Spin-On Oil Filter Adapter
Going from
to
in a few easy steps.
I decided that Lazarus' life expectancy would be
enhanced with the addition of a modern spin-on oil filter with an
anti-drainback valve. Fortunately, the engine in Lazarus is a late
model (#28839) with the external Tecalemit housing. Moss Motors
sells such adapters but I opted to go directly to the maker of them, Bob
Grunau. Bob is well known as a maker of a wide range of high
quality items for T-cars. The cost of the adapter was $50US,
delivered and, IMHO, well worth it. Bob designed the adapter to
mate with the Fram PH-3600 Ford Taurus filter. I'm a firm advocate
of the NAPA/Wix line of filters made by the Gard Corp. so I'm using a
NAPA 1515 with mine.
The cartridge that I had been using with the
Tecalemit housing was a NAPA 1300.
It's a quality cartridge but, by it's nature, there are no
anti-drainback features. Using the SWAG system I'd estimate that
the NAPA 1515 has about twice the filtering medium as the 1300.
And on top of that, it costs less (about $5.50 vs. $6.75) and is readily
available.
Installation of the adapter is really quite easy and
can readily be done in fifteen minutes without having to get under the
car. You'll most likely want to do the filter swap in conjunction
with an oil change anyhow. There are two things that you'll need
for the job, one of which you probably already have, namely a rubber
gasket that measures about .088" thick.
This is one of the gaskets that comes with the cartridge type of filter.
You should already have one in the Tecalemit housing. The other is
a tool to remove the old adapter by unscrewing it. I made mine by
grinding a couple of slots on diametrically opposite edges of a deep
3/4" socket (1/2" drive). This fits very nicely over a 3/8" bolt
passed through the holes in the old adapter.
This then allows you unscrew the old adapter
.
Just remove the parts that come loose, a couple of circular discs and
the threaded adapter. Here's what you'll have, old and new
. Now is the time to check in the filter housing to assure that
the gasket is in there. Empty
vs. gasket seated
.
Next, it's simply a matter of screwing the new
adapter into place
.
I'd suggest that you paint the adapter before you install it, otherwise
it'll rust. Next step is to simply screw on the new NAPA 1515, or
Fram PH-3600 filter following the accepted practices for such filters,
e.g., a smear of oil on the rubber gasket before installing it and don't
overtighten it.
Just a note: you can save yourself a few anxious moments by filling the
filter with oil before you actually install it. Then, as least
it's my habit, turn the engine over with the key OFF until you see a
reading on the oil pressure gauge before you fire up the engine.
You did remember to install the oil, right?
For more information, or ordering:
Bob Grunau
150 Pinewood Trail
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada, L5G-2L1
905-274-4136
email to:Bud@Ttalk.info