Transmission filter mounting

[MaineShark]

I'm about ready to mount my external transmission filter. I have a few different options, with different pros and cons. So basically, I'm asking "if this was your car, what do you think would be easiest and best?"

Option 1 is to mount the filter vertically. This gives the advantage of being able to pre-fill the filter with fluid, whenever it is replaced. That eliminates air in the system, and the need to add another quart of ATF after the thing has run a few minutes and filled the filter on its own. But the downside is that it makes finding an appropriate mounting location difficult, to say the least. The filter needs to be somewhere forward of the cooler line ends (which are just aft of the swaybar), and there are few places near there which are tall enough to keep the filter bottom away from rocks (or curbs, if a mechanic or someone pulls too far forward).

Option 2 is to mount it horizontally. This makes finding a mounting location snap - it will easily go right below the lower radiator mount, tucked up there where it is protected. But it means that the filter can't be pre-filled with fluid.

Option 3 is the more complicated one. It would involve building a bracket with a pivot/hinge in it, so the filter could be mounted horizontally under the radiator, like Option 2, but with a cotter pin to retain it in that position. Pull the pin, and swing the filter down for changes. Since it would be vertical at this point, the filter could be pre-filled.

The third option obviously has several advantages, but there is always the risk (however small) that something which is made to come loose for maintenance, might accidentally come loose on its own, or by a stupid mechanic playing with it. If it did drop to vertical, in that location, the filter would hang well below the air dam, and be very vulnerable. The risk is small, but it does exist.

So, those are the options. Any thoughts?

Joe

 

[1979toy]

L bracket below the lower radiator mount to allow the filter to be vertical but higher?

 

[MaineShark]

L bracket below the lower radiator mount to allow the filter to be vertical but higher?

It's not a matter of the bracketry. I'm definitely going to have to make a bracket, no matter where I mount it. It's just a matter of the physical space, what with the suspension, frame, wheels, radiator, body, etc.

I think I've decided to go with the pivot bracket. I've got some preliminary designs drawn up, and I'm going to try and make a prototype, tomorrow.

Joe

 

[finadk]

What kind of setup are you using for a the remote filter?
I have been thinking about one of those.
Scott

 

[MaineShark]

I bought a Perma-Cool filter kit from Jeg's.

I've actually re-thought things, and I'm going to hard-mount the filter. I'll just have to deal with the extra quart thing, when I replace the filter. Shouldn't be a big problem, with a 50,000 mile maintenance interval

I'll probably replace it more frequently than that, but not often enough to worry about it.

Joe

 

[MaineShark]

Well, the filter mount it done and installed. I designed it so that it places the outlet from the filter nearly directly in front of the gap in the plastic air dam support, where the line to the cooler runs forward. I built it with a "wing" that goes back to the center of the radiator support, there the end of the support rod (the one that holds the nose up - you can see it in the center, if you open your hood and look down between the headlights) comes through. It uses that for one mounting point, and a second wing with a really big (5/16") sheetmetal screw (which came with the filter) at the outboard end for a second mounting point. I also built a rock/curb guard, to hopefully protect it from large rocks or stupid mechanics/valets (I try to avoid letting other people drive it, but sometimes it's unavoidable). I made the rock guard removable, so it won't interfere with filter changes (I'm figuring on a 30,000 mile service interval, even though Perma-Cool says it's good for 50k - better safe than sorry).

That might not make much sense, so I'll try and post pitures at some point. My computer just died (as in, "blank screen, won't even boot from a floppy"-type died), so I'm using a friend's computer to post this, and I don't have a way to get the digital photos downloaded to this computer, yet.

Anyway, it's a very slick setup, and I'm quite happy with it. I'm extremely glad that I have lots of scrap aluminum plate laying around (I used 7/64" for this - sturdy enough to keep things safe and sound, but not overly bulky)

Joe

 

[finadk]

That sounds like a nice setup.
If it was me I would not wait 30-50k miles to change the filter on any transmission. 15k -20k tops. The spin on filters should be pretty inespensive, with that setup I would change it when I change the motor oil or at lease every 2 oil changes. Filters are much cheaper than trannies. At 30-50 k miles you have to change the filter in the pan anyway so you have not gained anything by adding the remote filter.
I agree better safe than sorry but you can never change an oil filter too often
Scott

 

[MaineShark]

I was using 30k as an example, since it's a fairly standard service interval for automatic transmissions. In reality, I'd replace the filter any time I serviced the transmission. 30k is the maximum service interval for the fluid and filter.

But I wouldn't say that there is nothing gained by adding the remote filter, without a more frequent service interval, since the idea is that it will trap much smaller particles than the "screen" in the pan. It uses a standard Ford-thread oil filter (HP8A, I think), which will obviously have a much larger filtering surface and much finer filtration than the in-pan screen filter.

Joe