If your 261 has a canister filter it will be attached to the intake manifold. Here is a pic of my '57 261, the canister is the grey thing behind/beside the carb...
My canister is hooked up, but there is no filter inside it. All the advice I got here said to forget the filter and just change the oil more often.
-- Edited by 57 Pathfinder on Tuesday 12th of April 2016 06:31:42 PM
261's never came with oil filters unless the accessory bypass system was ordered from the dealer or someone put it in themselves. If yours has the accessory bypass system, then it will be a canister type that is mounted on the intake manifold. These take a drop in canister type oil filter. Keep in mind that this system is mediocre at best and only filters a tiny bit at a time and hence it is a bypass system. Also this system typically robs 3 pounds of oil pressure from the engine and these old inline sixes need all the oil pressure they can get. The Canadian Pontiac 261 is mostly different from the American Chevrolet truck 261. The American truck 261 had a full oil pressure oil filter as of 1958 and our Canadian 261's were never so lucky. I recommend always using a quality heavier weight oil and changing it every year religiously. I would not be that concerned about having an oil filter on there for the above mentioned reasons. Good luck and cheers. George
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I hate to derail but here it goes. Rene, sweet looking 261 in your 57 and is that the generator i sold you awhile ago. If it is, i can not help feeling proud. Us 261 inline lovers have to stick together and help one another out. Cheers. George
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Thanks George!!! What weight of oil do you think would be the most suitable for my old 6 if I don't run a filter?
Ethan, i have run 20w50 for 20 years now. Just keep in mind that you can not plan on any real COLD weather starts ups or there is going to be real trouble with the thicker oil.
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Thanks again I don't know what I would do without you guys I enjoy old cars and their technology. Its cool to pick up on this knowlage and thanks again for the help.
I have a canister oil filter on my 57 Pontiac 261 six just for looks. I stopped using filters in there about seven years ago after i learned about the oil pressure loss. Cheers. George
Now that i know what the oil can looks i can show you mine doesn't look as nice as yours but here it is it also has a original Pontiac sticker on it but unfourtunitly I do not have a picture of it.
-- Edited by Strato-Six on Tuesday 12th of April 2016 07:56:26 PM
I hate to derail but here it goes. Rene, sweet looking 261 in your 57 and is that the generator i sold you awhile ago. If it is, i can not help feeling proud. Us 261 inline lovers have to stick together and help one another out. Cheers. George
Hey George, yes that is the Generator you sold me. I had to pretty up the rest of the engine because of you, and that ultra clean generator!
About how much oil do you put it to fill your 261 up George ?
Ethan, they all take four quarts of oil without the oil filter, just under five quarts with the oil filter. Make sure you never over fill your system because you can blow out seals by doing so. Cheers. George
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Ethan, why not make your sweet 61 our next monthly feature cover car. Get a hold of Todd, our C.P. God and send him photos and a story on your 61. I for one would love to see your 1961 Pontiac featured in C.P. Cheers. George
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I would but its not in "showroom" quality I don't know if that matters or not it has some little dents here besides the big dent on the hood and nothing has been restored its 100% original ripped seats and fadded colour head liner and the engine bay as you may have seen isn't all gussied up either but if a true unrestored car is allowed to be a monthly feature then I sure would be honored to have my 61 featured.
Ethan, you have heard from some of the C.P. brotherhood regarding your 61 as a feature car. Do it brother and know that no one will ever complain that your car is not perfect. Most of our cars are not perfect but we love them just the same. Cheers. George
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8