Do I need a filter relocator kit?

[mladen]

I'm getting close to the first start, so went to fit the headers, first the driver side. While I'm struggling with that with some holes not aligning and not getting the bolts to engage, I notice that the pipes are awfully close to the oil filter. Something like 5-7mm close. I already filled the engine with oil, so can't remove the filter to try it out without wasting some oil. Thoughts on how much clearance I'd need for filter changes? Do I need to buy an oil filter relocator kit?!

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[Blitzboy54]

If you are concerned the Ford 90 deg adaptor solves all your problems. It's a great piece that is very well designed.


https://www.cjponyparts.com/ford-performance-oil-filter-adapter-billet-90-degree-for-pushrod-v8-engines/p/M6880B50/?year=1965&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi8KfBhCuARIsADp-A54XS_cXm3dQnBE7tyuGgSBX1KW_3qbjZA9ymFivFSdE1cAB9K 8BFM8aAoccEALw_wcB

[Jeff Kleiner]

Rather than remote I'd go with a 90 degree adapter available from Ford Performance parts as well as others. If you feel like junkyard crawling they were used on 5.0 V-8 equipped Explorers.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-6880-a50

Jeff

[jrcuz]

If you decide you to go with the filter relocator kit I have one you can have. I see you are in Northern Va. I'm just north of Fredericksburg. Let me know if you want it and I'll PM you with my address.
JR

[i.e.427]

For my money, I'd go the cheap route and just get the shorter filter.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=360562&cc=1134177&pt=5340&jsn=503

If it was good enough for Ford on the 1995 Mustang Cobra, it's good enough for me.

[haak60]

Are they ff5 headers on a 351w? I have plenty of room between header and filter w/427w180164180164

[David Williamson]

you might not be able to remove the filter with the header that close. Either a 90 deg adaptor or the shorter filter will fix it.
David W

[rich grsc]

You'll only spill a small very amount of oil, you don't need to drain the pan.

[mladen]

Forgot to mention, they are Gasn headers. I oredered the 90 degree adapter. Shorter filter is an option but I wanted to make sure any filter will fit, don't want to paint myself into a corner to only use certain length.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Take a look at a Coyote Short 5.0L Ford Oil Filter Part # FL-300 or Caddy/Corvette Mobil 1 M1-113 Extended Performance. Don't know if they match sealing surface & adaptor threads, but the length is good if they do. I run the M1-113 on mine with a once a year change.

[edwardb]

Maybe too late, but I'd sure choose a shorter filter over adding the 90 degree adapter. With the amount of miles we drive and an annual change there's no issue for whatever difference in filtering there would be. Aside from the fact that the shorter filters are common on many engines. Availability just won't be an issue. Adding another possible leak location for the oil when not (arguably) necessary just not worth it me. If you do use the adapter, make absolutely certain it's the right one that matches your engine.

[egchewy79]

just to address your original question, have you tried removing the filter yet? I'm assuming you put the headers on after the filter was already on? It might be easiest to do as edwardb suggested, which is to swap to a shorter filter. If you can get the current filter off w/o issues, I wouldn't worry about it.

[mladen]

Well, my adventures in buying parts that don't work continue. Turns out that M-6880-B50 is not just a 90 degree adapter, it also changes the filter thread of 3/4 inch to 22mm. Sweet. It is a beautiful machined piece that none of my filters work with...

Onto looking further. Or the question is do I chuck the 4 brand new filters I have and get ones that have the 22m thread, or find a different adapter...

[Nigel Allen]

Well, my adventures in buying parts that don't work continue. Turns out that M-6880-B50 is not just a 90 degree adapter, it also changes the filter thread of 3/4 inch to 22mm. Sweet. It is a beautiful machined piece that none of my filters work with...

Onto looking further. Or the question is do I chuck the 4 brand new filters I have and get ones that have the 22m thread, or find a different adapter...

I call it the 'cobra curse'

[Jeff Kleiner]

I recommended a Ford Performance M-6880-A50 which is 3/4-16; curious why you chose to go with the M-6880-B50 instead. The part description states that it’s for 22mm filters.

Jeff

[mladen]

I recommended a Ford Performance M-6880-A50 which is 3/4-16; curious why you chose to go with the M-6880-B50 instead. The part description states that it’s for 22mm filters.

Jeff

I looked for it, but it seems out of stock everywhere and the B popped up. To my lay eye it looked like a new version of it. I did not catch the change in thread part. A few websites show the A model as discontinued.

