I am rebuilding a 1951 Flathead V8 - 8BA and have been advised that i should not reinstall the oil filter cartridge and filter that fastens to the left side of the head.
'The filter apparently only filters up to a maximum 15% of the oil and with this vehicle operating in ideal conditions with limited mileage I should be OK.
What are anybodies thoughts and have others done this?

Thanks
Flipper 55

 

I'm not sure who you're talking to, but personally, I would never advise anyone not to use the filter, but it is definitely your choice. Back when these cars were daily drivers the oil filter system was an extra cost option. Engine oil was changed every 500 to 1000 miles, and engines lasted about 60,000 miles before needing an overhaul. In fact, Kendall advertised their oil for years as superior to many others because it only needed changed every 1000 miles. It's true the way the filtration setup works on the flathead V8 was a bypass system, meaning the oil was pumped through the filter but returned back to the pan to be picked and sent through the engine, instead of being pumped through directly from the filter. The oil is still filtered, it just takes a different path from what we're used to, and is arguably less efficient since the filtered oil is also mixed with the drainback oil before going through the engine and filter again. One would think some filtering has to be better than no filtering at all, or maybe it doesn't really matter.

If the engine is all new and clean inside, if you're only going to drive a few hundred miles a year and change it at least once a year, you may never know the difference. If the engine is old and dirty or sludgy, I'd think any little bit of filtering you can get would help. My 2c. Others may have differing opinions.

 

The bypass filter has a much finer media than full-flow filters, removing very fine particles that are the cause of most wear.
Most ring and bearing wear is caused by particles under 20 microns

A bypass filter will remove 98% of 2 micron sized particles

A full flow filter most likely will open the internal bypass valve on cold startup and not filter till the oil thins some, then ---
40% at 10 microns
60% at 20 microns
90% at30 microns
97% at 40 microns
87% capture rate for single pass ----
The "full flow" filter has to be a compromise between filtering and flow, the ideal setup would be a combination of full flow and bypass.
The million-mile Mercedes only had a bypass filter

 

I think filters were an option, but must have become fairly standard during the 8BA reign as the heads were cast with bosses and drilled_tapped holes for the bracket.

 

I would keep it. The only thing I might modify is adding a drain plug on the filter housing to make changes less messy. Just my 2 cents.

 

Thank You Very Mich for the information and your perspective on oil filtration....it certainly has me thinking about installing the oil filter system.
Living in Northern Ontario in Canada the truck will only be driven maybe 4 months per year and well under 1,000 miles annually.
I am trying to be be as original as I can in my restore, so I think you have convinced me,
I found it interesting that the oil filter system was an extra cost option....I learn something new always when I participate in FTE forum.
Much appreciated,

Flipper55

 

Thank You.....appreciate your advice.

Flipper 55

 

Thank You for your information.....my filter canister is fastened to the head using the head bolts.....getting a proper torque is one of my concerns.

Flipper 55

 

Thank You for the information.

Flipper 55

 

Is your engine a C8BA? How tall is the filter? Canadian engines were available with full-flow filters, very different from the bypass type. This is the typical full-flow setup.

 

It seems that most Fords and the trucks in particular had the oil filter option on them correct? I don't think Ive see that listed as a separate line item on original invoices and dealer forms though? Most pictures of restored and unrestored V8 engines Ive seen have them. Whereas the Chevy trucks of the same era I see restored stock, hardly any of them have an oil filter on them and if they do they are branded Fram and have orange tops almost like they were really an after market option (Ford filter housings had Ford decals on them but made by Fram presumably). Now that chevy stove bolt 6 is a splash lubrication system beyond that Im not sure what the other differences are?

 

I don't know if or when the filter on flat V8's ever became standard, but here's a picture of the decal used on them. It does say made by Fram.

 

Some filters use the 3 bolt holes cast in head(holes went cast,bosses were) others use 3 head bolts, even bigger filters,such as the one on my 51 M3 ,use 4 head bolts. And I am concerned aboot proper tork on the 4 headbolts,but gonna trust Henrey I guess....
Greg

 

My 51 F3 uses 4 of the Head Bolts as well and proper torque is a concern of mine also....Thanks

 

Thanks for info and diagram.....my oil filter is the by-pass system