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

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

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.

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

long stroke wrote:

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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

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 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 ?

Thanks again George!!!

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.

We love them all and being a purist I find originals very appealing. I vote to proceed.

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