All the filters with a M22x1.5 thread I'm finding are significantly smaller than what I got from BPE or the recommended K&N HP-3001, which is 3.7" in diameter and about 5" high.

[mladen]

After a lot of time on Google I realize that it seems like there is no solution if you want a 90 degree adapter and also preserve the original 3/4-16 filter threads. Also, it looks like there are no M22x1.5 filters that are longer than 4", which is a lot shorter than the HP-3001 that sits at 5.7". For my application, I could buy a shorter filter for the new adapter, but at that point, why use an adapter at all if I still get a short filter. Looks like that will have to be my way forward. I really want to avoid the third option of the relocation kit for fear of leaks and such.

Anyone close by that could use a K&N HP-3001, hit me up. I got two that I can't do anything with :D

[Papa]

You can use these Ford filters with the M-6880-B50 adapter:

CM-6731-FL820
FL-820 or FL-820S
FL-500 or FL-500S

[mladen]

I looked at them all. They are all small, or at least the same I can get without an adapter which would hopefully mitigate my clearance issues. I'm going to the auto part store tomorrow to get a short filter. If it ends up clearing the header I'll just go with that and no adapter.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I find it rather surprising that standard oil filter clearance wasn’t considered when the headers were designed…

Jeff

[Papa]

I looked at them all. They are all small, or at least the same I can get without an adapter which would hopefully mitigate my clearance issues. I'm going to the auto part store tomorrow to get a short filter. If it ends up clearing the header I'll just go with that and no adapter.

I run an FL-300 on my BPE 347, which is what BPE shipped the engine with. Are you sure you really need a "larger" oil filter? I found this article on the subject that you might find useful:

https://www.oildepot.ca/use-longer-oil-filter/

[mladen]

I run an FL-300 on my BPE 347, which is what BPE shipped the engine with. Are you sure you really need a "larger" oil filter? I found this article on the subject that you might find useful:

https://www.oildepot.ca/use-longer-oil-filter/

The main reason is that I'm very much a beginner at this and I'm concerned when straying from the recipe :) I did just call BPE to ask and they said that a shorter filter like the K&N 2004, which I also confirmed has all the same specs on K&N website except that it's shorter by an inch and a half, should be fine and won't void the warranty.

[rich grsc]

:rolleyes: the shorter filters are what all new factory warranted engines use, why would you think different? You can use the adapter and use the filters that Papa showed, all come on new vehicles.

[mladen]

Well Rich, my main thinking was: There must be a reason why BPE gave me a giant-*** filter, and they definitely know more than me. Then when I filter results on Summit by Ford 351 Windsor, it also shows me giant *** filters, so I thought there must be something to it :D But yeah, got confirmation from the BPE tech that the smaller HP-2004 works too.

Edit: the word that got filtered out is a colloquial term for one's posterior

[rich grsc]

No dirty words like A$$. ;) Just progress with improvements in materials. :cool:

[mladen]

180419

HP-2004 has worked. Plenty of clearance to remove and install with the headers on.

[mladen]

Forgot to mention, I know everyone is struggling with torquing the bolts on the headers due to lack of space. This (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H34BYM5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) is one of the wrenches I have, and I was able to do 7 out of 8 bolts on the passenger side and 4 or 5 out of 8 on the driver side with it. It's come in handy more than a few times now.

[Papa]

If you want easy access to all the header bolts on your pushrod engine, just pull the valve covers.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=166662&d=1652481879

[mladen]

If I did that, there's no way I wouldn't mess up to the point that I'd need to order a whole new engine from Blueprint :D :D

[Papa]

If I did that, there's no way I wouldn't mess up to the point that I'd need to order a whole new engine from Blueprint :D :D

You wouldn't have to go to the level in the picture and remove the intake manifold, just the valve covers. That is simple thing that anyone should be able to do and is a lot less time consuming than fighting to get a wrench on those hard-to-reach header bolts.

[phils88gt]

If you feel like junkyard crawling they were used on 5.0 V-8 equipped Explorers.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-6880-a50

Jeff

I've killed my fair share of explorers for thier ivory but I've not seen the exact FMS adapter on one. The Explorer uses a metric filter and attaches to the block with a female adapter screwed into the block where it was once male.

I beleive the adapter shown removes the block adapter entirely.

[phils88gt]

I looked at them all. They are all small

Not true. I made a video on this topic to answer this post and my post to Jeff.

https://youtu.be/Z8-Q4m4dcg8