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Lubrication

Contributed by: Virginia Classic Thunderbird Club-Editors, Bruce Stewart & Jane Wright

Oil Filter

The full-flow oil filter is mounted on the lower-left side of the engine. All lubricating oil delivered by the oil pump passes through the filter element before it enters the main oil gallery in the engine. If the element should become blocked with dirt, sludge, or thick oil, a by-pass valve in the filter center bolt permits a continuous flow of unfiltered oil through the filter housing and center bolt into the engine.
FILTER ELEMENT REPLACEMENT. Under normal conditions, the filter element should be replaced at 4000-mile interval to keep the engine oil clean. To be sure that your car's engine gets properly filtered oil, use only FoMoCo replacement filter kits.

  1. Place a drip pan under the filter to catch dripping oil.
2. The filter element must be changed from under the car.       Loosen the center bolt, then remove the entire filter assembly from the engine.
3. Remove the filter housing gasket from the recess

in the cylinder block, and throw it away.
4. Remove all the parts from the filter housing, and
throwaway the old filter element and all the gaskets.

  1. Wash all the remaining parts in a solvent, then dry them
Thoroughly.  Make sure that all the holes in the center bolt are clean and free of dirt, sludge, or thick oil.
  1. Install a new fiber gasket on the center bolt, then insert the bolt in the hold in the filter housing.
7. Install the spring and retainer assembly on the center bolt,      making sure that the retainer tangs are engaged in the spring.
  1. Install a new neoprene gasket and a new filter element on the center bolt.
  2. Check the position of the anti-drainback diaphragm to make sure that the two elongated holes are at the top of the diaphragm.
  3. Place a new neoprene gasket in the filter housing recess in the cylinder block.
  4.   Place the filter assembly in position, and thread the center bolt into the insert until it is finger tight.  Turn the filter

housing slightly in both directions to make sure that the housing gasket is evenly seated.
12.  Tighten the center bold (20-25 foot pounds torque).  Don't overtighten the center bolt as you may distort the filter housing and cause leaks. 
13.  Check the engine oil level to make sure that it's high enough, then start the engine and run it at fast idle for about five minutes.  Carefully check for oil leaks at the filter housing and center bolt while the engine is running.

This article is reprinted from the July  2001 newsletter, "T-Bird Times" of  the Virginia Classic Thunderbird Club.