First let me state categorically that I'm an idiot I finally got around to changing my oil today on our '56 Country Sedan with a 292 Y-block. That's not the stupid part. I removed the oil filter and handed it to my local O'Reily sales person, who handed me back something that looked similar, right exterior dimensions and (here's the part stupid part) I let them toss my old one. I got home and tried spinning it on after removing the old rubber seal and putting a bead of lubricant on the new one. To my surprise, I found that the female treaded part of the filter was just a bit larger than the threaded male part. Crap! Went back to O'Reilly to recover my old one so I'd know what the right size thread needed to be in a new canister. Yup, trash had already been taken out and thrown in the dumpster. Did a little dumpster diving but it was a horror show of oily parts and broken glass and finally gave up. Now I have to shamefacedly ask the Forum if anyone knows what filter I need to order for a 292 Y-block. To be clear, the outside diameter of my old filter was the same as the one I bought. Only the interior threaded part of the filter was just a bit too large to fit the shaft attached to the engine side of the fitting. Any help would be greatly appreciated. And note to self, don't throw old parts away until you're sure the new ones fit!
Spin-on Oil Filter for a 292 Y-block
- Thread starter tsanborn
- Start date
After reading up on my '56 292, it appears that my engine was just on the cusp of when Ford started to install spin-on filters as standard. I think the cutoff date was '57 so the one on my engine may be an adapter. Still leaves me with the question of why the WIX filter I bought today wouldn't thread on to the mount that's on my engine.
miker98038
Well-known member
I think the old Fram number was PH8A. Lord knows I bought enough of them over the years. Lots of the Fords used them in the 60’s and 70’s. Spin on style, not the replacement canisters.
I would not buy a Fram these days, but I’m not getting into the filter arguments. Should cross reference to whatever brand you like.
This all assumes you’ve got the usual spin on adapter.
Just saw your last comment. If it’s the correct cross reference, then you’ve got an odd adapter. I’ve heard of off shore ones warping and leaking, etc, but never having the threads changed.
I would not buy a Fram these days, but I’m not getting into the filter arguments. Should cross reference to whatever brand you like.
This all assumes you’ve got the usual spin on adapter.
Just saw your last comment. If it’s the correct cross reference, then you’ve got an odd adapter. I’ve heard of off shore ones warping and leaking, etc, but never having the threads changed.
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dmsfrr
Well-known member
Depending on where that adapter you have was made it could be an odd non-standard size instead of the more usual ones. The oil filter part numbers mentioned above are indeed the ones it 'should' be.
If the male thread is an odd size and you want to replace it be aware the current crop of stamped steel adapters do not have a good track record for the gasket between the block & adapter plate holding a seal.
Images 1 & 2
Machined aluminum adapters with a groove and O-ring on the back side against the block are better, but there don't seem to be any remaining US manufacturers. They all come from china these days.
Image 3
Copy of a Ford letter dated Nov. of '56, a month or two into the '57 model year, announcing the coming of factory installed spin-on oil filter adapters. Sorry the text is so small.
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I recently changed the oil and filter on my 1957 (312 engine, but same thread as 292). The male thread on the engine is 3/4-16 UNF fine thread). The filter thread inside diameter (you should be able to measure the filter you have) should be 0.676" to 0.697". If your filter is larger than that you should get a new filter and measure it before installing. If your filter is within this spec, it means you have a non-standard male thread on the filter adapter.
Good Luck,
Dave
Good Luck,
Dave
Thank you ALL! For the record, the WIX filter that the crack team at O'Reilly first gave (51522XP) has a different sized threaded spin-on shaft than the one Paul recommended (51515). Got the right one and all good. So for the record, there appear to be at least two different sized shafts on these things. Thanks again for everyone's input!
dmsfrr
Well-known member
There should only be one correct size threaded fitting, the one Ford started using in '57.
Since the parts store initially sold you a filter with a different part number that didn't fit I'll bet that filter was for a different engine/application. It was a mistake by the person behind the sales counter.
Especially since a filter with a correct part number fits.
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rotorwrench
Well-known member
In aviation, we had to cut filters open at each oil change and inspect the pleats for metal particles. I do it on my cars too since the cutter fits a lot of different sizes. Fram filter pleats and other cheap brands can be torn easily by hand. Not so with the Wix types. They are very close to aviation quality and I haven't used anything else since I discovered that many years ago. NAPA contracts manufacture the Wix brand filters with their own modifications and name added.
STEVE O
Well-known member
Hi Rotorwrench and everyone, I cannot agree more on the WIX filter quality. Working in a school bus garage for over 39 years WIX is what we have used for the most part and love the WIX filters. We have always used NAPA to purchase them, but a couple years ago crazy things went on with NAPA now east of the Mississippi (west side still WIX)NAPA filters for the most part are Baldwin and I think some Donaldson on some part number so we have to switch to Oreillys to get our WIX filters. Same thing on batteries with NAPA east of the Mississippi East Penn (Deka) which we love, west is Clarios I think. Have a Great day. Steve
rotorwrench
Well-known member
Baldwin and Donaldson used to be the same quality as Wix but I haven't used them for many years. The Wix filters are available at my locat O'Reilly Autoparts store but I still order them in quantity from Rockauto to save some bucks.
STEVE O
Well-known member
Yes I agree on the quality on Baldwin and Donaldson a few years ago. We switched to Baldwin for a short time and ran into a problem with oil filters leaking in our IC diesels, to witch our representive said our techs were not installing them tight enough, and suggested to tell our techs that. My response was with the 100s of filters we installed, No there is not a problem with installation on this particular filter. The techs cut one open and saw what was going on(internal cartridge is spring loaded and was bottoming out inside can) but Baldwin denied this. Back to WIX, still great service. Steve