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> From: Peter Zaborski <peterz@merak.com>
> To: 'TR6 List' <triumphs@autox.team.net>
> Subject: spin-on oil filter adapters
> Date: Wednesday, August 06, 1997 12:20 PM
>
> I am interested in opinions of those listers who have used them as to
> the pros & cons of the adapters from each of the main suppliers. I guess
> I mean TRF and Moss mostly, but if anyone has another good source I am
> interested as well.
>
> Given the recent comments about VB (I have never purchased anything
> there) I am not really considering them at this time. But you never
> know, they may have the best adapter.
>
> I plan to add this to my car sometime this fall and am looking for
> advance info on what to buy. (I assume we all agree that it is a good
> move to upgrade to the vertically mounted filter system).
>
> Thanks as always.
>
> Peter Zaborski
> 76 TR6 (CF58310 UO)
> Calgary AB Canada
Peter-
Opinions are like...well you know what they're like.
I have used the Mocal units, which is what just about everyone sells, on
several cars. I would fully endorse using one (hey I said it was an
opinion...). However, there are some caveats...
They are prone to leaks and can result in stripped threads in the block if
you go for the "I can stop this leak if I just tighten it tighter" theory.
The problem is one of design. Depending on how you look at it, they either
made the outer flange (the one that goes down onto the outer o-ring) too
shallow, or that the center o-ringed area in the housing sticks out too
far. The trouble is that the inner section of the housing contacts the
block before the outer edge is far enough down into the groove against the
o-ring to make an oil tight seal. Many installations will leak at the outer
edge due to this problem. The easiest way around this is to use 2 of the
big outer o-rings, stacked one on top of the other. That is not to say that
this practice is correct. To do the job correctly involves some
experimentation as each car is a little different. Both the inner and outer
o-rings need to seal completely, but the inner one is the culprit. This
inner boss that contains the o-ring needs to be milled down anywhere from
1/8" to 1/4" in my experience. The trick here is to do it in small
increments until both o-rings are making good and equal contact. For street
applications, the supplied hoses should be acceptable. However, for more
serious applications, I think (there's that opinion thing again) that the
hoses (and fittings) are a bit too small. If you look carefully at the
adapter housing, you will note that the smallest holes (most restrictive to
oil flow), are the ones in the fittings that attach the hoses.
Unfortunately, the boss where the fittings are mounted, is only marginally
larger than the fittings, so you really cannot tap out larger holes to fit
larger fittings/hoses. The only luck I have had so far is to have this area
built up (by welding more material here) until it is large enough to allow
a larger hole to be drilled and taped for larger fittings. Additionally, a
little time with the die grinder on all the ports won't hurt anything
either. Finally, the large port at the bottom of the outer edge of the
housing, next to the pipe that the filter spins onto, should be enlarged
and
smoothed.
I won't even mention using a good cooler...
Nick in Nor Cal
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