> > > > it fun working on an old car!
> > > >
> > > > I changed the oil and oil filter, cleaned the air cleaner and refilled
> it
> > > > with fresh oil, replaced the worn front wheel bearings (did the other
> side just
> > > > to keep them even) and toyed around with the fuel filter. My car
> still has the
> > > > original glass fuel filter housing with a stone filter insert.
> Attempts so
> > > > far to locate a replacement insert - either stone or paper element -
> have
> > > > failed. Since the housing is in very good shape and doesn't leak and
> all of the
> > > > fuel lines under the hood are in good shape (and still all steel), I'd
> like to
> > > > leave the configuration the same rather than replacing it with a
> modern inline
> > > > filter. Does anyone have any suggestions?
> > > >
> > > > I've tried Kanter and Andy Bernbaum both of whom could not help me.
> I'm
> > > > going to go looking on the Hemmings site but it was down earlier
> today.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Jeff
> > > > '56 Sedan
> > > > Trenton, NJ
> > > >
> > > >
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