[Jay S]

I’ve collapsed quite a few Wix filters even with a factory bypass on different platforms. Cold weather really tests them. We use Wix a lot, but these days there are often better made filters, they seem like they are cheaper made all the time.

My preference is to pick a filter that has a higher built in bypass pressure with the external GM bypass blocked. The original external bypass pressure on a lot of GM stuff was in my opinion to low. The low bypasss was ok for flat tappets, but causes a more issues with roller cams. I have mine blocked with roller cams, unblocked with flat tappets. I see a lot more bearing scars when running a stock external 3 to 5 low pressure bypass. The internal filter bypasses generally have higher differential pressures for better filtration.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I’ve collapsed quite a few Wix filters even with a factory bypass on different platforms. Cold weather really tests them. We use Wix a lot, but these days there are often better made filters, they seem like they are cheaper made all the time.

My preference is to pick a filter that has a higher built in bypass pressure with the external GM bypass blocked. The original external bypass pressure on a lot of GM stuff was in my opinion to low. The low bypasss was ok for flat tappets, but causes a more issues with roller cams. I have mine blocked with roller cams, unblocked with flat tappets. I see a lot more bearing scars when running a stock external 3 to 5 low pressure bypass. The internal filter bypasses generally have higher differential pressures for better filtration.

Which filters do you use now?

.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

Which filters do you use now?

.

I still use a lot of Wix. I am not anti Wix. But Wix’s over all trend seems to be to make them cheaper, not better. I have had may share of issues with them. I have collapsed a couple of them and blown seals out.

The main brands we use are Baldwin, Fleetguard, and Wix (including Napa’s by Wix). I prefer Fleetguard of the 3, then Baldwin. Wix gets used when the other 2 are not options.

Fram makes a very nice well designed race filter. They have a screened bypass. The latest Champion laboratories filters appear to be very well designed to. Hopefully they survive the bankrupcy.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I still use a lot of Wix. I am not anti Wix. But Wix’s over all trend seems to be to make them cheaper, not better. I have had may share of issues with them. I have collapsed a couple of them and blown seals out.

The main brands we use are Baldwin, Fleetguard, and Wix (including Napa’s by Wix). I prefer Fleetguard of the 3, then Baldwin. Wix gets used when the other 2 are not options.

Fram makes a very nice well designed race filter. They have a screened bypass. The latest Champion laboratories filters appear to be very well designed to. Hopefully they survive the bankrupcy.

Which Fleetguard part number do you run? I know other non-Pontiac racer-people that run those.


.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

Which Fleetguard part number do you run? I know other non-Pontiac racer-people that run those.


.

LF767 for a Pontiac with the OEM filter housing with tight clearance headers.

LF581 when there is more room.

LF3538 when there is lots of room.

The aftermarket filters housing that use the in filter bypass all take a different thread, 3/4” instead of 13/16”. These are common OEM Fleetguard numbers for older GM’s.

[charlie66]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I’ve collapsed quite a few Wix filters even with a factory bypass on different platforms. Cold weather really tests them. We use Wix a lot, but these days there are often better made filters, they seem like they are cheaper made all the time.

My preference is to pick a filter that has a higher built in bypass pressure with the external GM bypass blocked. The original external bypass pressure on a lot of GM stuff was in my opinion to low. The low bypasss was ok for flat tappets, but causes a more issues with roller cams. I have mine blocked with roller cams, unblocked with flat tappets. I see a lot more bearing scars when running a stock external 3 to 5 low pressure bypass. The internal filter bypasses generally have higher differential pressures for better filtration.

Would you ever use a non-blocked off filter housing or do you always block them?

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by charlie66

Would you ever use a non-blocked off filter housing or do you always block them?

I am not afraid of the stock filter housings with the external bypass on mild flat tappets on mild builds, but that is about it. What I have noticed is the better filter like a Baldwin (it generally has more filter element in it than the Wix) with the stock GM external bypass will often end up providing less filtration, or a very least, make no difference at all. With the better filter, the bypass opens more and it takes longer for debre to be caught in the filters.

