Oil Filters

[vettestr]

Greg, Do a search on (oil filter performance testing and Synthetic oils) for some great info. and more than you probably really wanted to know. I personally run a dual stage Oberg sytem. In the event of catastrophic component failure I feel it will save perts but it is total overkill for most issues but the reusable feature pays for it in the end, It is left over from the racing must have days.
I think we all change oil so often that I am not sure filters at their worst can harm anything. The average Cobra engine has stock or near stock clearances and if running before oil change what is there to add contaminates (metal from failed parts) and closed intake or filtered air charge. If you are not hammering your engine and running exotic fuels to contaminate the oil most will change in a few months with maybe 1000 miles on the oil.

[Greg Curtis]

Rick, if you look at the holes on the bottom of the FL1HP and the FL1-A, they are larger on the 1A so I think it would flow better than the HP.

[Rick Parker]

Greg:

I have not looked at the mounting flange of a FL-1A in quite some time. However I will agree that the little oval holes in the FL-1A may provide more flow, however it is the materials that the filter is made of and perhaps some internal differences that make it and a select few others preferable if pressures or pump volumes have been increased. That being said, I do not currently use one due to size constraints. Because of poor planning on my part, when I changed the slave cylinder setup on my car it unhappily necessitated a shorter filter, consequently I use a K&N #2003 that is between a Motorcraft FL-300 an FL-1A. Through my "exhaustive research" (opening boxes at the speed shop ) it is the only one of it's size, and the longest that will fit in the area that I have the filter in, even though the thread sizing is 13/16" instead of the 3/4" that is OEM Ford. I am a true believer in a large filter and really fight with the idea of a small filter on an engine that has increase flows with a higher volume pump. The high volume pump for a 289/302 has the same gerotors in the pump as that of a stock 351W. However in many OEM applications for the 351W even with the Police Package, they were content to use a FL-300 (shorty), this was often dictated by chassis constraints too. If you want a frighening comparison check the filter size on the current GM V8 offerings, they look like they should be on a Honda! Old ideas die hard around here.
This during the redo and prior to finding the K&N.


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[Snakebit]

Those headers look like a pile of snakes during mating season!

[Tom Wells]

Yo Greg,

I use an FL-1HP mounted remotely.

Only problem to date is one defective filter The symptom was rapidly fluctuating oil pressure at idle and every other speed immediately after I did an oil and filter change. The mechanical gauge looked like a windshield wiper on steroids

Changed to another new FL-1HP filter and the symptom went away.

Weird.

Got 16K on the engine now, including some "rough service" such as a couple hundred miles at WFO on the track at Sebring and no problems with them so far, other than the above noted one.

Haven't been able to find a way to get this one to Motorcraft for their post-mortem yet, but still trying.

Tom

[Greg Curtis]

Thanks guys for all your replies. Just changed my oil again using the FL1A filter and it is a pain since my cross member is nearly against the filter end and its tough getting a filter wrench in there. Have to use a strap wrench and that is a real pain. Gotta get a shorty filter to give me more room! Any recommendations? Tom, you were on the Sebring track? I'd give anything to run a few laps there! Been to VIR twice and that was a hoot to drive!!! Really enjoyed myself even though I have street brakes and tires and couldn't take full advantage of the 460!!