I've been pricing some of the individual components for building my own coolant filter system, versus buying one of the kits. Fleet Filter has the base for $25 and coolant filters that fit the base for $6.68 (same filter base thread size as dieselsite's, so their filter and these are interchable on the two bases).

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has built their own and if I'm missing something huge -- I come up with about $50 to maybe $75 tops or so in parts -- just need some coolant hose, T's and barbed connectors, and a couple of valves if I want to make it real slick.

Feedback from other DIY freaks?

 

Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

I also considered doing my own. Then I got to thinking about the mounting bracket that comes with the kit. I couldn't fabricate one of those no matter how hard I tried. Rather than dealing with that issue (and who knows what else) I decided to buy the kit from Dfuser. It came with two ball***** and 3 filters. Not that I'm flush - but it seemed (sorta) worth it since there were less hassles.
Dufus

 

Before anyone offered kits I went down to NAPA and started putting my coolant filter all together. The only thing I did not find were small ball valves but it isn't a problem when I change filters. I fabricated my own bracket and it is pretty solid.

 

I made my own, pics are in my gallery, I saved a few bucks but nothing crazy, I cant recall what I paid but it was around 80 bucks I belive....

 

Dang! It's purdy too! Nice work!

 

Thanks Maxium4x4 and slowmans... Those are both very clean installs! Maxium: that's the same base I was looking at. slowmans: That looks like the Baldwin cfb5000 -- there's a guy on ebay that has 'em, can't decide if it's worth the $10 for the aluminum unit. Where'd you find those nice valves and the other hardware?

 

I bought my cfb5000 on ebay, I offered them 25 plus 10 for shipping so it worked out, I got most of the other stuff at homedepot and I got the valves at lowes!

 

I figured my time, running around and fuel where worth something and bought mine from dieselsite,

 

I was about to try to build one, but the make-or-buy analysis proved me wrong too. All things considered, I may have saved a buck-or-two by buying the turn-key solution.

 

Thanks, slowmans! I just bought the CFB5000 there too. I'll check for the other parts at HD and Lowes. And may I PM you if I have any Qs while I'm doing this? (your, and Maxium's pictures are pretty clear on how to do it, but ya' never know...).

Thanks again...

 

absolutley! its pretty straight forward, you'll be ok on mine the hardest part was the bracket but even that was pretty easy!!!

 

My kit arrived from Dieselsite today. Hope to install it this weekend, if the weather cooperates.

 

OK, I could not wait. Weather looks bad for this weekend. I just finished. It took about 1 1/2 hours. No leaks so far. Was fairly easy to install. The kit came with good directions.

 

Well, I finally got together all the parts to do my coolant filter, other than fab'ing the bracket and buying the hose.

So I don't know why I didn't check this before, but I called my local dealer (largest in my area) and spoke with the service manager. I asked him if installing a coolant bypass filter would affect my warranty. He said: absolutely! He went on to say Ford is cracking down on the dealers for just about any warranty work on a 6.0, and he'd have to deny warranty on any related part (pretty much anything related to cooling by the coolant), or face trouble with Ford if they audit a job and catch the filter on there. He said they routinely check on the expensive jobs like head gaskets, etc., now...

I explained to him how the filter works and is benign to the cooling system, and he just said: "wouldn't matter, it's a modification -- if it was a 7.3 it would be different...!"



I guess I have to wait another 3 years to install it...