I am looking for some thoughts/input regarding the relocation of the oil filter on my 1995 F350, 351. The Perma Cool Kit that I purchased some time back has adapters that make it compatible to use the FL1A or equivalent, but the truck (as I believe most all 351s of this vintage did) came with the water-to-oil cooling adapter plate which is threaded for the newer FL820S filter. Knowing that the newer filter type has the silicone anti-drainback feature, should I pursue trying to adapt the Kit to accommodate the FL820S? Or will the FL1A work ok? I would like to do the relocation to keep the truck from looking like it should be wearing Depends after every oil change and because the problem will only get worse if I proceed with the 4WD conversion I have been planning for a long time; as the presence of a front differential precludes virtually any access from below. Perhaps the adapter plate fits the relocation mount? This then would allow routing of a heater hose through the adapter to maintain (perhaps improve on) the oil cooling feature. With over 400,000 miles on the engine it seems reasonable to assume that the silicone anti-drainback feature and/or the cooling of the engine oil have been helpful in contributing to this longevity. I realize that this course of action would also require changing the lower radiator hose to the earlier/non-cooler or 302 type.

Any thoughts from some who may have already trod this path?

Thanx,
dn.

 

i have a 351w 4x4 250 and have no problem getting to my filter. ummmm i would just do as the kit instructs, i dunno if it would make a difference which filter u use.

 

Both the FL1A and FL820S have anti-drainback valves. The threads are metric on the FL820S, but if you remove the stock cooler, the block should be threaded the same as older vehicles that used the FL1A.

 

Since the FL1A and the FL820S both have the anti-drainback valves is there really any benefit to a silicone (820) vs. a rubber (1A) type in a truck that has the filter changed q5000 miles or no more than q60 days? Perhaps the silicone would be more of a factor in colder/winter climates. However, since I am not one of the "Ice Road Truckers" (but in south central Missouri) this is probably not an issue. While the 820 used to be marginally more expensive than the 1A, they are now virtually the same price so that is not even a factor.

I am still of a mind to try removing the 820/cooler adapter from the block, installing the Perma Cool adapter in its place and reinstalling the 820 adapter on the remote filter mount; which could also allow for routing coolant (from the heater hose) through the water lines normally attached to the lower radiator hose adapter; thereby cooling the oil without the need to also use a remote finned cooler. This would still provide oil cooling without added distance resulting in potentially reduced flow and/or pressure to the engine's lubrication system.

Again, does anyone else out there have experience with such a setup?

dn.

 

Donnor,
I just bought a 95 F250 with 351 and was quite shocked to see the 820 filter as I thought all the older Fords used the FL1A. I like the idea of having an oil cooler, but I was thinking about removing the stock adapter plate and replacing it with the remote mount plate, and then routing the oil to a regular fin type cooler before going to the remote filter and back to the remote adapter. This obviously would require the replacement of the lower radiator hose but that is an easy one. I posted the question over in the Misc, Oil and lubrication section. I am going to leave it alone for now, as I have other things to fix first, but when time and the funds become available I may make the change. Glad to here from others with the same questions.

TC