Oil bath air cleaner

[TIMINDENVER]

I have a 68 C20 with the original 292 I-6 with an oil bath air cleaner. I'd like to switch over to a paper filter or maybe a K&N. There's a preheat on the system so I was thinking about just cutting out the steel encased filter part that's attached to the top. If anyone has done this, they know what I mean. This way the engine still looks original but I get rid of the oil mess.

My question is will this work? Has anyone tried it? Is there any advantage to the oil bath?

As a side line, I just had a HEI installed after 4 years. Should have done it sooner. Now it really runs great. Got it from Langdon's Stove bolt on the web. Tom Langdon called me over the weekend, mailed it on Monday and I got it thursday same week for just $6.00 shipping. Great deal.