In the days when car and truck owners as well as mechanics did maintenance, GM made these responsibilities much less complicated. An excellent example was the screen below the engine oil pump.
Due to no oil filters and no detergent additive in the motor oil (to keep dirt in suspension), the oil pump screen was necessary. Tiny dirt particles settled to the bottom of the oil pan as was expected. The small dirt particles finally became dirt chunks stuck to the bottom of the oil pan.
GM wanted no chance that a chunk or clot of dirt might be drawn to the pump. Thus, oil pulled into the pump had to pass through this screen.
These photos show several early screens used by various Chevrolet six cylinder engines. Note the used screen on the 1937-53 216 engine. Its rounded screen is held in place by a single wire. The wire can easily be unhooked from the housing. The screen then drops out for easy cleaning.
1929-36
1937-53 Wire Holding Screen
1937-53 Wire Unhooked to Remove Screen
