[MrBigE]

What started as a "simple" oil filter relo project turned into a half-day ordeal, thanks to Murphy's Law!

Last weekend I began by relocating the driver's side horn out of the way - going to use this spot to mount the remote oil filter.

Before:


After (where'd it go??):


Horn was relocated up about 12 inches under the headlight, behind the washer fluid reservoir:


Here's a shot from underneath - you can see the horn in the upper-left. You can also see where I've circled where I needed to drill out the holes for the oil filter mount. (Yes, you need a right-angle drill or drill attachment to get that done)


Next was the oil filter mount (I used JoeKD's previous install for inspiration!). I didn't take any shots of the unit before putting the filter on... oops!


The other half gets mounted onto the engine block where the filter usually goes:


So that takes care of the remote filter - w00t! Next post will show the rest of the work...

[MrBigE]

What I thought was going to be the "easy" part was removing the OEM oil pressure switch, installing a brass tee, and reinstalling the OEM switch and also installing the sending unit for the fancy-schmancy gauge (0-100 psi from Summit).

Well my car had other ideas.

Seems Dodge saw fit to use some sort of thread locker on the pressure switch threads - and due to the small space & poor viewing angle, I didn't think to try to 'lock' the fitting where the oil cooler line comes out and THEN try to remove the sender... I just stuck the big socket on there and cranked it to the left. Worst Idea Evar.

Instead of backing out just the pressure switch, the WHOLE assembly rotated. Please note that the oil cooler lines are NOT flexible (at least not in this location).

Here's what I eventually ended up with after much cursing:


That's the oil cooler fitting, minus the tube and valve that broke off from metal fatigue (didn't take much, actually). More on that in a minute.

Since I had to remove the oil cooler fitting, a 4" 3/8 NPT nipple is a MUST. The 3" one I originally bought wouldn't have given me enough clearance to do what needed done (but would have been ok w/ the oil cooler fitting still in there).

I assembled the brass components and slapped 'em in there:


You can see the OEM switch on the tee, facing the front of the car (didn't need to extend the OEM wire to the unit, either!), and the new sending unit pointing down.

Since I didn't buy a standard 2" gauge, or a gauge pod to install onto my A-pillar, I pulled my CD changer and installed the storage pocket, with a slight modification:



The cheapo gauge I bought fits QUITE nicely in there - had to trim the rubber mat on the bottom of the pocket, and drilled a hole in the bottom for all the wires to the gauge. The sender lead goes through the firewall. Power was tapped under the center console. I was able to actually bolt the housing TO the pocket along the top edge of the lip with some teeny screws (same ones that hold the ATC housing to the faceplate).

But I have this oil cooler issue to deal with now...

[dalpaul]

where can i buy this kits?

[MrBigE]

Well since I pooched the oil pressure switch removal, and wasn't terribly interested in replacing the pooched part in question, I found a thread here on deleting the oil cooler! (I believe they were discontinued in later years anyway - like the EGR!?)

Well the 'input' tubing was busted off (as noted above), but there was still the line going from the radiator to the oil pan. That was a quick fix:


Capped that rascal right off!

I think tomorrow (or later) I'll worry about pulling the lines out. For now they don't drip and they're out of the way.

SHEW.

[MrBigE]

Summit Racing has the oil filter relocation kit - it's a "generic" unit from Perma-Cool. Part Number is SUM-G4985. $34.95! Cheapest one I've seen.

[JoeKD]

The one I had in my 300M was also the Summit kit, great kit for the price. Comes with high quality hoses and every piece needed for the install.

[crg616 (v2)]

holy cow those are some rusted out lines!!! but very nice job on the install and good pics!!!

[JoeKD]

You can also look at my old thread here http://www.dodgeintrepid.net/forums/t104798/

Pics of the Summit kit before installation and a couple more good pics of the filter installed

[Daytrepper]

Nice work Eric!! Good idea on the oil cooler delete. You would have found that that oil cooler T-fitting is about $160 new, if its not still on backorder.

[MrBigE]

Indeed! (thanks for the link!)

Your install docs gave me the 'oomph' I needed to get mine done. One thing I did slightly different was I tilted the remote mount a few degrees off of center - with it pointing perfectly straight up and down, one of the hoses would have nearly kinked after mounting to the barb (needed to bend to clear that frame piece). Gave me the heebie-jeebies so I just rotated about 10 degrees clockwise. Either that or I could go see about getting a 90-degree hose barb fitting...

Did you notice any new sounds after the install? Starting at about 2500 rpm, there's a bit of a whine/roar until I let off the gas. Figure the sound of oil whooshing through the lines (and since the remote mount probably creating new vibrations along that part of the body where it's attached)...

[MrBigE]

Awesome! Glad I made the right call. Not happy about MAKING that call, but ah well. My hand was forced. I love my LH, but she maddens me from time to time.

Oh and you'll find this funny - when I pulled off the oil filter before installing the kit, I found two seals! D'oh!!! How'd I miss that when I changed the filter last time??? Geezo.

[TCPMeta]

When I got my 3.5L motor it was setup for a oil cooler and at the last minute I decided to skip it. Two bucks in brass caps FTW.

I would love to have a oil pressure gauge but the thought of having a oil line going into the interior scares me.

Nice install BTW.

[MrBigE]

Thanks!

Thought of a oil line going into the interior scares the crap outta me too... that's why I bought one with an electrical sender - only one wire runs through the firewall. This one, actually.

(hotlinked for your viewing pleasure)

I wanted the smaller size - easier to integrate into the limited space without using a gauge pod on the A-pillar. Just had to get a 1/8" -> 3/8" adapter (only comes with a 1/8" -> 1/4" fitting) for the sender.

[MrBigE]

Guess it pays to RTFM, n'est pas? I destroyed the oil cooler fitting for no good reason.

From the FSM - removing the oil pressure switch (emphasis mine):
REMOVAL
(1) Raise vehicle on hoist.
(2) Position an oil collecting container under switch location.
(3) Disconnect electrical connector (Fig. 108).
(4) Hold oil cooler fitting with a wrench.
(5) Unscrew oil pressure switch from fitting (Fig. 108).

And I was right about stuff on the threads (man I had to put the assembly in a vice to hold it while I backed out the oil pressure switch!):
INSTALLATION
(1) Apply Mopar Thread Sealant to the switch threads.
(2) Install oil pressure switch to fitting (Fig. 108).

Man there's lots of good info in the FSM, I should read it sometime!

[Brando26]

Hard to tell by the pics, did you install the new filter so the hole faces up, meaning it wont leak when you change it? If so, that's awesome.