Oil Filter Adapter

[REDSC400]

Hi Ant:
On the ERA with a 428FE you CAN INDEED have a sandwich and filter with the "normal" block mounted oil filter braket. Here is a picture of my old Fram filter (I now use K&N) which is next to the Milodon oil sump. The filter sits below a Sandwich adaptor and as you can see, the ERA chasis does provide ample room for this setup.

Perhaps on some other Cobra manufacturers' arrangements for the Cobra 427 a chasis member is in the way, but on my ERA (as well as many others) that is not the case. My block mounted oil filter adaptor comes off the block at the angle of the block and then drops straight down. This is adaptor was provided by Danbury Competition Engines a long time ago back in 1992. I do imagine they are still available.

The fine picture/schematic that COBRA provided shows this setup exactly as I have it.

[Ant]

REDSC400,

I have an old windsor block (dummy) in car at present, there would be enough room for a medium length filter, but not the thermostat/oil cooler adapter. Another way might be to cap the adapter with an alloy cap, and use a remote filter, but if I can get an adapter with thermostat for oil cooler but not filter, then its removing a potential problem area for leaks!

[CobERA]

I installed my new 180 degree thermostatic sandwich adaptor from Earl’s on Saturday, and it was pretty easy. I think the whole process took me about an hour.

I have seen comments about the finish of some other thermostatic adaptors, but I must say that the Earl’s thermostat is very nicely finished.

My setup was the standard ERA oil cooler plumbing, without the remote filter, on a 428 FE. In order to install the thermostatic sandwich adaptor, I had to replace the hose ends at the adaptor ends with 45 degree male –10 AN fittings (Earl’s part number 844510.). The standard ERA adaptor, which I believe also comes from Earl’s, uses 3/8” male NPT fittings. I simply unscrewed the original fittings from the hoses, leaving the “red nuts” on the hoses, and screwed the new fittings on the hoses. I was able to do so from underneath the car, so I did not have to remove and then reinstall the hoses. This was good because I had some self-inflicted challenges when I originally installed the oil cooler hoses and did not want to remove them to install the new fittings. (Although there were a couple “near misses” from dropped wrenches!) I then connected the hose on the passenger side to the new adaptor, and then connected the driver side. The fittings are the “swivel” type, which allows you to line everything up properly at the end. Finally, I attached the new adaptor to the oil filter block, installed the filter and tightened everything up. The new adaptor is thicker, longer and wider than the old adaptor and really just barely fits, but it does fit. Also, it caused no problem with the oil filter as there is still plenty of ground clearance.

I started the engine and found no leaks. On the road, I could see a big difference in my oil temperature. It has been a little cool here of late, and my oil was not reaching 180, but with the new thermostat, it hovers right around 180 after the engine has warmed up. I still would prefer a 210 degree thermostat, but I’ll live with the 180.

The 45 degree fitting on the driver side is just right, but those of you who are considering installing a thermostatic adaptor may wish to consider a 90 degree fitting for the passenger side. With the 45 degree fitting, it appears that you could kink the hose if you are not careful. The front edge of the adaptor (with the in and out ports) seems to just about line up with the front edge of the oil pan. The hose is attached to the pan, so the 45 degree fitting causes the hose to bow out (forward) a bit.

Mr. Strictlypersonal – You may want to have your engineering department investigate whether a 90 degree fitting would work better on the passenger side. Also, I think it would be a great “standard option”.

For those of you who are waiting for your ERA, I would add an oil thermostat to your wish list. (You know you are already over your budget, what’s another hundred or so!)

For you current owners, this makes a good rainy day project. A nice way to spend quality time with your car and another opportunity to spend money!

[Rick Parker]

Does anyone know if these type of thermostatic sandwich plates filter all of the oil once they reach operating temps?? I would like to rid myself of a remote filter but do not have enough room directly off of the engine for anything but a short filter. There are some filter adapters from Ford but my headers preclude their use.

Rick

[strictlypersonl]

CobERA,

I just ordered some thermostats and fittings. I'll see whether a 90d will be better.

Rick,

The thermostat adapter doesn't ever bypass the filter.

[REDSC400]

CobERA!
Gee thanks ever so much for the fine description of the installation process! Very much appreciated. You done good Amigo.

Where did you get the hose end fittings from BTW? Did ERA supply them?

Cheers

[CJ428CJ]

Rick,

Great summary. I was thinking of doing the same thing. Where did you order the sandwich adapter from? I checked Summit but they didn't have it.

Chris

[strictlypersonl]

Here's one place that lists lots of Earl"s parts: AN Plumbing

Well there goes our profit.

[CobERA]

Chris / Art,

Glad the post was helpful.

I ordered my thermostat before Bob ordered them at ERA. I had a little trouble finding it, but did finally find it at ANPlumbing.com. (See Bob's link above.) I ordered the hose ends from Peterson Fluid Systems, because they had them in stock. The link for them is:

Peterson Fluid Systems

... but, if they have them in stock, you can't do better than ordering them from ERA! (How did I do Bob?)

