Ditching oil filter/cooler lines?

smallblocker · Post by **smallblocker** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:40 pm

Hey guys, has anyone ditched the remote filter on their 4.3, and stuffed a shorty oil filter on the block? It looks like I have room for a filter on the block, but I don't know about getting it in and out? The front diff is an AWD unit. Thanks.
Steve

barch97 · Post by **barch97** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:43 am

I don't recall any such discussion here in the past but I could be mistaken.

I am curious though, about the necessity of the remote setup and the "cooler" lines in particular. As I understand it there's more to this arrangement than simply convenience of location for filter changes. In our crewcabs anyway, I believe there's a sort of heat exchanger setup where hot oil from the engine passes inside cooler lines through an area of coolant in the radiator. Is this heat exchange not necessary to maintain safe operating temperature?

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:26 am

Jigg moved his when he installed his hidden winch!

Another alternative

barch97 · Post by **barch97** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:55 am

barch97 wrote:I don't recall any such discussion here in the past but I could be mistaken.

f9k9 wrote:Jigg moved his when he installed his hidden winch!

Another alternative

You see what I did there? I covered my ___

smallblocker · Post by **smallblocker** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:53 am

I tried a search, but they're such generic words, that I got 900 matches, anything from remote keyless entry, to diff oil threads. I've done AN/stainless braid filter relocators, and they work awesome, but I'm on a tight budget with this one. I bought the Blazer for 500 bucks with a knocking 4.3, and a 100Km engine from a wrecked Extreme for 300 bucks. I got the good felpro problem solver metal/rubber intake gaskets, as I find it easier to do them now, rather than 6 months down the road, But they were 100 bucks.

I just think it to be a huge restriction, all that piping, and wonder why so many 4.3's eat rod bearings. I'll just run a good 5w40 full synthetic. Temps up here don't often get very high anyhow, and I doubt my girlfriend will be towing.

I did find the good info on the # of crimps on the lines. That's good to know, I'll be keeping an eye out for that, as I replace many oil cooler lines at work.

A guy on my V8 S10 site gave me a # for a filter that he uses on his 4.3 4x4 block, so I'm gonna give that a try

Thanks for your input guys.
Steve

smallblocker · Post by **smallblocker** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:52 pm

Nevermind. Got the engine in today, and the shorty filter fits, I just can't get it in or out. Plan B.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:02 pm

smallblocker · Post by **smallblocker** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:12 am

haha what would you like a pic of? I'm supposing I could pull the Y-pipe every oil change! That would keep the manifold studs from seizing haha.

smallblocker · Post by **smallblocker** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:07 pm

I got the filter out. Because the engine mounts tear apart, you can lift the engine an inch without unbolting anything. I bought the block to filter line set for 100 bucks and plugged the lines from the filter to the rad with 3/8ths pipe plugs.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:39 am

Very interesting.