The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 261 remote oil filter, reccomended lines and fittings

tclederman, I saw this on your site, the remote oil filter setup. Do you have part number on the specific one used? Also, I really like the AN lines you used. Do you have custom cut or are they ordered that length? BTW, I'm using the same exhaust.

If anyone else has a link to their setup I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks, Cory

1/2" NPT male-end AN fittings.

I do not remember the brands. Here are two different filters/heads (full-flow, as can be used on 58-63 261s).

with braided metal covered lines
with non-metal covered lines

Cory, FYI, first issue is your 261 block set up for full flow oil filtering. These motors could be had for full filtering or no filtering. Depending if the plug on the manifold side of the block is pushed in (should be just over half an inch), or out meaning flush with the block. You can just barely see the plug I'm speaking of in the photo of the green block/filter, it appears to be 'out' which is where it must be to get full flow filtering. If you do not have this filter with plug in the out position block will burn up due to no oiling.
Best of luck

"These motors could be had for full filtering or no filtering."

These motors (58-63 261) could be had with no oil filtering, or by-pass flow oil filtering, or full-flow oil filtering.

Cory,

Heed JiMerit's good advice regarding the "plug" in the block.

Tim and JiMerit, Thanks for the replies!

I'm not sure if mine is full flow. I've taken a couple of pictures Pic 2

Which do I have?

Thanks

I used a (pricey) Moroso adapter which was attached to the manifold with U-bolts. I had 2 pressure gauges at first to check out the pressure drop across the filter.
Spin on Filter for my 261.
.

1954Chevy5Window,

It looks like a later 261 (1/2" NPT holes for oil lines) but I do not see the full-flow oil filter "selector plug". Maybe the "plug" was not used if the full-flow canister was installed at the factory? (I'll check my 1960 261)

Here are locations for various ID codes:
Find and port:
- Engine Serial Number-
- block casting code
- block date casting code

This link shows the side of the block that has the oil holes on your 261, You will need to scroll WAY down to see the side of the block, you will see the large 1/2" tapped holes, next to the most forward 1/2" hole you will see this boss with the pin above or right along side. This pin needs to be pushed in 1/2" plus to route ALL the oil out through your spin on filter and then back to the oil galley. If the pin is out and flush with the block the full flow filter will do nothing. You can run the engine with the pin flush and no filter, pin pushed in and no full flow filter ZERO oil gets to bearings.

http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/blog/index.php/category/technical-articles/1955-66/mechanical-1955-66/

Thanks for jogging my weakening memory, JiMerit.

As you posted, the pin/plug is forward to the forward 1/2" oil journal.

here is Jim Carter's block with the plug above the forward 1/2" oil port

here is that location on Cory's block (the plug is prtoably there, but it's view is blocked by the angle of the photo)

Here is a better picture of the "pin" y'all speak of. It looks as though I painted over it. I'm going to try to clean it up a little.

I also believe I have a 1958 block. Here is a picture of the casting number.

Thanks for the help, I can't imagine muddling through this without the internet friends help.

Thanks!!

The block date casting code will confirm the year.

Thanks for posting the link to the photo.

It looks like there is a casting 'bulge' there, but no dowel/pin. The dowel would be obvious in the bulge. It would take a ton of paint to cover it up. The dowel was added starting in 1959, so if your engine is a '58, it wouldn't have one.

The odd thing is that you have both 1/8" and 1/2" ports. The dowel engines had both, but I'm pretty sure that the '58 and earlier ones just had the 1/8".

You might have a Canadian Pontiac 261. I have read on this website, but have not seen for myself, that the (or at least some) Canadian 261's had the casting bulge but no dowel. They were set up for bypass only, or no filter, and have both the 1/2" and 1/8" ports. If that's the case, others can confirm but I think you'd use the 1/8" port for the bypass filter and plug the 1/2". Also be sure to use a bypass filter that has the 1/16" restriction in it, just like on a 235, to avoid starving the bearings of oil.

No big deal if you can't do full filtration. Bypass is fine.

Matt

Matt, That makes sense. I checked the casting numbers and they show it to be a 1958 Canadian motor. So, I guess it's as you say a Pontiac. So I have a bypass oil filter and I'm wanting to connect it.

So, I guess my next question is: Which port do I hook to the "IN" and "out" portion of the oil filter bracket?

Thanks!!

"I checked the casting numbers and they show it to be a 1958 Canadian motor. So, I guess it's as you say a Pontiac."

What code (or feature) on the motor helped you determine it is a Canadian Pontiac motor rather than a Canadian truck motor?

It connects just like a 235. The inlet to the filter connects to a tee at the oil pressure gauge fitting at the rear of the block. The outlet goes to the 1/8" NPT port in the middle of the engine next to the 1/2" port. Plug the 1/2" port.

Matt

Holy moly, this is a crazy engine.

So, I disassembled an old distributor for my oil priming tool. I put it in my corded drill and began spinning and spinning and spinning, nothing! So I talked to a buddy of mine who rebuilds engines and he gave me some pointers to get it primed, nothing worked.

So, last ditch effort, drop the pan and pack the oil pump with Vaseline. With the pan removed I noticed the forward 1/8" npt port (which I had plugged) and the 3/8" port next to it (which I also had plugged for the priming) had the "outlet" of the oil pump plumbed into it. I packed the oil pump and put the pan back on. I then decided to plug the rear ports and see if my assumption was true. As I spun the oil pump the oil gushed out of the front port.

So, I guess this engine has reverse flow, is that possible? Or, am I confused on this prognosis? (a definite possibility)

I have a full flow filter and I connected the "in" port to the forward port (the one with the oil pumping out) and the out to the rear port.

The 261 full-flow system's oil flows from the forward port on the block, the left side of the top of the canister; and, then the oil flows out the right side of the canister (where a oil pressure line might be connected) to/through a line from the canister to the rearward port in the block

This illustration is from 1960 truck shop manual. Note the directional arrows below the lines below the canister.

Thanks, I guess I was completely confused but, I guess now I'm getting this thing figured out. Thanks!! I'm hoping to hear it run soon!!

Well I got it running!! Thanks for all of the help. Here is a little video of it running.

The ticking noise is from my muffler, it has a crack, I need to have repaired. I ran it long enough just to hear it run. I've had it for 5 years and I've never heard it run so, now I feel my time moving forward won't be wasted. I'll pull the accessories and paint.

The chassis is pretty much complete lots of little things here and there.