When possible, I prefer plugging external bypass’s and switching to the in filter bypass that has a higher bypass pressure between 9 and 15 psi. I have no issues with blocking bypasses on street and strip stuff as long as the oil pressure is read after the filter so it reads the actual filtered galley pressure. That is what I do on Pontiacs with headers. But when blocking the bypass with no bypass in the filter the pressure needs to be read after the filter.

[charlie66]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I’ve collapsed quite a few Wix filters even with a factory bypass on different platforms. Cold weather really tests them. We use Wix a lot, but these days there are often better made filters, they seem like they are cheaper made all the time.

My preference is to pick a filter that has a higher built in bypass pressure with the external GM bypass blocked. The original external bypass pressure on a lot of GM stuff was in my opinion to low. The low bypasss was ok for flat tappets, but causes a more issues with roller cams. I have mine blocked with roller cams, unblocked with flat tappets. I see a lot more bearing scars when running a stock external 3 to 5 low pressure bypass. The internal filter bypasses generally have higher differential pressures for better filtration.

So, am I understanding this right. When you use a roller cam and lifters you will not use a bypass in the housing and you will block it off? I'm asking because I'm using a roller cam in the build I'm doing now, and I'd like to know what's the best way to go.
Thanks

[PunchT37]

I used to block mine. After swollen ac and wix filters, no more.


Better to have a short shot of "dirty" oil than to have a short starve of oil.

[shaker455]

Originally Posted by PunchT37

I used to block mine. After swollen ac and wix filters, no more.


Better to have a short shot of "dirty" oil than to have a short starve of oil.

Can't put it any better than that Wade!

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by charlie66

So, am I understanding this right. When you use a roller cam and lifters you will not use a bypass in the housing and you will block it off? I'm asking because I'm using a roller cam in the build I'm doing now, and I'd like to know what's the best way to go.
Thanks

I don’t a run an external bypasses on roller cams. I block it and either run an internal in filter bypass that has a higher pressure differential (9-15 if a filter is available), or no bypass and make sure the pressure is measured after the filter. I try to keep full filtered oil in the oil galleys the best I can on all the roller setups.

[charlie66]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I don’t a run an external bypasses on roller cams. I block it and either run an internal in filter bypass that has a higher pressure differential (9-15 if a filter is available), or no bypass and make sure the pressure is measured after the filter. I try to keep full filtered oil in the oil galleys the best I can on all the roller setups.

Do you do this because you're trying to keep material out of the needles or is there more to it?

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by charlie66

Do you do this because you're trying to keep material out of the needles or is there more to it?

It helps to keep from collapsing a plunger on HR cams. On pressure fed lifters it keeps foreign material out of the needles.

On a flat tappet I don’t care as much. My Grandpa’s 61 Biscayne had a 235 that didn’t even have a provision on the block for an oil filter, the suction screen was all it had. Lol

Those old external bypass’s are usually 3 to 5 lbs to bypass them, and the oil still has to get to the filter. If the spring is 50 or 60 years old who knows what is it yet. Lots of oil goes thru that bypass even a cruising speeds with them. OEM’s got rid of that design for good reasons.

[charlie66]

Originally Posted by Jay S

It helps to keep from collapsing a plunger on HR cams. On pressure fed lifters it keep material out of the needles.

On a flat tappet I don’t care as much. My Grandpa’s 61 Biscayne had a 235 that didn’t even have a provision on the block for an oil filter, the suction screen was all it had. Lol

Those old external bypass’s are usually 3 to 5 lbs to bypass them, and the oil still has to get to the filter. If the spring is 50 or 60 years old who knows what is it yet. Lots of oil goes thru that bypass even a cruising speeds with them. OEM’s got rid of that design for good reasons.

Oh ok, I see why you block it now. If it's by-passing at 5 psi, then blocking it and just getting a filter with a higher bypass built in makes a lot of sense. So maybe I'll do that then because I'm using a roller. Sorry it is taking time to sink in. lol

[Jay S]

You can also buy an aftermarket filter housings that does not have that bypass provision and are designed for modern filters with an internal higher pressure bypass. I think it is a different thread filter than a standard Pontiac. I don’t remember if it is nightmare or KRE that makes it.