[REDSC400]

CobERA (Rick):

One question for ya. How did you manage to align the holes on the sandwich to the front of the engine compartment AND get it tight at the same time?

Since it snugs up to the original filter bracket much like it was a filter, I was just wondering how easily the alignment was accomplished?

Also, did you have to "cut back" you hoses any when you switched AN fittings? Or was that not necessary? Did you use any gasketing (teflon tape, etc) on the fittings or is that not necessary?

As for getting the parts, I can just run over to ERA as I am local, but thanks for those sources of supply. I am sure some will find them handy.

Cheers,

[DonC]

Another source:
http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLin...tOilTherm.html
Sorry Bob.
DonC

[Chaplin]

Bob-
I think I am going to order this canton t-stat which opens at 215F.


I imagine I will need to fabricate new lines and fittings for it. When I get ready to hook it up, I'm going to call you to o.k. the plumbing map. Are the hoses and fittings that are currently on the cooler -10?

[CobERA]

Art,

Orienting the adaptor is really quite easy. If you look at the picture that Bob posted on the first page, you see the adaptor and next to it, something that looks like a nipple/bushing (I don’t know what to call it.) The hole in the middle of the adaptor is not threaded. The nipple/bushing thing has a female ¾ inch (I think) end, and a male ¾ inch end, with a hexagonal (7/8 or 1 inch, can’t remember which) “nut” in the center for tightening.

You simply press the adaptor onto the filter block (It has double o-rings on the top.), then insert the female end of the nipple/bushing thing from underneath the adaptor, and screw it onto to the nipple of the oil filter block, which is now coming through the center of the adaptor. Snug the nipple/bushing thing with a socket wrench and then attach the filter.

Theoretically, you could point the port end of the adaptor in any direction, but as I mentioned, it is a very tight fit. Since the adaptor is longer than it is wide and flat on the sides, it can really only be oriented toward the front.

I found it easier to attach the hoses to the adaptor first, and then attach the adaptor to the filter block. The swivel ends allow you to do that.

Fortunately, I did not have to adjust the length of hose, because I hate fooling with those braided stainless lines. Too many puncture wounds.

I did put teflon tape on the threads of the hose ends. They do however, come with o-rings.

Hope this helps.

[DonC]

Chaplin:
I'll be using the Canton unit when mine is built so keep us informed of how yours goes. Much better if we let you make the mistakes and climb the learning curve for us:-)
I'll be interested in how you end up mounting the unit.
Make sure to get the adapters for the AN lines from Canton. They're O ringed on the filter side and available in -12, 10 and 8.
DonC

[strictlypersonl]

Chaplin,

The hose and fittings are all -10 size. To use the thermostat that you've shown, you'll need 4 fittings similar to Earls 840110, or perhaps some 45 degree ones. Since I'm home right now, I don't know the best place to put the thermostat. It would probably depend on whether you've got a remote filter or not.

All the fittings that come with the kit are reuseable, so with a little care all you may need is some new hose.

[joea]

Chaplin...why the Canton because it opens at 215 instead of 180?

[Chaplin]

Bob-
I do have the remote filter. I'm not sure which hoses I can reuse without cutting and which will need to be shortened. I hope I can use the ones coming to/from the cooler without alteration, and just make new hoses for the rest of the hook ups. But until I get the t-stat, I'm having a hard time "visualizing" how it will have to be set up.

As for location, I was thinking about mounting it on the driver's side inner fender well- maybe an inch or two up and behind the upper control arm. Not sure yet if this spot will work, need to measure- but it's too damn cold in the garage If you figure out a better spot, please let me know.

Joe-
2 reasons for the Canton. You got the first one. From everything I've read it seems like you want the oil to get up around 200-210 so all moisture and other contaminants are burned off.

And the second reason is that I have a remote filter and I haven't found a sandwich type block adapter that has a t-stat in it that will allow me to use the remote filter. If anyone knows of one please let me know.

[clayfoushee]

Chaplin,

Similar set-up to yours and considering the Canton. What about just in front of the remote oil filter using one of the same bolts?

I'm experimenting with a quickly detachable fiberglass cover I made over the cooler to see what that does to oil temps. But it's too damn cold to test it.

[Ant]

Chaplain,

I am the same wanting a remote filter and and to use a thermostat, but the thermostat will have to go inline?

I see Ford motorsport make an alloy filter housing that allows the filter to face towards the front of car, this may accept the sandwich, but I am dubious of to many seals in one place could be a recipe for disaster!

I guess use a blanking at the main oil gallery, run your pipes to the thermostat/cooler and back through the remote filter.

[Okiesnake]

There is not enough room to add a sandwich thermo adaptor and oil filter on a Unique. I just ordered the following form pegasus racing to add an external thermostat.
2 3271-10-000 straight AN10 $8.99 each
1 1226-10AN Thermostat $93.69
3 3270-10 Ft of SS Braided Hose $5.79/ft
2 3271-10-090 9- degree AN10 $21.99 each
for a total of $173.02
(granted I had all the rest of the stuff before).
The pic represents my set up. The lines between components represent SS braided hose.