The car is an 88 Fiero L67/getrag w/ low mount alt.
On my previous swap I used the Camaro style oil filter adapter. However, now that I've about finished the swap on my 88 I'm finding that this adapter puts the oil filter right up against the heater piping and brake lines. Its almost impossible to change the filter and I would worry about driving the car like this with the engine moving at all relative to the body. As such, I'm looking for a better fitting adapter and would appreciate some input on what my best options are.
This is what I have now:
I know of the W-body style adapter as well but I don't have one on hand to see how well it would fit and I don't want to run into the same problem.
I've also read that there is an adapter that sticks the filter straight out but I don't know the applications or how well it fits.
Also, here's a picture of what I have going on right now. I guess my mounts are just a bit too high (though they never were a problem before) but don't feel like redoing them just to drop the oil filter down.
The car is an 88 Fiero L67/getrag w/ low mount alt.
On my previous swap I used the Camaro style oil filter adapter. However, now that I've about finished the swap on my 88 I'm finding that this adapter puts the oil filter right up against the heater piping and brake lines. Its almost impossible to change the filter and I would worry about driving the car like this with the engine moving at all relative to the body. As such, I'm looking for a better fitting adapter and would appreciate some input on what my best options are.
This is what I have now:
I know of the W-body style adapter as well but I don't have one on hand to see how well it would fit and I don't want to run into the same problem.
The W-body style should work for you (bottom one pictured in your above quote). However, it does put the filter right over the cradle frame rail so it will restrict you to using the short (Delco PF-47) type filters, at least if you have the engine sitting low on the cradle. But as high as your engine sits now, you might be able to run the longer style (Delco PF-52) filter in your swap if you use this adatper.
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I've also read that there is an adapter that sticks the filter straight out but I don't know the applications or how well it fits.
The above is a pretty rare filter adapter housing. I haven't seen it used very much, but I think it was used on early W-body applications (98 or 97-earlier). NOTE: this adapter housing may not work with a low-mount alternator setup commonly used in Fiero swaps.
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Also, here's a picture of what I have going on right now. I guess my mounts are just a bit too high (though they never were a problem before) but don't feel like redoing them just to drop the oil filter down.
Your mounting system appears to have the engine currently sitting pretty high. I've never run into this issue using the F-body oil filter adapter housing to be honest. But I think you would just be fine using this oil filter adapter housing:
-ryan
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[This message has been edited by Darth Fiero (edited 03-16-2012).]
If you look around you will probably be able to find a filter that is really short. It will miss the lines that the longer one you are using hits. Larry
I have the rare adapter posted above by darth on my 3800 swap. I found it on a '95 pontiac trans sport minivan.
Lets you use long filters and doesn't interfere with the frame rails at all. (in my 88) A little annoying reaching in to change it, but not too bad. There is also a little plastic cover type thing that clips on underneath it to keep oil off the trans/axle when you change it or if it leaks. I like it.
I also have another adapter I have never seen used that angles the filter kind of towards the middle of the oil pan, but have never checked whether or not it fits. That was off a '95 oldsmobile 88
What is the issue with using a shorter filter for the W-Body adapter? Does it need to be changed more frequently?
Shorter filter = less filter area / less capacity. I wouldn't say it needs to be changed more often than the longer filter, unless of course you are one of those guys that likes to run 12,000 miles between oil changes.
Alright, I know this thread is a bit old but I'm looking to address this problem again as I put it on the shelf to attend to more pressing matters. I'm doing my best to compare the W-body style to what I currently have and it appears to me that the W-body style places the oil filter higher than mine is right now. Thus, in order to fit well, it's going to have to move the filter over to the driver side a significant distance in order to clear my heater/fuel lines. Just judging from the pictures here I'm not sure its going to be enough. I'm getting that this adapter works for many but I'm a bit skeptical about buying one and finding out it fits worse than what I already have. Does anybody have any measurements for the W-body style adapter or perhaps simply any additional insight into how well it'll work for me?
What I have now:
W-body style adapter:
[This message has been edited by GraterFang (edited 05-09-2012).]
Originally posted by D_sensitized: I have the rare adapter posted above by darth on my 3800 swap. I found it on a '95 pontiac trans sport minivan.
I'd like to use an adapter like this but like Darth mentioned I'm not sure it'll clear my low mount alt. Here's a couple more shots showing what I'm working with. The mounts I am using were originally used on an 84 Fiero and they worked beautifully without any clearance issues. I ended up swapping a lot of the powertrain over to the 88 so I decided it was easier to simply modify the ones I already had. Obviously the 88 Fiero has some different clearance requirements though. Everything on the top still clears very well. It's just this oil filter that is giving me issues. I suppose it might work but I'm a bit nervous about it being so close to everything else there.
[This message has been edited by GraterFang (edited 05-09-2012).]
