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I'm here to tell everyone to AVOID the PLASTIC TEES!!!!! They came with my kit and believe me when I say they WILL melt! Just had to refill my coolant system because mine did just that.... not only the tee melted but the hose adapters did too.
I when to Home Depot and got the necessary BRASS fitting to change it over. About $25.00.
I'm here to tell everyone to AVOID the PLASTIC TEES!!!!! They came with my kit and believe me when I say they WILL melt! Just had to refill my coolant system because mine did just that.... not only the tee melted but the hose adapters did too.
I when to Home Depot and got the necessary BRASS fitting to change it over. About $25.00.
Thanks for passing this on. I ended up going with an XDP kit and it was a smooth and clean install. I could NOT find a 3/4 -> 3/8th reducing Tee in brass, only plastic, and just couldn't bring myself to put the plastic one in. Sounds like it was a lucky decision...
Anybody need most all the other parts for a DIY kit? I have them all sitting in a box and would take a reasonable offer...
I did a DIY coolant filter on my 7.3 Ex. The whole experience was the biggest waste of time and money. Unless you have a shop with all the necessary fitting, metal, hoses, etc. and work for peanuts, JUST BUY THE KIT! Don't be a tightwad. You will be hours ahead.
i was able to find all the brass fittings and ball valves at pexuniverse.com
I could NOT get a reinforced hose over the 3/8" PEX fitting and I tried every trick I knew of...
All those PEX fittings are at Home Depot, so you might want to see if you can get a hose on one before you buy a bunch of parts. My parts cost was only slightly less than the XDP kit I ultimately installed -- and it is a oh-so-much cleaner looking install...
I bought two different kits one XPD then one no name. Saved about $40.00 on the no name. Can’t get the no name to stop leaking no matter how much Teflon tape I used. Buy the XPD or another brand name, you’ll be glad you did. Like Scott said trying to get all the parts and pieces to fit correctly is not worth the time involved. my two cents
The filter base you can usually find under $40. CFB5000.
Brass fitting are usually best located and priced at HD, Lowes, local ACE.
The heater hose to coolant hose TEE is probably the hardest to work out, going from 3/4" to 3/8". I made up my own valve and conversion.
Spring clips better then worm clamps, get Ford or get a kit for future products.
3/8" heater hose can be sourced at local NAPA or other, the Gates hose is best. RockAuto has it.
Pex fittings are sized to the fitting, so a 3/8 Pex ID is way too large for a 3/8" hose.
For the 7.3 I used braided lines, converted to hose for the 6.0.
And don't forget you have to buy at least one filter (which comes in a "kit"), then there is shipping, or cost to drive to the store... I got stuck on the Pex since it had a stout Tee in brass, then I ended up buying several options for stuff all of which I sold to a member here for a third what I paid...
So what would your DIY set-up cost just for parts Jack? (not counting time to pull all parts together) - and I Just looked, and with a couple clicks and with the discount code DIESEL10, XDP's complete kit is $112.46 delivered to your door...
On the other hand, DIY is not dead as there is NO kit out there for the cabling we've done, eh?!
I have a bit hard time understanding why you would need to put together a coolant filter while it's on $50 on eBay. It includes everything, filter, base, bracket, hoses, valve, clamps, bolts, teflon tape.
How did you cut open the coolant filter? I just replace my filter and I want to see what is inside the old one but don’t want added metal shavings from cutting it with a hacksaw/grinder.
I have a bit hard time understanding why you would need to put together a coolant filter while it's on $50 on eBay. It includes everything, filter, base, bracket, hoses, valve, clamps, bolts, teflon tape.
See post #96 from Tideman above, who did just that... There are also folks that have had the crimped ends leak and leaking right through the silicone hose. Can't speak for the others, but mine has been on 5 years and zero issues... you roll the dice, as they say...
To cut it open without particles I used a muffler cutter on an air hammer. You could pop open a hole with a cold chisel and use tin snips to cut around.
Scott,
For me in 2001 the only kit around was Dieselsite, and I didn’t care for it. Plus I wanted in the wheelwell. For me being at FM at the time I had access to everything and corporate discounts everywhere. I got the base on eBay for $25 shipped, the filters NAPA would drop off discounted and no tax. I bought a 25’ roll of Gates tubing for about $12, but didn’t use all of it. Clamps were in stock work and home, so are brass fittings. The ball valves I got from McMaster for again around $12 at the time, ordered in my monthly order from them. But for me the thing was I got to put it where I wanted, can replace the parts of the assembly anytime they might get damaged with minimal fret. I’m going to get installed it cost me about $75. The adaptation of the shut off valve in the heater hose did cost additionally, especially as you need 5/8” tubing, 3/4” OD.
See post #96 from Tideman above, who did just that... There are also folks that have had the crimped ends leak and leaking right through the silicone hose. Can't speak for the others, but mine has been on 5 years and zero issues... you roll the dice, as they say...
Scott
Thanks. I knew that when I mentioned the word eBay, there would be some laughters :-) I agree about roll the dice. This one is one of the easy one to decide for me. It's right out there. If it doesn't work, I roll the dice again.
I have one that looks like the Longacre cutter, but didn't cost nearly as much. The Summit looks like it works the same and is cheaper. I got a real filter cutter because I cut open all my oil filters and fuel filters on different engines, so I open a lot of filters every year.
my two cents 
