Thanks Green. The original air filter and base was for an air compressor at work. It's base was the same as a Holley (7-1/4") It was approximately 5" tall, too tall for what I wanted to do. It had a metel sealed top paper filter and a red Purolater cover which was a dead ringer for one use on the Ford parts 2 4-barrel option offered in 56 except it was smaller. I appropriated 3 of them from my work about 30 years ago.The WCFB has the smaller diameter opening 5-1/8" and I found an adapter on the internet on e-bay. It's aluminum, plastic will not hold up. If I would not have had the air cleaner base I would have bought a replica one for an mid 50's Corvette single 4 barrel and cut it to the diameter of the filter and to fit inside the stock air cleaner cover.
The filter you see is for a 60's Dodge slant six. I matched the diameter I needed by opening boxes at an Auto-Zone and the height just worked out. A stock Ford Air Cleaner was bought off E-Bay for $55. I cut it as you see and mig welded the top to it spotting every inch or so. Sealed it with clear silcone, painted the inside white, and the outside with Eastwood Argent.
The Carter WBFB works great and with the exception of the way the back barrels work matches the 56 Merc 312 that came with one. I have since aquired a 56 Merc Carter but some choke parts are missing. The Carter is off a 1952 Cadillac 331". I have also aquired a Rochester 4GC small base also from a 1952 Cadillac (they used 2 different carbs that year) which I'm looking to try. I personally like the Rochester because I can get jets easier and don't need to mess with metering rods. If your really good with tuning the Carter it is great since you can adjust the metering rods; the Rochester has an easy power valve system. I need to jet down 1 size # for the 292 over the 331. I believe the for a 312 it would be perfect.......
I just can't leave things alone but like them to look stock................. JD